Image 01

Siheyuan.

Drawing of a courtyard-style house in Beijing.

Chinese architecture, houses in China, Chinese houses

Image 02

Confucian Temple, a Sacred Hall of Art.

Located in the city Anshun of Southwestern China's Guizhou Province.

Chinese architecture, houses in China, Chinese houses

Image 03

Ornate ceiling.

Ornate ceiling of Situ Rinpoche's quarters in the Palpung monastery.

Chinese architecture, houses in China, Chinese houses

Image 04

Dougong Brackets.

The dougong is a system of brackets unique to traditional Chinese architecture.
These brackets, arranged like baskets of flowers, are set under the overhanging eaves, adding to the sumptuous magnificence of the buildings.
The dougong bracket is a structural member found between the top of a column and a cross beam.
Each is formed of a double bow-shaped arm (gong), which supports a block of wood (dou) on each side.
Fixed layer upon layer, the arrangements bear the load of the roof.
Owing to hierarchical restrictions in feudal society, the dougong structure can be found only in the most magnificent buildings such as palace and temple halls.
The number of layers of these bracket structures also depended on the importance of the buildings.

Chinese architecture, houses in China, Chinese houses

Image 05

Diagram of a Hakka residence.

 

Chinese architecture, houses in China, Chinese houses

Image 06

Diagram of a Hakka residence.

 

Chinese architecture, houses in China, Chinese houses

Image 07

Screen Wall.

An isolated wall either outside or just inside the gate of a traditional Chinese house to shield the rooms from outsiders' view.
Called yingbi or zhaobi in Chinese, they are usually made of brick, wood, stone or glazed tile.

Chinese architecture, houses in China, Chinese houses

Image 08

Zoomorphic ornamentation.

Chinese palaces, temples and mansions have special kind of ornaments on their roofs called wenshou or 'zoomorphic ornaments'.
Some are found on the main ridges and some on the sloping and branch ridges.

Chinese architecture, houses in China, Chinese houses

Image 09

Yingxian Wooden Pagoda.

World-famous Buddhist pagoda in Shouzhou City, Shanxi Province.
Construction began during the Liao Dynasty (916- 1125).
It is the oldest wooden structure in the world.

Chinese architecture, houses in China, Chinese houses

Image 10

Yingxian Wooden Pagoda.

Standing just north of a new Liao Dynasty Street.
Running from north to south, the street was constructed in line with the architectural style and characteristics of the Liao Dynasty (916-1125).
Its completion symbolizes the prosperity of the Liao Dynasty.

Traditional Houses

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