The wooden architecture of ancient China has been around for thousands of years and is now seen as an iconic reflection of the nation.
The phenomenal construction skill of the Chinese is showcased in their exclusive wooden-framed buildings, which have no equal elsewhere in the world.
Compared to ancient Japanese and Korean architecture, ancient Chinese wooden structures are among the least researched of the great architectural traditions around the world.
The parts of the structure are linked together using tenon joints that are flexible and can withstand earthquakes. Installing them is remarkably fast, particularly if the core pieces have already been fabricated.
Shining like a rare precious stone and visible beneath the fabric of time, the construction of Chinese conventional structures involves honed aptitudes that are learned over a considerable length of time.
In 2009, Chinese architecture that includes intricate woodworking was recognized by the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for its unique qualities. Under the oversight of UNESCO, attention was given to the amazing feats that Chinese craftsment have achieved in architectural construction, spanning all the way back to a remarkable 7,000+ years ago.
How did Traditional Chinese Timber-Framed Structures Emerge?
Throughout the ages, Chinese people have evolved and implemented a totally exclusive style of building that cannot be found in any other country on Earth.
It is positioned near typical European and Middle Eastern structures.
But what sets Chinese architectural craftsmanship apart, making it stand out from the rest of the architectural systems across the globe?
At the beginning, Chinese architecture stands out when compared to architectures of other places due to two distinct aspects: the building materials employed, and the remarkable wood elements included.
Mastering Wood as a Construction Material
As early as the time of the Neolithic era, the beginnings of wooden Chinese structures could be seen.
As far as seven millennia ago, the Chinese of ancient times utilized mortise and tenon joinery in the creation of dwellings. Some of the earliest found dwellings were located at the archaeological site of Hemudu in Zhejiang.
Evidence of buildings constructed during ancient China dates to the Xia Dynasty’s rule between 2070 – 1600 BCE. This means that by the time the second millennium BCE had come around, the use of wooden structures had become widespread in ancient China.
The archaeological evidence shows that the oldest constructions were composed of wood.
One should be cognizant that initially, these old edifices were quite unpretentious and have no connection to the grand Chinese places of worship erected subsequently.
The earliest examples of timber architecture from Ancient China are usually referred to as wooden housing. These structures are known as dwellings rather than just houses because they tend to be bigger than regular houses.
It is thought that the sizeable size of the first wooden houses is closely associated with the communal nature of life during the time before China became an empire. During this time, Chinese culture was comprised of large families.
Examples of extended families included a set-up of grandparents, parents and their grandchildren, all residing in a shared home.
Experts are still unsure if these homes were built to accommodate the regular Chinese family.
Instead, it is widely assumed that the earliest dwellings may have been solely made for the king along with his hierarchy of henchmen, and of course, for their families.
Although the initial timber houses that were studied were basic and had yet to develop the distinguishing support poles which were later seen in renowned Chinese palaces and sanctuaries, these dwellings are still highly important evidence of the long-standing use of wood for the building process throughout the area.
Wood was the most sought after building material in China from antiquity until the 19th century.
In contrast, many of the medieval Western structures created around the same time as the ancient Chinese wooden abodes were largely constructed of rock.
From Simple Wooden Dwellings to Stunning Wooden Palaces & Temples
As the years went by, primitive wooden dwellings were replaced by more complex and developed wooden constructions.
The emphasis changed from buildings designed specifically for families to intricate wooden structures that acted as shrines or religious sites where people could offer prayers to the gods, to astonishing residences for the rulers.
Certainly, the complexity of the wooden structures necessitated the utilization of dependable techniques for attaching the connections.
The surfaces that form a right angle on beams and pillars had to be finished in a way that could handle even the most extreme weather conditions.
Ultimatey, the craftsman responsible for building the classic wooden structures had to keep in mind the small yet regular earthquakes and ensure that their creations would be able to withstand them.
By this method, a bearing frame that is made out of four sides was thought of in order to fulfill the requirement for strong and dependable constructions.
In traditional Chinese architecture, the walls were only there to cover the four-sided framework, whereas in traditional European building designs, the walls were meant to hold up the roof.
Additionally, the buildings constructed with wooden beams employed a very particular support and beam assembly method.
In the past, post-and-lintel technique was used to construct houses while pillar-and-arch method was only seen in major structures like temples and palaces, not regular dwellings in ancient Chinese house-building.
Experts maintain that the laborers employed in ancient China must have brought great strength as well as intelligent creativity to the task of constructing such grand palaces and temples.
The Unique Wooden Components of Traditional Chinese Architecture
It is quite remarkable that all of the manuals and documents from different points in ancient Chinese history agree on three primary elements that were used in constructing traditional wooden buildings: the foundation platform, the timber frames, and the combined roof and ceiling structure. They were always constructed as a single unit.
Reasons for Wooden Architecture in China
The following are the principal motives for why wooden structures were mostly utilized in China until modern times.
Wood was an abundant resource in early China
The Chinese have an inclination towards building wooden structures because the areas where their civilization has its roots — the Yellow River, and the Yangtze River – are abundant in forests.
Artefacts that suggest wooden stilt houses have been found in these areas, and radiocarbon dating puts the age of these finds around 7,000 years old, from the Hemudu Culture.
Ancient Chinese philosophy states that wood is lucky
Even with the development of quarrying and brickmaking, wood persisted as the primary material for building in accordance with the Five Elements Theory seen in Feng Shui. This theory has been impacting lifestyle since the period of the Spring and Autumn, which began in 770 BC and continued until 476 BC.
