Unique corner of geomantic omen in ancient buildings: the significance of cornice

It is often heard that there was a kind of lightness skill in ancient times called "flying over the eaves and walking over the wall". Please forgive Bian Xiao's ignorance. When I was a child, I thought that "climbing over the eaves" was "climbing over the walls". Now I know that cornice is a unique corner of ancient architecture, so this issue of architectural geomantic omen will learn the meaning of cornice from Bian Xiao.

The cornice is a traditional form of architectural eaves in Han Dynasty, which refers to the eaves that are upturned, especially the eaves in the corner. If it is flying, it is often used in the corner of the roof of pavilions, platforms, buildings, pavilions, palaces, temples and other buildings. The four corners stretch like birds spreading their wings and are light and lively, so it is often called cornices.

The cornice is one of the important manifestations of the national style of architecture in Han Dynasty. Through this special treatment and creation on the cornice, it not only expands the lighting surface, is conducive to the drainage of rainwater, but also increases the upward movement of the building, as if a gas lifted the eaves upward. The cornices stacked in the middle of the building complex create a spectacular momentum and the unique soaring and brisk charm of the ancient buildings in China.

Different from the stone buildings in the west, the wooden buildings of the Han nationality in China take the bucket arch as the "basic vocabulary". The so-called bucket arch is the overlapping curved wood supporting the eaves, which can expand the vertical force to the horizontal direction, thus constructing various cornices.

As the "main sentence pattern" of ancient architecture in China, there are many types of cornices, such as drooping, upright and overhanging. Their different forms create different artistic effects, either light, simple or majestic. Pavilions, pavilions and buildings should use cornices to identify themselves and express their feelings.

The height and length of cornice often become the difficulty and focus in architectural design. As the saying goes, "adding one point is too long and subtracting one point is too short", its design must be just right, so as to be light but not frivolous, simple but not mechanical, dignified and not rigid.

Cornice is an important part of roof modeling of traditional Han architecture in China. Among the traditional buildings in China, the shape of the roof is the most prominent, and the roof accounts for a large proportion in a single building, which can generally reach about half the height of the facade.

The beam-frame combination of ancient wood structure can naturally make the top of the slope form a curve, not only the slope surface is a curve, but also the front ridge and eaves end, and the eaves can also be added at the corner where the eaves turn. The huge roof composed of beams and frames, as well as the soft curve of the top of the slope, straight roof ridge and upturned cornices, make the roof the most prominent formal feature of ancient Han architecture in China. Ming Dynasty, "Jiazi's Midsummer Visit to the Mansion to View the Middle Building of Haicheng": "Looking at it, walking on the eaves, chalk powder, nothing."

"cornice" feature

Cornice is a special treatment and creation of eaves in ancient buildings in China, which is often used at the corner of the roofs of pavilions, terraces, buildings, pavilions, palaces and temples. Cornice is a kind of light and lively eaves, which looks like a bird spreading its wings. It is one of the important manifestations of China's architectural national style. The eaves of traditional buildings in China, especially those in the corner, are upturned.

The cornice design and composition are ingenious, and the beautiful roof gives people a pleasing artistic enjoyment. The cornices are often carved with gods to ward off evil spirits and pray for blessings, such as Kirin and flying crane. Some people like spirits, others like auspicious clouds, or a lively carp, which represents the hydrophilic culture of getting the moon first by being close to the water.

If the roof goes up, it will fly. It is often used in pavilions, platforms, buildings, pavilions, temples, palaces and other buildings. Qing Li Dou's "Yangzhou Painting Boat Record Caohe Record": "There are five three fragrant pavilions, three cornices, colored glazed bamboo tiles upstairs, and phoenix falls in the dragon ditch." Qin Mu's "National Altar" lyrics: "The palace behind this altar is gorgeous, with cornices, archways, glazed tiles and white stone steps, which are really magnificent!"

Cornice is a unique corner in the geomantic omen of ancient buildings in China, and it is an ancient architectural element in China. The cornice is a symbol of China's ancient status.