Name: Yang Zhaoying University Name: Henan Normal University E-mail address: 1911749514@qq.com Telephone: 18317577659 The Traditional Architecture in America and China 1
The Traditional Architecture in America and China Abstract: With the development of mutual relationship in Sino-US, there are more and more people studying the differences of the two countries. Now, architecture is a hot topic which has brought so many foreigners to local countries and exerts a steadily broadening influence on mutual understanding and bilateral economy. Furthermore, at present, people are not satisfied to enjoy the natural scenery, but hope to understand the culture. That is why there are an increasing number of books studying architecture. For example, Ten Books on Architecture ; The culture and architecture ; The penetration of cultural differences in Sino-western from the perception of the differences of architecture and other books. This paper aims to popularize the general knowledge of architecture by showing some typical buildings in Chinese and western and to show the differences in architecture between Chinese and America, for example, the different choice of material, color and others. And it will also analyze the reasons, such as various geography, different faiths and culture. Key words: concept. traditional architecture, difference, development, culture, faiths, Introduction: Recently, there is an urgent demand for a good communication between America and China. Amity between people holds the key to the sound relations between states. Tourism is a good way to improve mutual understanding between people and enhance mutual relationship, as a result of architecture is a comprehensive art and is the reflection of material civilization, spiritual civilization and national culture. That is one of the reasons of the flourishing of tourism. And now people expect the appreciation of more the local culture and history than environment, which calls us to know the orientation and beauty of the scenery. Besides, at the moment of passing on the essence of traditional culture, it is imperative to find a balanced point between traditional culture and contemporary culture. What s more, when there is an increase in environmental issues, it is imperative to popularize the concept of harmony which is distinct in the beauty of architecture of both countries. In my paper, first I will make a brief introduction of both countries architecture. Then I will compare main elements of them, such as material, color, location, distribution religious elements and their ideas by showing some representative buildings, such as American Princeton University and Yale University, Beijing Hu tong, the Summer Palace and the Forbidden City. Body: A. A brief introduction of architecture Architecture is not a matter about buildings; it is the profession of designing buildings and environments with consideration for their esthetic effect. The function of the architecture is clear. The primitive architecture, caves or other shelters our ancestors found or built were just for shelter. 2
3 After hundreds years, with the improvement of people s living standard, people were not satisfied with the basic function, and they desire more spiritual satisfaction. At this moment, architecture is a reflection people s taste, status, the level of technology. B. The development of Chinese traditional architecture Chinese traditional architecture has a long history. It can date back to primitive society. With time passing by, Chinese society changed a lot. Subsequently, there came many dynasties, Chow, Qin and Han dynasty, the three kingdoms, Jin, Southern and Northern dynasty, Sui Tang dynasty, Song, Liao Yuan, then Ming and Qing dynasty. In this process, Chinese architecture developed a lot and formed its own style. There are four periods that Chinese traditional architecture develops at a high speed. First, in Qin and Han dynasty, Chinese traditional architecture form its prototype which demonstrates the use of wood and Dou Gong. Then in Southern and Northern dynasty, Buddhism exploded in, as a result, there were an increasing number of temples, which manifests Buddhism penetrate into Chinese design concepts. Till Song dynasty the architectures were more delicate, they were an improvement of previous architectures. When it comes to Ming and Qing dynasty, Chinese architectures came in a mature status. Looking at architectures at that time, we can easily find there are so many magnificent architectures. The imperial tombs and gardens were all a representation of esthetics and culture. C. The development of American traditional architecture. American architecture derives from European architecture. In the early time, American architecture is a mixture of the architecture of so many European countries. Until the Second World War, there were many personages of construction field immigrate to US, which contributes a lot to the development of American architecture. In the early 1990s, American found concrete and developed steel industry. It is at this time that America starts its own architectural history. Consequently, there was a boom in high-rises. The typical architectures are Willis tower in Chicago, The Chrysler building in New York, and The Empire State Building which remained a representative of New York. D. The differences of traditional architecture of the two countries 1 Material The Chinese choose wood as their main building material; it can be proved by there a large quantity of preserved architectures (temples, many other magnificent buildings), for example, the Summer Palace, the room of Forbidden City, the imperial gardens and other antique buildings. It is ubiquitous in Chinese traditional architecture; wooden windows and crossbeams are universal in Chinese architecture. While in America, concrete and bricks are popular, wood is also used in American architectures. Their different geography and faiths are key factors of the difference of the material. In China, there are many wood but less clay and stone, while in America it is in contrast. And Chinese people advocate the concept of the