Wood, which is associated with springtime and freshness, carries the most favourable meanings for constructing structures. Therefore, adherents of fengshui have been obligated to construct their dwellings and other structures using wood.
Wood was easy to produce
Due to the short amount of time necessary for most trees used to mature, there was no shortage of supply to accommodate the increasing numbers of people in China. Wood was the perfect construction material: conveniently attainable, straightforward to form and replace.
Certain dynasties ordered that every household plant a certain number of trees in order to guarantee an adequate amount of China’s preferred building material.
Wood was easy to work with
As Chinese culture developed, its architecture became more complicated and ornate. Due to the immense expansion of the population, demands were high and the only type of fuel that could provide enough was wood.
The ease of working with wood enabled the construction of traditional Chinese architecture to be much quicker than other civilizations who used stone and mortar. Decorations were also easier to form.
It would typically take the Chinese just a few years to complete a building, while in comparison, other societies would require many more years to do so. Nevertheless, the architectures of the Romans and different ancient societies typically existed for a considerably more extended period.
Reasons for Wooden Architecture’s Decline in China
Wood’s Perishability — High Maintenance
Being outside can cause a lot of damage to wooden structures due to the sun, wind, and rain, as well as insects and other gritty aspects. This can cause them to wear down quickly.
Despite the development of paint and other protective treatments, wooden buildings required regular maintenance and replacement work.
Materials that require high initial costs but have low upkeep costs, such as bricks, stone and concrete, were increasingly attractive as labor costs in China grew.
Wood’s Flammability — Building Safety
The fire susceptibility of wood is one more disadvantage of wood-based structures. According to documents from the time period of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (between 1368–1912), there have been more than 50 major blazes in cities across China.
Risk of fire has induced a decreased interest in wooden structures. In China, the significance of safety and security has surpassed that of constructing with ease, appealing visuals, and even philosophical convictions.
Pressure on Forest Resources— Not Enough Wood
In the age of immense growth and numerous people in China, the land has been adapted to a range of purposes, such as farming, transportation, manufacturing, and residences, which has put a strain on the forestry.
Ensuring the conservation of forest resources has been declared as a national policy in China in order to fulfill the needs of long-term progress – to stop the cutting down of trees and meet the drastically decreased need for wood in the construction of buildings.
Wood’s Lack of Strength — No Good for Tall Buildings
Due to the substantial population of 1.4 billion people in China, there is a push to construct taller structures, which is a significant factor in the decline of single or two-story wooden buildings.
Constructing high-rises made of brick and reinforced concrete appears to be the only realistic way to provide accommodations for large numbers of people. Wood simply is not strong enough for modern construction.
China’s Wooden Architecture Tradition Explained — Nature and Culture
For thousands of years, the core components of the traditional Chinese architectural style stayed the same. Beginning in the Zhou Dynasty (circa 1046 – 221 BC) and continuing until recent times, the Chinese employed a constant blueprint for the construction of their wooden residences and official constructions. Nonetheless, for the development of other varieties of structures for instance bridges, towers, walls, and temples, normally bricks, stone, or pressed earth were utilized.
Why the emphasis on wood and flexibility? Compared to what is typically seen in the Western world, the structures constructed using the time-honored techniques of the past are not particularly remarkable. When one compares even the biggest wooden buildings in the Forbidden City of the Ming Dynasty to the huge stone buildings built 2,000 years ago by the ancient Greeks and Romans or the monumental European cathedrals, they are not as impressive.
Most of Europe, including Greece, does not usually experience much seismic activity like the kind found in China, and the region faces few flooding issues and typhoons. Approximately three thousand years ago, the Zhou Empire grew and evolved in the region around the Yellow River valley. Huge floods were a regular danger until modern times. The space between Xi’an and Tianjin experiences extreme seismic activity on a regular basis.
Wooden Buildings Were Built to Survive Natural Disasters and Wars
Due to the fact that much of China’s urban centers are constructed on soft sedimentary ground in the valleys, earthquakes that register as low as a seven on the Richter scale can wreak havoc over wide areas. China has experienced the majority of the most catastrophic earthquakes in world history.
Approximately 500 BC, the constituent states of the Zhou Dynasty period extended to the Yangtze River basin which suffered from periodic floods of great magnitude. Every year, the area was exposed to monsoons and typhoon blasts along the shore.
Approximately 2,500 years ago, the folks in the Zhou area came up with the dugong bracket system to deal with the frequently occurring natural disasters and damage that was caused by battles and fighting. This system streamlined the process of reconstructing and altering structures significantly. Damaged wooden components were more easily replaced.
The Chinese constructed their wooden structures with a bit of flexibility so they could make it through potential earthquakes, typhoons, and other calamities and to establish simpler restoration and reformation when necessary. The columns and beams made of wood were able to be easily reused or changed for different purposes because there were no fasteners connecting them.
The Forbidden City is an exemplar of the resilience of wooden structures. Beijing has endured nearly 200 earthquakes since the city was constructed around 600 years ago. The buildings were unharmed largely as a result of the flexible support structures and movable columns.
The structures constructed of wood, including those found in the Forbidden City, were all relatively short, usually only one or two stories tall. It is difficult to build strong wooden buildings higher. Wooden structures stand up more effectively in earthquakes than those made of brick or stone.
