Beijing's archway

Author: Ma Xin / Cao Lijun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: Ancient Chinese architecture is predominantly composed of groups, exuding grandeur and impressive scale. As individual buildings, archways play a significant role in architectural layouts. "The Great Encyclopedia of China·Archway": "An archway, also known as a gate tower, is a structure with a single row of columns, serving to divide and control space." It forms a unique architectural style through its minimalist yet delicate expression, standing out distinctly in ancient Chinese architecture. Archways originated from ancient "chuoqie," which were once used to honor virtuous individuals. "The New History of the Five Dynasties·Biography of Li Zi": "Its layout should suit the terrain, raise the outer gate, and place chuoqie at the door so that the ungrateful and unjust may see them, thereby correcting their hearts and changing their actions." Archways were ceremonial structures built by feudal rulers to commemorate officials, filial sons, chaste women, and martyred women. As standalone buildings, those with towers are called "lou," while those without are called "fang," i.e., archways or gate towers. They were constructed in temples, mausoleums, ancestral halls, government offices, bridgeheads, gardens, streets, and in front of commercial shops, made of materials such as wood, brick, stone, and glaze, adorned with exquisite patterns, paintings, and calligraphy. The architectural form of archways and gate towers is the crystallization of ancient Chinese architectural art and humanistic spirit. This book reproduces the existing, representative archways and gate towers in the ancient capital of Beijing through exquisite images. The book is published in three languages: Chinese, English, and Japanese.