Chinese Traditional Houses and Architecture (excerpts from four documentaries) Part II

This is the part II of my post regarding Chinese Traditional Houses and Architecture. Please do check-out my previous post. 

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In the third documentary I have seen. I’m sure architects or engineers will be interested in this one. It is a summary with regards to building Chinese traditional houses, and the use of timber. This documentary is helpful and an indispensable one with regards to appreciating and knowing more about Chinese architecture.

We are also given a glimpse of the Chinese tradition and  superstitious beliefs when building or constructing a house.

Images from this blog are from Google Images. (Below is a photo of Fujian Tuluo house, and a Chinese scholar's room)

  

Chinese Traditional Architectural Craftsmanship for Timber-Framed Structures (UNESCO)

Traditional Chinese architecture craftsmanship for timber frame structures has its own unique system and characteristic through thousands of years of developing. With so much rich experience accumulated overtime Chinese craftsmen have developed very sound technical methods regarding the choice of building materials types of framework, manufacturing of components, installation and so on which has been handed down from masters through their apprentices through examples and verbal instructions.By employing the architectural craftsmanship various kinds of architectures  such as palaces, temples, gardens, residential houses, and assembly halls cater to the needs of people from all walks of life reflects Chinese people view of the universe  the traditional Chinese hierarchy society as well as interpersonal relationship and demonstrate the wisdom of ancient technology not only are they they the projections of Chinese people’s unique aesthetics but also representatives of ancient oriental  architectural technology.

Timber frame is the core of the structure. There are mainly two types of framework for traditional Chinese timber structure. (Post and lintel structures, column and tie beam structures). The framework consists of wooden structures including columns, beams, curlings and rafters, and brackets sets generally known as structural frame. The tendon joints connecting the wooden components contribute to the flexibility of structure which means it is more earthquake resistant. For instance the 900 year old wooden pagoda (Wooden Pagoda of Buddha Palace)  in Ying (Yingxian) county, remains intact despite of going through many big earthquakes.

                                    

Over 400 years ago or even earlier the ancient Chinese craftsmen discovered the rule concerning architectural modules and worked out the basic modulus unit it was then possible it was then possible for the whole structure to be proportionally built in accordance in strict planning all the component could be manufactured before hand and installed according to the unified working procedures making full use of the materials and greatly improve the production efficiency this method became the essence of ancient architectural technology.

Traditional craftsmen worked on the materials by giving their inherent qualities full consideration to hold their jargon fat timbers for beams and slim for columns which indicates the craftsmen bearing consideration for the load quality of the timber. The wooden component such as the moonshaped beam, tunnel shaped columns an brackets are manufactured not only in the sense that they are beautiful in shape but also emphasize their load bearing quality.

Chinese have always attached great importance to the construction of residential houses. Many rituals have developed in their work and their life overtime there are corresponding rules and rituals during different construction stages when certain activities takes place such as the selection of land, planning, preparing for the construction materials, decision on the date of construction commencing of the construction, completion and house moving etc.

For example,  on important occasions when the foundation is laid. The doors are installed and the beams in position firecrackers would be lit in order to expel ghosts and demons, couplets would be hanged on the door frame for goodluck after the beam is positioned.

In 2007 the Institute for Architectural Studies of Chinese Academy of art carried out a great deal of field work and study in 3 dimensional database for traditional Chinese craftsmanship for safeguarding architectural craftsmanship and traditional architecture. Traditional Chinese craftsmanship can now be studied and recorded with the help of advanced digital multimedia. Today what the ancient craftsman has left with the Chinese is still widely used and surely will be continued to pass on from generation to generation.

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The last documentary tells of the ancient architecture of China, from the time of China's Emperor Qin Shi Huang up to the glory of the Tang dynasty. 

Journey to the East - Ancient Architecture of China (NTDTV)

The Great Wall of China is an ancient Chinese fortification, built in the warring states period by the different states. The first major wall was 5000 km long, built by Emperor Qin Shi Huang the 1^st emperor of Qing dynasty,After he ended the warring states period and unified China. This wall was not constructed by a single endeavour but it was created by joining several walls built earlier by the warring states.

While  building the great wall of Qin Shi Huang also spared no cost his palace complex which was near today at Xian in Xiangxi province, China. The Greatwall, the palace complex, the terracotta soldiers in Qin Shi Huang’s lavish tomb represents  masterpieces of ancient architecture and craftsmanship in China which required enormous manpower and resources.

Wooden structure tile top is a unique structure of Chinese style architecture. Would start with vertical wooden pillars that are connected by horizontal beams. Numerous short columns are hung from the main beam these short columns are used to support roof surfaces. Ancient Chinese could have built an entire house using structure using amortice structure combination without using a single nail. A space between any two columns is called a room. Rooms constitute a single rectangular architecture.

Luo Ban 772 and 481 state of Lu in the Spring and Autumn period, best known inventor and carpenter throughout Chinese history. He invented carpenter’s square, ink marker, lock, grill, ladder and many other tools. He once made a wooden bird that flew in the sky for 3 days legend says, as a result he was revered as originator of carpentry in craftsmanship in ancient China.

The earliest of pottery tiles first appeared Western Chou dynasty about 3000 yrs ago, tiles classified in two. Tube tiles and clay tiles and are often decorated with calligraphy with pattern of clouds and dragons. An unearthed city map of Eastern Han period shows that Han cities contain temples, city walls,gates, alleys, government cities, temples and markets.

