Ancient Chinese architecture

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Qingyuan Tower(清远楼），Xuanhua，Hebei（河北省，宣化），Ming Dynasty（明），1482AD

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Geyuan Temple（阁院寺），Laiyuan，Hebei（河北省，涞源），Early Liao Dynasty（辽），966AD

One of a few over one thousand years old existent wooden architectures. It has never been repaired or reassembled.

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Chuzu Temple(初祖庵），Dengfeng，Henan（河南省，登封），Song Dynasty，1125AD

This is the oldest building in Shaolin temple(少林寺). Its structure exactly followed the song classic architecture protocol book《营造法式》

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Guangrenwang Temple(广仁王庙), Ruicheng, Shanxi(山西省，芮城), Tang Dynasty(唐), 831AD

Tang dynasty wooden structure! One of the oldest in China.

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Baoguo Temple(保国寺)，Ningbo,Zhejiang(浙江省，宁波), Song dynasty, 1013AD

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from http://www.hanminzu.com

梁思成《寻找古建筑》(初到佛光寺印象)

梁思成是这样描述他们的初到佛光寺的印象的：


“寺院是建在山边一处很高的台地上，面对着前面的天井，周围有三
　　十棵很老的松树。它是一座很雄伟的建筑物。总共只有一层高，它有巨大、
　　坚固和简洁的斗拱，超长的屋檐，一眼就能看出其年代之久远。但它能比
　　我们前此所发现的最老的木建筑还要老吗？
　　　　“那高大的门登时就给我们打开了。里面宽有七跨，在昏暗中显得更
　　加辉煌无比。在一个很大的平台上，有一尊菩萨的坐像，他的侍者们环他
　　而立，有如一座仙林。在平台左端，坐着一个真人大小的着便装的女人，
　　在仙人丛中显得非常渺小猥琐。和尚们告诉我们，她就是篡位的武后。整
　　个塑像群，尽管由于最近的装修而显得色彩鲜艳，无疑是晚唐时期的作品。
　　但如果泥塑像是未经毁坏的原物，那么庇荫它的房屋必定也是原来的唐构。
　　因为重修房子必定会损坏里面的一切。
　　　　“第二天开始了仔细的调查。斗拱、梁架、藻井以及雕花的柱础都细
　　看过了。无论是单个或总体，它们都明白无误地显示了晚唐时期的特征。
　　但是我的最大惊喜是当我们爬进藻井上面的黑暗空间时产生的。我在那里
　　看到了一种屋顶架构，其做法据我所知只有在唐代绘画中才有。使用双
　　‘主椽’（借用现代屋顶架的术语），而不用‘王柱’，这和后世中国建
　　筑的做法全然不同，大大出乎我们的意料。
　　　　“这个‘阁楼’里住着好几千只蝙蝠，它们聚集在脊檩上边，就像厚
　　厚的一层鱼子酱一样，这就使我无法找到在上面可能写着的日期。除此之
　　外，木材中又有千千万万吃蝙蝠血的臭虫。我们站着的顶棚上部覆盖着厚
　　厚的一层尘土，可能是几百年来积存的，不时还有蝙蝠的小尸体横陈其间。
　　我们戴着厚厚的口罩掩盖口鼻，在完全的黑暗和难耐的秽气中好几个小时
　　地测量、画图和用闪光灯照相。当我们终于从屋檐下钻出来呼吸新鲜空气
　　的时候，发现在背包里爬满了千百只臭虫。我们自己也被咬得很厉害。可
　　是我们的发现的重要性和意外收获，使得这些日子成为我多年来寻找古建
　　筑中最快乐的时光。
　　　　“原先大厅的墙上一定都有壁画。但是唯一保存下来的建筑的壁画部
　　分是‘中楣’——过梁上边和斗拱之间的膏泥部分。各部分的中楣绘画水
　　平各异、而且显然是不同时期的作品。有一幅带花边的画着一些菩萨，注
　　明的日期相当于西元1122年。旁边还有一幅，画着一个菩萨和他的侍从，
　　在日期上肯定更古老，艺术价值也更高。这一幅和敦煌石窟壁画的相似性
　　是最惊人的。它除了唐朝之外不可能是其它时期的作品。尽管只是一小块
　　墙皮，又在一个不显眼的地方，但这是我所知道的在敦煌石窟以外的中国
　　本土唯一现存的唐代壁画。
　　　　“我们在大厅里工作的第三天，我妻子在一根粱的根部下面注意到有
　　中国墨的很淡的字迹。这个发现对我们大家的影响有如电击一般。没有比
　　实际写在庙的梁上或刻在石头上的日期更让人欢喜的东西了。那富丽堂皇
　　的唐代建筑已在面前——但我怎样报道它的建造日期呢？唐朝从618年一
　　直延续到906年。现在这带有淡淡字迹的木头即将提供给我盼望已久的答
　　案。当我们大家忙着想办法在佛像群中搭起脚手架以便清洗梁柱和就近审
　　视题字时，我妻子径直去工作了。她把头尽量往后仰，从下边各个不同角
　　度尽力辨识梁上的文字。经过这样的一番艰苦努力，她认出一些隐约的人
　　名，还带有长长的唐朝官职。其中最重要的是最右边的那根梁上，当时依
　　稀可辨的是：‘佛殿主女弟子宁公遇’。
　　　　“施主是个女的！这位年轻的建筑学家，本身是个女人，将成为第一
　　个发现中国最希奇的古庙的人，而该庙的施主竟然也是个女人，显然不是
　　一个偶然的巧合。她生怕会由于生动的幻觉而误识了不易辨识的字。但她
　　记得她在外面台阶前经幢石柱上看到过类似的带官职的人名。她离开大殿，
　　想去核实她在石柱上看到过的刻字。她大喜过望地发现，除了一大串官名
　　以外，石柱上赫然写着同样的句子：’佛殿主女弟子宁公遇‘。石柱上刻
　　的年代是’唐大中十一年’，相当于西元857年。
　　　　“于是我们明白了：那个身着便装、谦恭地坐在平合一端的女人，并
　　不是像和尚们说的是‘武后’，而正是施主宁公遇夫人本人。
　　　　“假定经幢石柱是在大殿建成后不久就竖起的，整个建筑的日期就可
　　以近似地确定。这比在此以前发现的最古的木结构还要早一百二十七年。
　　这是我们这些年的搜寻中所遇到的唯一唐代木建筑。不仅如此，在这同一
　　座大殿里，我们找到了唐朝的绘画、唐朝的书法、唐朝的雕塑和唐朝的建
　　筑。个别他说，它们是稀世之珍，但加在一起它们就是独一无二的。”

