How to view the three major components in ancient and modern Eastern and Western architectural forms?

The difference in architectural form between China and the West is a manifestation of cultural differences. It reflects the difference in material and natural environment, the difference in social structure, the difference in people's thinking methods and the difference in aesthetic realm. From the perspective of the process of cultural formation, architecture is a complex of multiple contradictions, mainly manifested in two aspects: architecture is the accumulation and continuation of the culture of past dynasties; it is a solidified culture that can be seen by contemporary people with their own eyes. To, a cultural state preserved for a long time; on the other hand, architecture is a kind of advanced culture, which requires architects to be foreseeable and forward-looking, and to leave room for various specific planning and designs. It does not mean that Changes can be made, but lack of foresight will have serious consequences. Therefore, studying the differences between Chinese and Western cultures and exploring architecture from a broad cultural perspective can not only improve people's spiritual civilization, but also promote exchanges between different cultural categories. Next, we will mainly introduce the differences between the two in terms of building materials, building space layout, garden architecture, and palace architecture! The difference in building materials reflects the differences in material culture and philosophical concepts between China and the West. From the perspective of building materials, before the emergence of modern architecture, all mature building systems in the world, including Indian architecture that belongs to oriental architecture, were basically built with masonry as the main building material. Belongs to masonry structural system. Such as the pyramids of Egypt, the temples of ancient Greece, the Colosseum and aqueducts of ancient Rome, and the churches of medieval Europe... all are built of stone, and all are historical witnesses left in this "stone history book" . Only my country's classical architecture (including neighboring Japan, Korea and other regions) uses wood as the main structure of the house, which belongs to the wooden structure system, so it is known as the "history book of wood". The choice of materials in Chinese and Western architecture is not only due to different natural factors, but more importantly, it is the result of different cultures and different concepts. It is a common reflection of different minds in architecture. The primitive economy in the West based on hunting has created a primitive mentality of heavy objects. From the Westerners' affirmation of stone, we can see that Westerners' rational spirit of seeking knowledge and truth emphasizes that man is the master of the world in the relationship between man and nature, and that man's strength and wisdom can defeat everything. China's economic model based on primitive agriculture has created a primitive civilization that emphasizes selection, collection, and storage. The traditional Chinese philosophy derived from this promotes the cosmology of "the unity of nature and man". "Unity of man and nature" is a revelation of the relationship between man and nature. Nature and man are closely connected as a whole, and man is a link in nature. The Chinese people choose wood as a basic building material because they value its close relationship with life. and relationships, paying attention to the results of its traits and life relationships. The layout of the architectural space is different, reflecting the differences in institutional culture and personality characteristics between China and the West. From the perspective of the spatial layout of the building, Chinese architecture is a closed group spatial pattern, spread out on the ground plane. No matter what kind of buildings in China, from residences to palaces, they almost all have the same layout, similar to the "siheyuan" model. The beauty of Chinese architecture is also a "collective" beauty. For example, the palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing, the Ming Tombs, and the Confucius Temple in Qufu are large-scale building complexes with multiple courtyards. Various buildings are arranged in a regular manner with subjects and guests in front, back, left, and right, reflecting the social structure of ancient China. The introversion characteristics of the form, patriarchal thoughts and etiquette system. Contrary to China, Western architecture is an open, single spatial pattern that develops to high altitudes. Comparing the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Louvre in Paris, which were built and expanded in similar years, the former is a magnificent and majestic building group composed of thousands of individual houses, forming a series of courtyards around the axis, with an unusually large plane; the latter It adopts the upward expansion and vertical superposition of "volume" to form a majestic and majestic whole from a huge and changeable shape. Moreover, since the city-states of ancient Greece and Rome, colonnades, doors and windows have been widely used to increase information exchange and transparency, and to surround the building with external space to highlight the physical image of the building. This is related to the fact that Westerners have often communicated with each other through maritime exchanges and implemented slave democracy within society. The extroverted character and scientific and democratic spirit of ancient Greece not only influenced ancient Rome, but also the entire Western world.