harmony between people and nature. They regard wood as a creature, the choice of wood shows the values that they conveyed about nature. But in America, people believe in god, they think everything is made by god and should be controlled by god, so the choice of stone is an indication of the aspiration of reason. 2 Different Shapes The differences of material depend on the differences of shapes, and different concepts also contribute to different structure of architecture. At first, the uses of stone in western buildings boost the development of lengthways and directly points to the sky. Then Chinese wooden buildings are based on Dou Gong, a system of brackets inserted between the top of a column and a crossbeam. Under the eaves brackets, ridge eaves are decorated with patterns is a very visual description of that. Chinese classical architecture of the roof is generally made in significant curve, the roof is higher than a steep slope, lower than the flat, then it will facilitate the storm drain, and it helps sunshine and ventilation. Moreover, it includes the formation of wing angle of flying mood. Though they are different in some way but one in common symmetry or harmony. We can easily find that there are many plants, water and artificial rockery and other equipment surrounding the buildings. Chinese attach importance of harmony between nature and humanity and they regard symmetry as unity. The American focuses more on stability and the beauty of symmetry. 3 Different distributions Chinese people value relations, so architectures are concentrated together and closed. Chinese architecture is a spatial pattern of closed groups, on the ground plane swing. China, regardless of the type of the construction, from residential to the palace, is almost always in one pattern, similar to the "courtyard" mode, which reflects the social structure in ancient China and the characteristic of patriarchal ideology and ethics system. We can see that from Beijing Hu tong and quadrangle dwellings. But American people are much private, so they prefer the architecture being located alone and open. In contrast with China, the West Building is open to the spatial pattern of single high-rise, we can rarely find architecture with a high wall, and the architecture is always equipped with vast lawn or woods. All in all, wideness is or openness is a deep impression that America architecture gives people. Furthermore, Chinese buildings prefer to locate in north and face south, while Americans do not have this tradition. 4 Colors Chinese people like red and yellow best, they regard yellow as a sign of imperial power, good luck and peaceful festival, red as happiness and honors. As yellow is confined to imperial household, so most of the buildings are red, imperial buildings are yellow. What s more, plain gray is also universal in 4
common life. We can find that the house ordinary people lived is universally in this color. However, western prefer the natural color-white and gray, later in the color of concrete, for example, Princeton University and Yale University. 5 Concepts Chinese architects pay more attention to Feng shui (the location and its direction) five elements metals (metal, wood, water, fire and ground) and harmony. We can easily find that Chinese architectures are surrounded with many things in order to fulfill five elements metals. They respect the imperial power and believe God and Buddha, even a little afraid of that. They think God or Buddha would bless them so long as they sincerely believe them. American architectures attach importance on stability and want to control everything. The representatives of western architecture are palaces, tombs, temples and cathedrals, all of which are spiritual demand. Because they relate all unknowns to Gods, the buildings are always dimming, mysterious, depressing, dignified, holy and solemn in appearance, reflecting the design intent that religion is the dominance of people and the spirituality of worship of Gods. Conclusion: Culture influences the form of architecture. Accordingly, Chinese architecture is the world s only building system which mainly gives priority to the wooden structure, deeply reflecting the ethics, aesthetics, values and conception of nature of Chinese people. Based on cultural tradition, the main features of Chinese architecture include: emphasizing imperial supremacy and strict hierarchy ideas, specially paying attention to the combined beauty of groups; respecting for nature, and focusing on the high degree of coordination with nature; seeking for the beauty of neutralization, unassuming and connotation. American architectures are also a reflection of rigor, admiration for symmetry or harmony and reason. They are all the reflection of local cultures. After the studies of architecture, we can weaken the cultural barriers, and boost the development of tourism. Besides, we can also combine the essence of the two cultures; Chinese Garden of Yan is exactly an example. This architecture is really a reflection of the beauty of the combination of Chinese and America architecture. In a conclusion, there are many differences between the two countries architecture, but we can combine the essence of them, create a newly-combined architecture. Reference 1 Nai Yang economy Eat, drink, A comparison of Chinese and Western [M] 2 Liu Tianhua The culture and architecture 3 Journal of jiamusi institute of education Zhang Aizhen The penetration of cultural differences in Sino-US from the perception of the differences of architecture. This paper aims to show the differences in architecture 4 Wang Xin and Liu Xianjue, Seeking the differences of Sino-western from the comparison of Ten Books on Architecture and Ying-tsao-fa-shih 5