< revisions >research project about chinese design

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Lanni Yu

Nanchan Temple is a perfect example of Chinese architecture of the old times. The temple located in Wutai County is considered the oldest wooden structure in China. The Temple is constructed using plenty of wood which is in line with Chinese concepts of impermanence as wooden structures are known not to survive for very long. The also portrays a close relationship between human beings and the nature around them; often expressed in building setup and material usage. These concepts are held in Daoism. Additionally, the temple has earthen walls that can collapse. The temple set up with natural surroundings consisting of plenty of trees around the temple. These natural surroundings enhance the Chinese concept of harmony.

Nanchan Temple uses a duogong bracket which makes the temple responsive in times of earthquakes and to different weather conditions such as excessive temperatures and humid conditions. This design property expresses Daoism in that it shows human activities should be in harmony with what nature dictates. The Temple has a planar shape which is almost square and the features of the Temple are symmetrical. The symmetry expresses earthly beliefs of the Confucian school of thought. From the Confucian way of thinking, the ancient Chinese architects usually made symmetrical structures to enhance their beliefs of the symmetry between earth and heaven. This also expressed in the equal distance of the columns .The almost rectangular shape of the structure enhances the harmony theme of Chinese believe systems. The combination between Daoism and Confucian in this building shows the another big concept of Chinese architecture of Yinyang. The yin yang idea covers the whole structure, for example the curve roof and the straight bottom, the two contract things combines together perfectly.

The Ise Shrine located in Mie Prefecture and also known in Japan as “Ise Jingu”, on the other hand is typical of Japanese architecture. Compare with Chinese architecture, there is no luster things and designs in their building. They are more like to use original and nature color and materials to make. Stones and trees have always been part of the Japanese system of beliefs. First, the Shrine is located in a dense forest surrounded by trees and surrounded by river and mountains. These serene natural surroundings accentuate the harmony beliefs of the Japanese. In their beliefs, Japanese belief in a strong correlation between human beings and nature and therefore they create their structures to reflect these beliefs. It also reflected why they chose the original color of the woods, it is because that they think the gods are surrounded by them in the nature. Different from Chinese belief which they think they need a connection to reach the god. So, they don't need to add any color on it because the god is from the nature and human being, they don't need to cover it to attach to another thing, like Chinese heaven idea.

The Shrine is constructed using trees and stones. This concurs with the Japanese beliefs of accepting and embracing the truth of change.. Inside the Shrine the roof stands unsupported by the Shrine’s walls. This makes the Shrine to respond well to varying heat and humid conditions and further enhances the human-harmony-to-nature theme of the Shinto religion. The asymmetrical structure and the set up of the trees are not in order, this shows the higher respect that they have for the nature. For the interior design, the doors seems open to everywhere, and they use doors inside instead of using walls, so it can all come together to become a huge open space. This shows the connection of the nature and human being too. Compare with Chinese architecture, they are more emphasis on the nature itself, rather than only one door and symmetry designs to show the earth, heaven idea.

In the “Moon Cakes” story, a slender, octagonal house is described that towers to the moon. The building I constructed using colored porcelain slabs and balustrades and held images of idols. The building is used to symbolize their beliefs of the heaven, the moon and the energy. In the story, a rainbow bridge is used which is a common concept used by the Chinese to link human beings to the spiritual moon and accentuate harmony themes. The use of shiny, colored porcelain and illuminating lanterns is typical of ancient Chinese architecture that employs luster to enhance the concept of reflection. It basically stems from the beliefs of earth being a reflection of heaven(the moon light). In addition, the pagoda in the story carries the Qi from the luster of the building, it flows through everything, radiated energy to effected the energy of the building, it is the interconnection between nature and human, earth and heaven.

Silk robes were highly valued in China and were not common place. Silk was often used in the ancient China by women as valuable and bright dressing that showed royalty. Silk, owing to its bright appearance and luster, enhanced the theme of reflection held in Confucian and the energy from the heaven beliefs. It also accentuated the Qi beliefs where due to its bright appearance; it would seemingly energize things and those who wore it. Qi according to the Chinese beliefs is some flowing energy that emanates from certain orderly patterns or shiny objects. Since the silk was made through silkworms, it further enhances the patina concept of materials being made through natural processes.

Japanese calligraphy is spontaneous and hard to predict. It is has high influence of Zen in it. The calligraphy is normally random and irregular type of art. Chinese calligraphy on the other hand is more regular, organized and predictable. The Chinese calligraphy is more symmetrical and fine-structured linking human beings to the nature. The Japanese calligraphy offers a different kind of harmony than that of the Chinese. Their calligraphy is hard to tell which is the pattern which is the word, it comes together perfectly, which is emphasis the connection and the harmony with the nature. However, Chinese calligraphy are fills with Qi, their dots and other single parts are fills with energy.

In the story of the Bamboo Cutter, a Japanese couple finds a child in the bamboo thickets. They adopt the child who later becomes known as the Bamboo Princess. The couple raises the princess in a house built using bamboo wood and precious stones. The house had a shiny interior which made night look like day. The use of wood, stones and shiny interior has always been part of the Japanese ancient architectural design. It is quite similar to the Japanese calligraphy in terms of being natural and accentuates the harmony theme. It is also a big effect that they points out the princess is came from the sky, So they use the shiny indoor design to reflected as well.