Temples are excellent examples of ancient architectures, representative temples include stone caves, palaces and pagodas. Buddhism spread to China during the Eastern Han period since then a large number of stone caves were constructed and many Buddha statues were carved. The famous charter arch bridge in Hubei province China, not only the most ancient  bridge in China but also in the world. It has endured 10 floods, 8 battles, and numerous earthquake. Its foundation is extremely solid.

Tang dynasty is the highest point in Chinese civilization.Huge palaces and complex were built. The empire saw a flourish in creativity. Ancient Chinese craftsman were also able to explore material properties in constructing wooden structures .The Imperial court also issued standared for consistent measurements and drawings.  Imperial family adapted Buddhism and continues to flourish. 

Chinese Traditional Houses and Architecture (excerpts from four documentaries) Part I

One of the things that I admire most in Chinese culture, is the uniqueness and beauty of the Chinese traditional houses. Amidst the buildings and skyscrapers in China’s busiest city, Beijing. We can still get a glimpse of China’s ancient past, like in the Walled City, or the Forbidden City and in other historic sites in the provinces of China wherein you can still get to see traditional houses.

I have watched some documentaries online, and I want to share with you what I have learned. The facts that I’ve gathered here are from the four documentaries I have seen on the internet, namely CCTV 9, Art of Asia – Four Asian Rooms, UNESCO and NTDTV. Images on this blog are from Google Images.

This post of mine is for educational purposes only. For the goal of this blog of mine is to share with you, the wonders and beauty of Chinese culture, music, tradition, food and way of life. This is a two part post.

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The first video that I have seen is about the style of line drawing and how it is integrated in the contemporary design of Chinese traditional houses.

Chinese Civilization : The Charm of Chinese Traditional Houses (CCTV 9)

Line drawing is a Chinese traditional painting technique ink and brush style started in Song dynasty. Plain lines and simple colors are used to capture the rhythm of mother nature.

Some of the people that made marks in the history and style in terms of line drawings.

Gu Kaizhi (16^th B,C) founder the line drawing technique.

Li Gonglin is an artist, civil office and archaeologist  from the Song dynasty, he developed the line drawing system while Wang Qijun is a line drawing style contemporary artist when drawing traditional Chinese tradition houses and architecture. In the Chinese traditional architecture. His painting captures every design of Chinese traditional houses.

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In the next documentary that I have seen. Chinese and Japanese architecture were explained. Architects, carpenters, and artisans of both countries also recreated rooms in Japanese and Chinese styles. I didn’t took included the details with regards to the Japanese Rooms since my main focus is of the Chinese architecture and style.

Aside from the beautifully designed Chinese rooms, I noticed their great fondness for nature, as it is evident in Chinese traditional paintings, photos of flowers, fruits, tress and the backdrop of beautiful hills and flowing waters.

 On the second part of the documentary, gardens were explained briefly, and here we can see that nature is also a part of the Chinese architecture, and in building a house. The life of a government official was vividly pictured here, while the narrator tells each scene, you can feel as if you’re part of the story.

Art of Asia – Four Asian Rooms

Both the Chinese  and the Japanese used impressive halls to receive guests. The Wu family owned an extensive complex of buildings in the town of Dongshan. Their reception hall is the largest and the most important building. The courtyard is surrounded by other structures that made up the family compound.

                                                                            We know that the Wu family was wealthy and socially high-ranking because of the room’s large size, Ornate ceiling carvings, and diagonally laid floor tiles. All designed features reserved by law for important people . 

When receiving guests the head of the household may have sat on a wooden couch, softly lit by lanterns and backed by a receiving folding screen. Similar to these examples by the museums important collections. Their important visitors would have been seated next to the family’s leaders in hard wood chairs. Less important guests sat further away in smaller chairs, and the least important guests would have occupied stools off to the side.

                                    

As a special room for important occasions the owners would have decorated this space with their prized works of art. They would have hung painted scrolls and examples of calligraphy, and in spaces between the rooms pillars. Richly embroidered cushions and pillows would have made sitting more comfortable and giving the room a more luxurious ambiance. Certainly guests by the Wu family would have been impressed by this scale and elegant contents of such a  room in addition to receiving guests the Wu family could also use the reception hall to honor their deceased ancestors by rearrainging the room they could place long altar table  beneath ancestors portraits were family members could make offerings of food and incense. They might have displayed the family shrine before which family members could offer prayers and ask for their ancestors blessings and assistance.The Chinese believe that if their ancestors were honored and cared for in the afterlife all would go well for their living descendants.

The Chinese believe that immersion in nature was an important part of life. Great gardens in Suzhou China integrated outside and inside spaces. A small gardens offers a welcoming view from the scholar’s library.

In China a scholar’s library or studio was a place to quietly enjoy art literature and music. It is a place of intellectual and artistic pursuits for the head of the household also as a place to escape. From the mundane concerns and duties of his job as a government official. In this private place he might practice calligraphy or painting while enjoying his collection of art objects used and treasured by past scholars. Amidst his books and hanging scrolls. He might entertain similar gentleman sipping tea or wine while composing poetry or playing the Qin a stringed musical instrument. He might pass his leisure hours enjoying the songs of  small birds or he might gather crickets and keep them in ornate cages to encourage them to chirp he might tickle them with tiny brushes. These pleasant past times enjoyed alone or with friends are enjoyed in the scholars library where it is easy to forget about the concerns and daily life.