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与西方不同，古时的中国人喜欢以木材作为建筑材料，发展出了在世界上独树一帜东方木构建筑。中国传统木结构建筑的基本结构是在地基上建立柱，在立柱上架梁架，然后将屋顶铺设在梁架上。传统木结构建筑的墙基本上只是用来隔离空间的，并不承重（西式建筑的墙是承重的），屋顶的重量由立柱来承担，所谓“墙倒屋不塌”。由于要保护立柱少受雨雪侵蚀，屋顶要做得很大，四周向外伸出，在屋顶梁架与立柱之间通过一组复杂巧妙的木构件将重量均匀分布在立柱上。这种木构件称作“斗拱”，它是中国传统建筑最具特色的部分。斗拱的样式历代都有变迁，所以又可作为判断古建筑风格与年代的重要标志。整个木构结构通过拼插咬合既牢固同时又具备良好的结构弹性，可以充分吸收外界震动而产生的能量，抗震性佳。但木材的最大天敌是火，很多古建筑经历千年风雨，地震而不倒，但却在火灾中转眼化为灰烬。所以古建筑要特别注意防火。

下图是传统木结构建筑的结构示意图：（图片转自汉网，原贴地址：http://www.hanminzu.com/bbs/dispbbs....&skin=0&Star=1）



同一贴里的一组模型图片很好的再现了宋代斗拱的建造过程：

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营造天地论坛：


http://www.yingzao.net

[HKG]

thanks!

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Summer palace July 12 2008

[flymordecai]

Traditional Chinese architecture looks so varied. I love the story of the circular Hakka buildings being mistaken for nuclear reactors as seen from space.

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Forbidden City's highest building reopens

[xtraxxl]

a lot of these are Qing style, I love Tang style the most

[Saigoneseguy]

Why does the distinctive curved roof seems to have appeared after the Tang only? Imo, Han and Tang architecture were more simple and elegant. The Song began to make it more decorated.

