What are the main forms of ancient houses in China?

The most important form of ancient houses in China is quadrangles.

Siheyuan is one of the most common quadrangles handed down from ancient houses, and it is the crystallization of ancient architectural technology and culture and art.

The quadrangle that prevailed in ancient times was the corridor courtyard, that is, the central axis of the courtyard was the main building, surrounded by corridors, or houses on the left and right, rather than houses on all sides.

In the late Tang Dynasty, quadrangles with cloisters appeared, gradually replacing cloisters. After the Song Dynasty, cloisters gradually decreased and disappeared in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

During the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, quadrangles gradually matured and improved, and gradually formed a unique quadrangle architectural style in Beijing.

Extended data

Classification of ancient dwellings

In ancient times, housing forms can be roughly divided into three types: temple type, large apartment type and small apartment type.

1, palace style

It was the highest-ranking house in ancient times, and was usually the place where emperors and concubines lived. Buddhist temples also have this form. For example, houses such as the Hall of the Great Hero have some remarkable features: magnificence, tile decoration on the roof, architectural color and painting all have special significance. For example: yellow glazed tiles, double-eaved roofs, red painted doors, painted dragons and phoenixes, etc.

2. Big wood and big money

Big wooden style is usually the residence of officials at all levels and local wealthy businessmen. Features are: no glazed tiles, and the color decoration of the bucket arch has strict regulations.

3. Small style

This kind of house is the residence of ordinary people in ancient times. Features: monotonous color, mainly black and white.

The order of ancient roofs from high to low is:

Ding Dian with double eaves, sloping roof with double eaves, pyramid roof with double eaves, Ding Dian with single eaves, sloping roof with single eaves, hanging hill, hard hill and pyramid roof with four corners.

Steps: Generally speaking, the number of steps is greater than the number of steps, the abutment made of white marble is higher than other materials, and the one with fence is greater than that without fence.

Highest abutment: the tallest building in palaces and some temples, with high grade and good material, uses all kinds of jade, mainly white marble.

High-grade abutment: secondary building for palace building, enclosure structure, white marble.

General stylobate: It is recorded in Qing Hui Dian: below the Duke, above the third grade, with a quasi height of two feet; If you are below level 4, you must be one foot taller. The pedestal of a typical royal building can be as high as 5 feet.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Traditional Dwellings in China