Chinese Architecture

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Term Paper Title	Chinese Architecture
# of Words	726
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	2.9

       Chinese Architecture
     Traditional Chinese architecture can be classified into four categories:
residential houses, royal palaces, recreational structures, and temples.  The basic
feature of the Chinese architecture is rectangularity-shaped units of space joined
together into a whole.  Their style combines rectangular shapes varying in size and
position according to importance into an organic whole. Each level is clearly
distinguished.  So, these Chinese style buildings have a powerful and appealing
exterior.  When people come to China the first thing that they notice is the curved
roofs, bold colors, and intricate outlines.
     In Chinese architecture the main structure is the axis, and the secondary
structures are positioned at two wings on either side to form the main room and yard.
Residences, official buildings, temples, and palaces all follow these same basic
principles.  Another characteristic of Chinese architecture it that they use a wooden
frame structure with pillars and beams.  Wood has been a main construction product
for thousands of years.  Nails are not used when building a structure, which is
different from us.  Wood to the Chinese respectes life, and “life” is the main thing in
Chinese culture.  This feature has been preserved up to the present.  Builders would
apply a lacquer to the wood to preserve it. These lacquers were made in bold colors,
and this became one of the key ways to identify Chinese architecture. The highly
varied color found on a traditional Chinese building have a symbolic meaning to the
Chinese culture.  People would paint dragons, flowers, birds, and landscapes on
these buildings. These are called murals that are painted onto the buildings to give it
more meaning.  The Chinese would make a platform, and build the structure on the
platform.  A high platform would add strength, elegance, and honor to large
buildings.
     The roofs on the Chinese buildings are also very important.  Roofs usually
slope down on both sides in a simple fashion.  Traditional southern Chinese
residences, including those on in Taiwan, have ceramic ornamentation on the ridge
of the roof that breaks up the otherwise flowing outline of the building.  The curve in
the roofs are still admired by many visitors.  This is symbolic of the spirit of Chinese
culture.  The building is normally straight forward, so the roof gives it a sort of
“twist”.
     There is a large variety in architectural styles th...

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