Ancient Chinese Architecture (1)

In the long history of human development, ancient Chinese architecture has undergone all the changes from primitive thatched houses to splendid and imposing palatial buildings. In this whole process, ancient Chinese architecture gradually formed its own unique features. The art of ancient Chinese architecture is undoubtedly a very important chapter in world architectural history.

The dwellings of primitive men were natural caves. Today some people in the Northwest and North China still prefer to live in cave dwelling that are cool in summer and warm in winter. Later, the ancient Chinese learned to make their dwellings out of thatch and tree branches, which were called “nest residences.”

Archaeological findings showed that pit-style houses made their appearance during the clan society. Square or circular in shape, they took the inside bank of the pit as the walls. Pillars in the center of the room and around the walls were used to prop up the roof. Over the pillars were crossbeams and rafters covered with thatch. The roof and the walls were then coated with a mixture of mud and straw to prevent dampness. Sloping entrances and steps were the two types of doorway. A typical house of this kind can be found in the 6,000-year-old Banpo remains in the eastern suburb of Xi’an.

The Western Zhou Dynasty ( 1,046 B.C. –770 B.C.) saw a marked development in architecture. Adobe and tiles appeared, and people plastered the walls and floors with a mixture of earth, sand lime, which gives a hard and smooth surface. The layout of the courtyard was very much like that of quadrangle of today in North China. Architectural ornamentation, including painting and carving, was popular during the following Spring and Autumn Period ( 770 B.C.- 476 B.C.).