The Significance of Caisson in China Ancient Architecture
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Caisson is a unique decorative part of indoor ceiling, which is very common in palaces and temples in Han Dynasty. Generally, it is made into a well shape protruding upwards, with a square, polygonal or circular concave surface, and decorated with various flowers, algae, wells, carvings and paintings. Mostly used in palaces, temples, thrones and the most important parts above the Buddhist altar.
Basic introduction
Caisson is usually located in the upper part of the room, umbrella-shaped, supported by exquisite arches, symbolizing the sublimity of the sky. Caisson is generally painted with colorful paintings and reliefs. According to "Custom Pass", "This hall is a patio. Well, so is the image of Tokyo. Ling, something in the water. So Tired Ofthe Fire also. " Cave Sutra, Jingsu, is one of the twenty-eight lodging places. The ancients thought it was the main water. At the top of halls and pavilions, water wells are built and decorated with algae and aquatic plants such as lotus, water chestnut and lotus, all in the hope of suppressing fire monsters and protecting the safety of buildings.
Caisson is a kind of superimposed cave roof decoration, which is named because it is similar to the roof structure of ancient buildings in China. Dunhuang caisson simplifies the structure of the traditional layered wooden caisson of Han nationality, with its center protruding upward and inclined on all sides, becoming an inverted bucket with a big bottom and a small top. The theme works are in the central square well, and the surrounding patterns are spread out layer by layer. Because the caisson is located at the top of the center of the grottoes, the top of the grottoes has a lofty and profound feeling.
Algae well shape
On the larger circumference outside the dragon circle, 24 yellow pear-shaped lamp holders are carved. There is also a red flying belt from the bottom of the lamp holder, which looks like a circular top cover with yellow background, green leaves and safflower. These 24 radial flight belts set off the graphic caisson more hierarchically. Then it expands outward from the lamp holder of Huanglihuatou, and another circle gradually increases from the inside out. There are 96 lotus lanterns and 120 Mazu statues around these circles. These lampholders and statues narrow the craftsman's deliberate arrangement from the outer ring to the inner ring. The main thing is to make it feel as deep as the flying belt. Twenty-four ancient lions are carved at the starting point of the Twenty-four Flying Belt. Every two lions stand a statue of Mazu. Give the ancient lion a sense of capture.
Fire protection function
The significance and symbol of the decoration of algae wells are also related to fire fighting. According to "Custom Pass", "This hall is a patio. Well, so is the image of Tokyo. Ling, something in the water. So Tired Ofthe Fire also. " Sima Qian, a great historian in the Western Han Dynasty (about 145 or 135-), recorded in China's earlier astronomical documents, Historical Records and Tianguanshu: "There are eight stars in the cave, and the water is in balance." Tokyo is Su Jing, the official name of the star. One of the 28 hotels has eight stars, which the ancients thought was the main water. To sum up, I hope to drill a well at the top of the hall and pavilion, and decorate it with algae and aquatic plants such as lotus, water chestnut and lotus root, which can suppress the fire demon.
Since the discovery of fire, people have also learned about the harm of fire. In order to survive and develop, people have learned to avoid harm. However, due to the low productivity at that time, people still lacked effective means to subdue natural disasters, so they could only try to express their wishes in various ways. The special treatment of caissons by palaces and pavilions belongs to this category. Although idealistic, it also reflects the ancient people's good wishes for fire prevention.