Preface:

Ancient Chinese architecture developed a school of its own in the world with its wonderful scientific and artistic achievements in dimensional shaping, complex composition and color treatment in virtue of its unique style, distinctive plastic design, and profound theories.

Ⅰ Characteristic Geographical and Historical Contexts for the Initiation of Ancient Chinese Architecture

Ancient Chinese architecture initiated and developed itself in a unique geographical and historical context, without insights into which, one can never appreciate Chinese architecture profoundly.

Historically speaking, China is one of the four great ancient civilizations in the world, while the distinctive feature of which compared with Europe is that it had an over two thousand three hundred years long feudal society, which started at about 4th century B.C. and terminated in 1911. This had seriously shackled and fettered the development of Chinese architecture. For instance, in architectural contents more palaces, joss houses, mausoleums and vivaria were constructed without any further pursuit after novelties and radical change in plastic styles. Being deeply rooted in its profound history and tradition has contributed to the accomplishment and maturation of Chinese architecture in design, construction, complex composition, plastic arrangement and detail treatments. On the other hand, the perfection and consummation are interpreted as rigidity devoid of any opportunity for further development.

Geographically speaking, Chinese architecture has been rooted in an extremely wide and diversified geographical environment. The southernmost point in the subtropics, north into cool temperate zone, the west China tablelands for which the Himalayas are representative, the east China open and extensive plains etc., the various geographical conditions and the acclimatized multi-ethnic national environment had lent diversifications to ancient Chinese architecture. As to structure forms, the north China frame-propping structures, the south China column-and-tie constructions etc., they accounted very well for the diversification and rich colors of Chinese architectural forms.

In a word, the permanence of Chinese architectural tradition and the diversification of Chinese architectural forms are two conspicuous features in the development of Chinese architecture.

Staff:

Professor Zhang Qizhi
Professor Fang Guanghua
Professor Zhang Maoze
Professor Xie Yangju
Lecturer Song Yubo:

School of Architecture, Tsinghua University

Course Structure: Hour long classes - four times a week
 

Main Content:

Chater 1 Architecture in Primitive Society (By He Congrong)
Chater 2 Architecture of Xia,Shang,Zhou Dynasties and Spring and Autumn Period (By He Congrong)

Chater 3 Architecture of Qin-Han Period (By He Congrong) 

Chater 4 Architecture of the Three Kingdoms, Western and Eastern Jins, and Northern and Southern Dynasties Period (By He Congrong)

Chater 5 Architecture of the Sui, Tang and the Five Dynasties Period (By Wang Guixiang)

Chater 6 Architecture of the Song, Liao and Jin Period (By Wang Li Luke)

Chater 7 Architecture of the Yuan Dynasty(By Jiang Dongcheng)

Chapter 8 Architecture of Ming Dynasty (By Bai Ying)

Chapter 9 Architecture of Qing Dynasty (By Liu Chang)

Website of this course: http://211.157.108.48:8080/CORE/architecture/the-history-of-ancient-chinese-architecture/Course_listing