Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The article analyzes the role of colour and colour symbolism in traditional Chinese architecture. It is argued that in ancient China, color was not only a means of aesthetic expressiveness of the object but also expressed a certain symbolism and social status of both the owner of the object and the object itself. Using the example of China's most common historical architectural object—a small pavilion—the principles of using colours and the most characteristic variants of colouristics are analyzed. One of features of traditional China architecture is it’s symbolism, that was predetermined by influence on life of society of traditional beliefs. In building of the different functional setting all was regulated and every element had certain maintenance. Here we go near other feature of traditional China architecture, namely to it’s conservatism, as the architectonically-building canons prescribed in legislative documents did not change centuries even at the change of dynasties. From century to century principle of hierarchy in architecture, that had to express status of proprietor, was kept. Unchanging was remained by principle of submission to building, it’s planning and location of elements to principles of feng-shui. Architecture was complemented by the non-material types of art, that especially notedly in landscape-gardening of small forms, when history of pavilion was glorified by poetic lines, pavilions adorned oneself wooden tables with verses.Speaking about symbolism of old architecture of China, it is impossible to go round the theme of symbolism of polichromy, as, unlike European civilization, in China combination of colors was determined by not so much aesthetic properties or by taste of architect or customer, but more social status of object. Unique is circumstance that the requirement of observance of certain symbolism in polichromy was kept in all small forms - pavilions, without regard to their variety and on circumstance that a pavilion became the most widespread type of building of China. Symbolic images and elements of building were painted by open bright colours, where emperor's color all tints were considered yellow and gold, that is why he was used only in the most considerable emperor's pavilions, it touched and the use of yellow tile for roofs. Covered the roofs of pavilions of emperor's family members a green tile. Except these colors, in the pavilions of emperor and his family applied a black, under cornice decorative patterns dyed blue, and supports-posts - red that in China symbolizes happiness. As compared to own palace pavilions, small architectural forms were not such bright through the less meaningfulness and less size, but basic expressiveness was determined by not grandiosity and pomposity (as an ensemble of Gugong in Beijing), but by the refined form with proportional correlation of parts and accordance to surrounding environment.
Author: Wu Yueling
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4407642165