The Moral of Ancient Chinese Window Design

Ancient Chinese windows were regarded as an important part of the architectural entity, and their types mainly included straight lattice windows, sill windows, support pick windows, leaky windows, etc. In the eyes of the ancients, windows and doors were like a curtain between the sky and the people. In the eyes of the ancients, windows and doors were like a curtain between heaven and man. And the windows, as the eyes of indoor detecting the outside world and the outside world peeping into the indoor, have become a unique landscape in the whole architectural history.

Straight lattice windows

Straight lattice windows are the simplest type of window, with the lattices arranged vertically like a fence. Straight lattice windows can be subdivided into different types due to different specific practices. In addition to the common vertical straight lattice form, there are also broken lattice windows and one-horse-three-arrow windows and other deformations.

Broken lattice window is characterized by the word "broken", its window lattice is a square section of wood along the diagonal diagonal broken into, that is, the tip of the triangular cross-section facing outward, the flat side of the inward, so as to facilitate the paper in the window, used to block the wind, sand, cold air, and so on.

Threshold window

Threshold window is a kind of higher form of window, is a partition window, window sash up and down the pivot, can be inward and outward switch. Threshold window often with the partition door to maintain a unified form, making the building facade more coordinated, unified, neat, royal buildings on the windows are mostly in the form of a threshold window, in some large-scale residential and temples, ancestral halls are also used.

Support pick window

Support pick window is a kind of support, take off the window, since the Ming and Qing dynasties in the common residential use. Branch pick window is generally divided into two sections, the upper end can be pushed up to support, the lower end can be removed, which is the origin of the name of the branch pick window, but also the biggest difference between it and the sill window.

Leakage window

Leakage window is a class of more free form of windows, but can not be opened. Leakage window has the role of communication between inside and outside the scene, through the leakage window we can see the other side of the scenery, like through also separated, if hidden. Leaky windows developed later, most built-in colorful patterns, itself is a beautiful attraction.

Empty windows

The difference between empty windows and leaky windows is that empty windows only have window holes without window panes, and in architecture, if the empty windows belong to the "virtual" elements, then the leaky windows are "half real and half virtual" elements. Empty window settings can make several spaces interspersed with each other to penetrate the internal and external scenery into one, but also increase the depth of the scene, expanding the space, to obtain a deep and beautiful mood.

Skylight

In addition to the windows opened on the wall, there are a very small number of residents use skylights, that is, opened on the roof of the windows, mostly for lighting. The more elaborate skylights are often of the pavilion-type or house-type structure, with windows on all four sides of the pavilion or house, forming a unified style with the large roof and making the building more rich and beautiful.

Floor window

Floor window, also known as the "hook rail sill window", mostly used in the building between the corridor between the columns of the railing above the railing, and the railing installed together, and more waterfront and set up, open the window you can sit on the railing to enjoy the scenery.

Window development period -- Han, Tang

According to historical records, the Han Dynasty window system has been very complete, from the Han Dynasty unearthed Ming ware can be seen. Han Dynasty houses are generally located on the side of the door or both sides of the window decoration, and even some of the upper part of the door appears horizontal window, should be "lightning window" and "horizontal window" of the predecessor. The shape of the window has rectangular, square, round, etc., the window lattice style to diagonal square lattice, as well as straight lattice, horizontal lattice, net pattern, lock pattern. Most of the windows in the Han Dynasty were installed in the wall, and some of them were added with a favored lattice, and there were also latticed windows installed on the outer wall, which was called "cross window" in ancient documents, and it was a kind of "windy window" form installed outside the hole of the window. Han Dynasty indoor window often applied in front of the tent, which is the predecessor of the curtain.

North and South Dynasties period, Northern Wei and Eastern Wei house walls appeared in rows of straight lattice windows, house wall more straight lattice windows hanging curtains and curtains. Tang Dynasty housing space is large, the area of the window also increased, and produced a function of opening and closing, so that the indoor ventilation and lighting conditions have been greatly improved. This period of housing inherited the legacy of the Wei and Jin dynasties, with four corridors connecting the houses composed of complex and varied courtyard, four corridors equipped with continuous straight lattice windows, which is obviously the continuation and development of the style of the North and South Dynasties. Straight lattice windows were prevalent in the Tang Dynasty, and there were also broken lattice windows and plate lattice windows, etc. Most of the straight lattice windows were made of lattices. Straight lattice window lattice for the odd number, lattice is too long in the middle of the lattice string, survived to this day in Nara, Japan, Tang Shotokuji Temple of the building windows and its similarity to the charm.

Window maturity -- Song, Liao, Jin

Song to Liao Jin period, straight lattice windows are still common. Song Dynasty, the famous architectural book "building method" recorded the broken lattice window, plate lattice window, furtively electric window and appendage hook window and other four kinds of window styles, these should be more representative of the window decorative form. The craft industry was developed in the Song Dynasty, and the wooden frame construction in the Northern Song Dynasty had a great development on the basis of the Tang and the Five Dynasties. A large number of long windows and openable partitions (lattice gates), appendages and other structures were used in the decoration. The rich and varied window decorations with latticework shape not only add color to the building facade, but also further improve the indoor ventilation and lighting.

From ancient times to the present, no matter the literati or common people, in their windows are willing to put more effort to achieve the unity and harmony between the outside and the inside. Ancient windows, as a microcosm of ancient culture, have attracted the attention of modern people, or even become a trendy style in modern architecture.