Chinese architecture encompasses various styles, including temples, palaces, and residential buildings, reflecting a profound connection to nature and philosophical influences like Confucianism and Taoism. Key architectural features include wooden structures, modular design using 'jian', and Feng Shui principles that align constructions with cosmic energies. Significant religious structures such as pagodas and temples demonstrate the integration of Buddhism and Taoism into architectural practices, uniquely contributing to China's cultural heritage.

1. Aymar
Waleed Razzaq
Salba BL24003001
Muqaddas Naeem BL24003002
CHINESE
ARCHITECTURE

2. CHINESE ARCHITECTURE
● Styles of Chinese ancient
architecture are rich and
varied, such as temples,
imperial palaces, altars,
pavilions, official residencies
and folk houses, which
greatly reflect Chinese
ancient thought - the
harmonious unity of human
beings with nature
Since ancient times, Chinese
culture has been heavily influenced
by conservative philosophies like
Confucianism, Taoism etc. Over
the centuries, the structural
principles of Chinese architecture
have remained largely unchanged,
the main changes being on the
decorative details.
Traditional Chinese buildings are
always found in pairs or groups,
whether they are residences,
temples or palaces. Traditional
Chinese architecture, unlike that
of other cultures, uses wood-
frame construction as one of its
most distinctive features.

3. HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND

4. CHINESE DYNASTY TIMELINE

5. THE CHARACTER
AND MEANING OF
CLASSICAL CHINESE
ARCHITECTURE

6. THE AXIAL CITY PLAN AND SITE PLAN
One of the great religious beliefs that
influenced the design of the classical
Chinese city and Chinese architecture is
Confucianism.
In order to create a stable social order,
Confucianism established the strict
doctrines putting the society in order
with rules and filial piety.

7. THE MODULAR SYSTEM
• One of the basic
principles of
classical Chinese
buildings is the
USE OF A
MODULE, much
like the modular
concept of
prefabrication in
contemporary
architecture
• Traditional Chinese
carpenters used
“JIAN” – a structured
bay as a standard unit
to construct all
buildings. “Jian” was a
rectangular space
marked by adjacent
structural frames.
“Jian”, as the basic
interior unit, can be
expanded or repeated
along the architectural
plan axis to join
together to create a
hall, then a building
• Odd
numbers
of Jian are
allowed.
Even
numbers
are
considered
unlucky.

8. THE EXPOSED STRUCTURE
• In ancient China, almost
all of the main structures
of classical Chinese
architecture were made
of wood.
• Thus, the art of
traditional Chinese
architecture may be seen
as the aesthetic of wood.

9. ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
● DOUGONG
● Bracket sets
● MUGUIJA
● Timber Frames

10. ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
● TAIZI
● Podium
● COURTYARD

11. ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
● WU’ DING
● Roof
 Renzi Xuan Shan
 Renzi Yin Shan
 Juan Peng
 Lu Ding
 Fudian
 Xie Shan
 Conical Cuan Jian
 Pyramidial Cuan Jian
 Renzi with Parapet Wall

12. METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
● TAI-LIANG
● Pillars and Beam
● CHUAN DUO
● Pillar and Transverse Tie
Beam

13. FENG SHUI
Qi, the energy of the universe is carried in the wind
and retained within water. Both elements were
used as the way of directing Qi.
Feng shui is not only a practice that is related to
physical space, but also to the inhabitants of the
space itself, as both are interconnected.
The goal of feng shui guidelines is to locate and
orient dwellings, possessions, land and landscaping,
etc., so as to be attuned with the flow of qi.

14. YIN AND YANG
Fundamental to feng shui is the idea
that yin and yang are the two basic
principles underlying all matter and
energy in the universe.
These forces are opposites, but are
not in opposition. Rather, they are
complementary and need each other
to exist and flourish
The constantly changing interactions
of yin and yang give rise to the
infinite variety of patterns in life.
Widely used in Taoism Architecture

15. BAGUA
The bagua (or pa kua)
of the I Ching (Book
of Changes) is an
octagonal diagram
used in feng shui
analysis. Each
direction on the
octagon (north,
northeast, etc.) is
associated with certain
significant aspects.
When one maps the
bagua onto a home,
village, cemetery, etc.,
information about
correct orientation and
placement can
allegedly be gleaned.