[HKG]

Master SaigonKid you're a wise kid .

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Bell and Drum Towers in Beijing


Photo taken on Aug. 3, 2008 shows the Drum Tower in Beijing, capital of China. Bells and Drums were used by the ancient Chinese to tell times. The Bell and Drum Towers in Beijing, built in 1272 and rebuilt twice after fires, tolled the hours during the ancient China's Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties (1271-1911). Lying to the north of the central axis of Beijing, the Bell and Drum Towers are visibly prominent constructions and has long standing as the symbol of this old city.


Photo taken on Aug. 3, 2008 shows the interior of the hall on the 2nd floor in Drum Tower in Beijing, capital of China. Bells and Drums were used by the ancient Chinese to tell times



Photo taken on Aug. 3, 2008 shows a replica of an ancient time counter called Beilou in Drum Tower in Beijing, capital of China


Photo taken on Aug. 3, 2008 shows the giant bell in the Bell Tower in Beijing, capital of China. With a height of 7.02 meters and weight of 63 tons, the bell is believed to be the largest and heaviest in China, Bells and Drums were used by the ancient Chinese to tell times.

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Famous tourist site Gong Wang Fu to reopen on Aug. 20


Photo taken on Aug. 11, 2008 shows a portray of Heshen in a traditional Chinese room in Gong Wang Fu in Beijing, capital of China. The 232-year-old Gong Wang Fu, China's largest and best-preserved Qing Dynasty mansion, will open to the public for the first time ever on Aug. 20, 2008 after 31 months of restoration. The mansion was constructed around 1776 and was originally the private residence of Heshen, a member of imperial court of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1796) in the Qing Dynasty (1644--1911). The mansion consists of residential quaters covering some 32,000 square meters and a 28,000-square-meter garden


A man takes a photo of a piece of roof decoration in a traditional Chinese room in Gong Wang Fu in Beijing, capital of China. The 232-year-old Gong Wang Fu, China's largest and best-preserved Qing Dynasty mansion, will open to the public for the first time ever on Aug. 20, 2008 after 31 months of restoration. The mansion was constructed around 1776 and was originally the private residence of Heshen, a member of imperial court of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1796) in the Qing Dynasty (1644--1911). The mansion consists of residential quaters covering some 32,000 square meters and a 28,000-square-meter garden


Photo taken on Aug. 11, 2008 shows the Duofu hall, the living room in Gong Wang Fu in Beijing, capital of China. The 232-year-old Gong Wang Fu, China's largest and best-preserved Qing Dynasty mansion, will open to the public for the first time ever on Aug. 20, 2008 after 31 months of restoration. The mansion was constructed around 1776 and was originally the private residence of Heshen, a member of imperial court of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1796) in the Qing Dynasty (1644--1911). The mansion consists of residential quaters covering some 32,000 square meters and a 28,000-square-meter garden


Photo taken on Aug. 11, 2008 shows a corner of the courtyard in Gong Wang Fu in Beijing, capital of China. The 232-year-old Gong Wang Fu, China's largest and best-preserved Qing Dynasty mansion, will open to the public for the first time ever on Aug. 20, 2008 after 31 months of restoration. The mansion was constructed around 1776 and was originally the private residence of Heshen, a member of imperial court of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1796) in the Qing Dynasty (1644--1911). The mansion consists of residential quaters covering some 32,000 square meters and a 28,000-square-meter garden


Visitors look at the arched gateway in the courtyard of Gong Wang Fu in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 11, 2008. The 232-year-old Gong Wang Fu, China's largest and best-preserved Qing Dynasty mansion, will open to the public for the first time ever on Aug. 20, 2008 after 31 months of restoration. The mansion was constructed around 1776 and was originally the private residence of Heshen, a member of imperial court of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1796) in the Qing Dynasty (1644--1911). The mansion consists of residential quaters covering some 32,000 square meters and a 28,000-square-meter garden.

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Wutai Mountain in north China's Shanxi Province


Buddhist temple on the Wutai Mountain

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The temple building in which Kuixing God, the god of academics, is enshrined is reopened at the Confucius Temple after five months of renovations.

[diddy]

Everything's beautiful. I will never stop be amazed by the architecture in Beijing. 很漂亮！