Chinese Traditional Building 中国传统建筑概要1.ppt

Chinese Traditional Buildings Group Member: 王雁 史佳薇 杨丹 Palace The Forbidden City Residence Siheyuan Temple The Temple of Heaven The Forbidden City Prospect Hill To represent the Heavenly Palace Among all the 28 stars of the constellation, the Purple Forbidden (polar star) the center of the heaven, center of all stars The imperial court the center of man under heaven 9,999 buildings 9 nails per row 9 : Everlasting The largest number among all Red: joy Yellow: earth (the most basic of the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth) Purple: heaven Black: water The chilling north was regarded as a harmful direction. Hence, the buildings in the Forbidden City face south, the direction of holiness. The only pavilions facing north were for the Emperors rejected concubines. SiheyuanChinese Quadrangles Dates back as early as the Western Zhou period. Exhibits outstanding and fundamental characteristics of Chinese architecture. Serves as a cultural symbol of Beijing and a window into its old ways of life. Layout of Beijing Siheyuan Positioned along the north-south and east-west axes. Main house Side house Decorated pathways Opposite house (倒座房) Backside Building (后罩房) Layout of Beijing Siheyuan Entrance gate (with copper door knockers) Screen wall (影壁) --- for privacy Superstition holds that it also protects the house from evil spirits. Stone Lions Traditional concepts of the five elements (五行) and the eight diagrams (八卦) of divination. The gate: southeast corner “wind” corner The main house: north side “water” (an element to prevent fire) Two or more layers of courtyards and even private gardens A sign of wealth and status in ancient times A practically engineered structure Northwestern walls --- higher th