17. RELIGIOUS
BUILDINGS

18. BUDDHISM
Buddhism was introduced to China from India
around the first century AD, since the fourth
century AD, it was widely spread and gradually
became the most influential religion in China.
Because of varied introduction time and channel as well as
regional, historic and social backgrounds, Buddhism in China
is divided into three branches, namely Chinese Buddhism,
Tibetan Buddhism and Pali Buddhism

19. PAGODA
Pagoda, symbol of Buddhism is often erected in temples.
Pagodas were made of stone, wood, colored glaze or metal.
Pagodas have an odd number of layers. Seven-layer and Nine-layer pagodas are
commonly built.
The shape of cross-section is rectangular, eight-sided or even circular.
Initially, the pagoda served as the central axis alongside which rows of halls and
monks' rooms spread out. Later, pagodas were built near the main palace hall.
Chinese pagodas, in short, are a significant part of the country's cultural heritage -
with their beautiful shapes, bas-relief carvings, dougong brackets and upturned
eaves.

21. GROTTOES
Grotto, another type of
Buddhist architecture, is often
chiseled into cliffs. In the 3rd
century, Chinese Buddhists
began to build grottoes and
Xinjiang is the first area where
grottoes were hewn.
Grottoes are decorated with
painted sculptures, carvings and
frescos.
Craftsmen revealed real life
pictures and their
understanding of society in
these art works, which gave
them great historical and
cultural value.
The four famous grottoes in
China are: Mogao Caves,
Longmen Grottoes, Yungang
Grottoes and Maiji Caves.

23. TEMPLE
•Buddhist temples tend to be
decorated in red or black,
and there is a main hall for a
statue of a Bodhisattva,
followed by a smaller hall
with statues of other
Buddha's and deities.
•Buddhist Temples are called
Miao

24. STUPA
Stupas appeared in China with the import of Buddhism and, during a long history of
well over a thousand years, have become a valued part of the national Buddhist art.
Stupa, a word from ancient Sanskrit meaning a square or round tomb or a 'soul
shrine’.
The perfect proportions of the Buddha’s body corresponds to the design of
religious monuments - STUPAS
Its architecture developed from the pre-Buddhist Indian grave-mound
Under these mounds the saintly ascetic were buried; their bodies were seated on the
ground and covered with earth.
These dome-shaped graves, or tumuli, of the saints were regarded as holy places.
And were destinations for pilgrimage for the devotional and places of practice for
meditators

25. CONFUCIANISM
• Confucius (551-479 BC) established the
Confucian school of thought around 500
BC, during China's Spring and Autumn
Period (770-476BC).
• Confucianism became one of the pillars of
Chinese culture, and was named China's
official state ideology around 100 BC,
during the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD)
by Emperor Han Wudi, who reigned from
140-87 BC

26. TAOISM
• Taoism is a religion native to China. Laozi,
a famous thinker living in 6th Century BC,
established this philosophy and came to be
regarded as the father of Taoism.
• It formed mainly during Eastern Han
Dynasty (25-220). Many Taoist ideas and
thoughts are greatly reflected in Taoist
architecture.

27. TEMPLE
Taoist architecture applies two architectural styles - traditional style
and Ba-gua style.
In the traditional style, traditional architectural layout, which is
symmetric, was applied.
The second is the Bagua style in which all structures surround the
Danlu (stove to make pills of immortality) in the center according
to Bagua's position request.
A Statue of Dragon and Lion guards the gates of a Taoist temple;
In the main hall, the four Heavenly Emperors in Taoism replace
the Buddha trinity and four Heavenly Kings in Buddhism

29. FUNERAL
BUILDINGS

30. .
QIN LING TOMB
●The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor.
This mausoleum was constructed over 38
years, from 246 to 208 BCE, and is situated
underneath a 76-meter-tall tomb mound.
A terracotta army guards the complex

32. IMPERIAL
PALACE

33. FORBIDDEN CITY
Situated in the heart of
Beijing, the Forbidden
City is the world's
largest palace complex.
It has lavishly
decorated ceremonial
halls and royal palaces
All the gates, palace
and other structures of
the Forbidden City
were arranged about
the north-south central
axis of old Beijing

35. OTHER
NOTABLE
STRUCTURES

36. GREAT WALL OF CHINA
●The Great Wall of
China is a series of
stone and earthen
fortifications built by a
number of emperors to
protect the northern
borders against
nomadic tribes.

37. TEMPLE OF HEAVEN
●Temple of Heaven is not a
single building but a complex
located in the southern end
of central Beijing.
●The temple was used by the
emperor to make offerings to
the heaven and to prey for a
good harvest.

38. SUMMER PALACE
●Situated 13 Km
northwest of central
Beijing, the Summer
Palace is one of the
largest, best
preserved, and most
interesting royal
gardens in the world.

39. CLASSIFICATION BY
STRUCTURES
● Lou- Multistory Buildings
● Tai- Terraces
● Ting- Pavillions
● Ge- Multistory Pavillion
● Ta- Pagodas
● Xuan- Verandas with Windows
● Xie- Pavilions or Houses in Terraces
● Wu- Rooms along roofed corridors
● Gong- Palaces

40. THANK YOU!