Main Text#
First, I want to discuss my negative viewpoint: contemporary Chinese architecture has obliterated traditional Chinese characteristics.
Not only do I want to negate the above viewpoint, but I also want to negate the viewpoint that contemporary architecture has obliterated traditional characteristics. The difference from the above viewpoint is that the viewpoint written above pertains only to Chinese architecture, while this viewpoint applies to all architecture.
Born in China, we are most familiar with Chinese architecture, and we can use Chinese architecture to expand and promote to all architecture in the world.
Note: The term "individual" in the quoted part should be understood as "individual" or "single."Individual buildings generally consist of three main parts: the lower base, the middle building itself, and the upper wing-like extending roof.
Liang Sicheng, "Characteristics of Chinese Architecture"
When it comes to traditional Chinese architecture, the impression is of red walls, various colored tiles, and wing-like extending roofs, while the base part is only applicable to individual buildings. If it is a connected group of buildings, then a base may not necessarily be required. In addition, there are also wooden structures and colorful paintings, which are the most notable characteristics.
During the feudal period, the Chinese were profoundly influenced by the divine right of kings, heaven, earth, gods, and ghosts. Therefore, in addition to the aforementioned characteristics, there are also decorative tiles, ridge beasts, and various types of decorations.
The Chinese have a strong attachment to home, which has led to the development of a unique courtyard style. There is a lot of courtyard culture, which I won't elaborate on here. The most famous Beijing Siheyuan is a well-preserved courtyard building; a courtyard is not a standalone building but a group of buildings. Thus, the courtyard is also one of the significant characteristics of traditional Chinese architecture.
There are many characteristics of traditional Chinese architecture that I will not detail here. Let us summarize its most representative features:
(1) Composition of individual buildings: the lower base, the middle building itself, and the upper wing-like extending roof.
(2) Cohesive building groups: symmetry, facing south, with courtyards.
(3) Wooden columns and beams, without load-bearing walls.
(4) Dougong structure, better mechanical design.
(5) Rafter design to support the wing-like extending roof design.
(6) Unique and diverse roof styles.
(7) Vermilion color.
(8) Various reliefs and colorful decorations.
These are the characteristics of traditional Chinese architecture. What about contemporary architecture? Although most of them lack distinctive roofs and various decorations, they still largely adhere to the principle of symmetry in building groups, which can also be well reflected in urban planning. As for courtyard culture, due to the changes in times, it has gradually evolved into the form of communities. In a group of buildings, a community is an indispensable part; although it no longer serves the function of an outdoor living room, it still shares a similar essence with courtyards, as communities originated from courtyards.
From the perspective of individual contemporary buildings, although they have load-bearing walls and have abandoned structures like columns and beams, this is also designed for multi-story buildings. If a column structure is used, due to the limited load-bearing capacity of the object itself, it becomes difficult to support the building after a certain height is reached. Using load-bearing walls is actually the best choice. Once load-bearing walls are in place, the structure of columns and beams becomes completely unnecessary, as most of the load-bearing tasks have been handed over to the load-bearing walls. Many clever mechanical designs, including dougong, seem insignificant in front of load-bearing walls. The substitute for the base is the foundation; aside from decorative aspects, it serves nearly the same function as the base. This is because contemporary Chinese architecture has been introduced from the West, where the bases are hidden underground.
So we must talk about Western architecture.
The characteristics of Western architecture are no longer roofs extending outward but rather extending upward, or simply having a flat roof. Their mechanical designs give a strong sense of impact; in many buildings, you rarely see columns inside, which is quite astonishing. Clearly, their mechanical design never intended to assign the load-bearing task to columns and beams. In terms of color, ancient European color craftsmanship was certainly not as advanced as that of ancient China, so the use of color was not as bold. In terms of building materials, ancient Europe primarily used stone, while ancient China used wood.
That said, they also have commonalities.
Symmetry is geometry, and humans discovered long ago that the beauty of geometry is infinite. The Fibonacci sequence and the golden ratio originate from geometry, and most of the founders of modern mathematics were Europeans. Therefore, Europeans naturally use geometry to construct European architecture, with symmetry being the most basic characteristic. In addition, they have built many marvelous structures using mathematical constructs. Reliefs and decorations are also commonalities between the East and West; these reliefs and decorations are used extensively on both sides of the world, with similar usage scenarios and decoration positions.
In summary, ancient Chinese and ancient European architecture differ in that the former emphasizes a unique Chinese temperament, a style that is partially concealed and relatively euphemistic, while the latter is more transcendent and grand.
All these characteristics have certain styles and techniques that craftsmen adhere to and are recognized by the people. We can call it the "grammar" of Chinese architecture. Architecture, like language and writing, is a practice that a nation always creates and continues to use through generations, becoming a style. In the West, the Greek and Roman systems created their "five orders," becoming their architectural style.
Liang Sicheng, "Characteristics of Chinese Architecture"
So, do we finally say that contemporary architecture has truly obliterated traditional characteristics?
I have already negated this twice, and I will negate it once more. Contemporary architecture combines the transcendent and grand style of ancient Europe with the partially concealed and relatively euphemistic style of ancient China. It still adheres to the grammar of ancient architecture, but it is a more essential and fundamental grammar. Contemporary people integrate these grammars to design contemporary architecture, which combines better mechanical design from Europe with better decorative design from China.
Contemporary architecture does not obliterate tradition; it inherits and improves upon it.
Conclusion#
This article was published on October 1, 2022, National Day. I wish my beloved land can bid farewell to plagues and decay and welcome new life in the coming year!
References#
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"Characteristics of Chinese Architecture" — Liang Sicheng
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Characteristics of Modern Architecture
This article was synchronously updated to xLog by Mix Space. The original link is https://fmcf.cc/posts/life/Architectural-Identity-Crisis