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The basis for a Chinese structure is the principle of balance
and vertical symmetry. Office buildings, residences, temples, and palaces all follow the
principle that the main structure is the axis. Additional structures, paired and
positioned as wings on each side, are identical in shape and size. The distribution of
interior space reflects Chinese social and ethnical values. For example, a traditional
residential building assigns space to family members based on their hierarchy.
Most of the Chinese principles of architecture came about during the
Shang dynasty, the earliest period of Chinese civilization for which reliable historical
evidence exists. (circa 1766 BC to 1027 BC). Unlike the builders of Medieval Europe, the
Chinese preferred shorter and wider buildings that seemed to blend into the earth. They
considered it bad luck to dig too deep into the ground or to construct too tall a
structure because they believed that such extreme dimensions might disturb the spirits
that liven in the ground or sky. In addition, they believed that the spirits moved only in
straight lines, never higher than that of a hundred feet above the ground. For this
reason, they placed a height limit of ninety-nine feet on all structures except for the
pagodas at certain temples.
Because early Chinese architects designed their buildings in this
style, their structure was literally earthquake-resistant. This was an essential reason
that so many century-old buildings are still preserved and in such good condition. Because
only the rich and privileged were able to afford such construction, not all buildings were
earthquake-proof.
Bibliography:
1. Odijk, Pamela, The Ancient World: The Chinese, Englewood
Cliffs, Silver Burdett Press, 1989
2. Waterlow, Julia, Looking Into the Past: The Ancient Chinese,
New York, Thomson Learning, 1994
3. Blunden, Caroloine; Elvin, Mark, Cultural Atlas of China, New
York, Equinox, 1983
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