AESTHETICS – CHINESE TEMPLES

Kaamesh.R
M.Arch – Interior Design
MGR University
INTRODUCTION – CHINESE ARCHITECTURE

Chinese architecture, the built

structures of China, specifically those found in the
18 historical provinces of China that are bounded
by the Tibetan Highlands on the west, the Gobi to
the north, and Myanmar (Burma), Laos,
and Vietnam to the southwest.
The first communities that can be identified
culturally as Chinese were settled chiefly in the
basin of the Huang He(Yellow River). Gradually
they spread out, influencing other tribal cultures
until, by the Han dynasty (206 –220 ), most of
China was dominated by the culture that had
been formed in the cradle of northern Chinese
civilization. Over this area there slowly spread a
common written language, a common belief in the
power of heaven and the ancestral spirits to
influence the living, and a common emphasis on
the importance of ceremony and sacrifice to
achieve harmony among heaven, nature, and
humankind. These beliefs were to have a great
influence on the character of Chinese
art and architecture.
CHINESE TEMPLES - CHARACTERISTICS

 Chinese architecture is known for its

strong horizontal axis; rather than
focusing on the height of a structure,
buildings have a wide base platform
and roof. This is not to say that the
structures in Chinese architecture
were all short and squat – towers,
particularly pagodas, were still
imposing structures, but in
appearance, they were wider and
heavier than towers seen in the West.

 Chinese architecture is also known for

its symmetry, both for single structures
and entire complexes. For example, a
house could be expanded to
accomodate new wings, but these
newer structures would be erected on
either side of the original building,
forming a U-shaped layout. The entire
estate may then be closed off from the
street with a gate

 Arguably the most salient feature of

Chinese architecture, the roofs are
sloping with upturned corners.
Beginning in the Song Dynasty,
buildings could also have multi-eaved
roofs.
CHINESE TEMPLES - CHARACTERISTICS

 The primary supports in a Chinese

structure are not the walls, but a series
of columns, beams and brackets
(called dou-gong). These are made
out of wood and could be intricately
decorated

 In terms of religious architecture,

temples carry all of these features.
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 lesser hall with statues of other
buddhas and deities. In contrast, a
Daoist temple would still have a main
hall for a single deity, but other deities’
statues could come on the sides or
behind the main statue. Also, an
interesting feature of Daoist temple
architecture is that the main door is
not centred, but on the side, in the
belief that this would prevent
unwanted spirits from entering the
main sanctuary.
STRUCTURE DESCRIPTION
STRUCTURE DESCRIPTION
ROOF DESCRIPTION
ROOF DESCRIPTION
ELEMENTS OF DESIGN
Types of beam designs with cultural aspects
INTERIORS

- Double height spaces to feel the presence of

energy inside.

- High column with simple designs at the top

and bottom.

- Strong beam and rafters to support the entire

structure with elements of Chinese
architecture.
INTERIORS

Highly decorated with more number of lightings

INTERIORS
INTERIORS
Temple site plan

According to Chinese Architecture all their temple planning follow the

Zen concept similar to our vastu.
THANK YOU