At the same time, if Chinese architecture occupies the ground, then Western architecture occupies the space. For example, the Colosseum in Rome is 48 meters high, the "Pantheon" is 43.5 meters high, and the medieval Hagia Sophia, with its central The dome of the hall is 60 meters above the ground. The most splendid work of Renaissance architecture, St. Peter's Basilica, is a 137-meter-high building that not only reflects Westerners' enthusiasm for worshiping gods, but also makes use of advanced scientific and technological achievements to give people a spirit of striving for progress. The different development of architecture reflects the difference in attitudes towards innovation between China and the West. From the perspective of architectural development process, Chinese architecture is conservative. According to literature, the architectural forms and materials used in China have remained unchanged for 3,000 years. Unlike China, Western architecture often changes, and its structures and materials evolve more rapidly. It has been more than 2,500 years since the first temples appeared on the Acropolis of Athens, Greece. During this period, the architectural forms of ancient Europe have continued to evolve and change. From the classical column style of ancient Greece to the arch and dome roof technology of ancient Rome, from the pointed arch, cross arch and flying buttress technology of Gothic architecture to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome during the European Renaissance, no matter in terms of image, proportion, decoration and space layout have undergone great changes. This reflects the spirit of Westerners who dare to find new ways and be innovative. The difference in architectural value reflects the differences in aesthetic concepts between China and the West. From the perspective of architectural value, Chinese architecture focuses on information, while Western architecture focuses on physical objects. The structure of ancient Chinese architecture does not rely on calculations, quantitative analysis, or formal logic. Instead, it relies on master-disciple methods, teaching by word of mouth, practice, and experience. Our understanding of ancient architecture, especially those before the Tang Dynasty, mostly comes from literature. The imperial mausoleums and residences of the past dynasties were all operated according to the theory of Feng Shui and the principle of the mutual generation and restraint of the five elements. In order to achieve harmony with the heaven, earth and all things in nature, to seek good fortune and avoid evil, and to attract wealth and blessings, we borrowed the power of mountains and rivers to build settlements close to mountains and facing plains. This kind of "looking up at the astronomy and looking down at the geography" is a unique culture in China. The geometric aesthetics and mathematical logic pioneered by Pythagoras and Euclid in ancient Greece, the rationalist "harmony theory" of "integrity" and "order" founded by Aristotle, and their influence on the entire Western civilization. Structure has a decisive influence, and the paths of all sciences and arts are determined by this idea. Looking at the history of Western architecture, it is not difficult to find that the structural awareness of Western architectural beauty is actually geometric shapes; the "control line" of the shape of the Partilon Temple in Athens is two squares; from the dome of the Pantheon in Rome to the ground, it is exactly It can be embedded into a sphere with a diameter of 43.3 meters; the "control line" of Milan Cathedral is an equilateral triangle, the facade of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris is a square, and its central arch and "control line" are two full circles. Even natural objects such as landscaping, flowers and trees, after artificial pruning and deliberate carving, present neat and orderly geometric patterns. With its "artificial beauty" that transcends nature and controls nature, it is similar to that of Chinese gardens. This natural sentiment of "although it is made by man, it seems to have come from heaven" forms a sharp contrast. As early as 2,000 years ago, Vitruvius, the architectural theorist of the Augustan period in ancient Rome, proposed the classic three-element view of architecture of "applicability, solidity, and beauty" in his famous "Ten Books on Architecture". Later generations regarded it as a guide and passed it down from generation to generation. In the early 17th century, architect Henry Wooden proposed that excellent buildings must meet three conditions: "sturdiness, utility and joy." Westerners regard "sturdiness" and "practicality" as the first and second principles for evaluating excellent buildings. Therefore, when China's ancient buildings were destroyed or "disappeared" with the passage of time, the buildings of ancient Greece, ancient Rome, and ancient Egypt in the West were still intact, interpreting their own culture with physical objects. Through the comparison of Chinese and Western architecture, we can see the differences in conceptual culture, institutional culture, and material culture between China and the West. A brief discussion on the differences between Chinese and Western architecture. In the 17th century, which has the longest history, the widest distribution area and very obvious styles, the basic differences between Chinese and Western architecture can be divided into differences in building materials, differences in the layout of architectural space, differences in the development of architecture, and architectural differences. There are five aspects: the difference in value and the difference in aesthetic taste of the building. The strength and wisdom known as the "history book of wood" in Japan (including neighboring Japan, Korea and other regions) can defeat everything. Western thought and culture is more of a stone-like truthfulness, simplicity, hardness, and majesty. result.

Chinese thought and culture have more in common with the meticulousness, depth, toughness and softness of wood. The layout of the space is due to differences in institutional culture and personality characteristics. From the architectural void, Western architecture develops from an open, single space pattern to high altitude. The difference in architectural development remains unchanged for 3000 years. And China relies on experience from the perspective of architectural value. The structural consciousness of Western architectural beauty is actually the geometric form, the beauty of harmony and the beauty of confrontation. The artistic style of traditional Chinese architecture is based on the beauty of "harmony", and people feel the aesthetic psychology of kindness, warmth, ease and comfort. In traditional Chinese architecture, most of them are arranged in groups that unfold on a flat surface. The artistic style of Western classical architecture focuses on expressing the beauty of the confrontation between man and nature. Closedness and openness are in sharp contrast to being closed, restrained, and hidden. Western buildings can get the main impression from one direction from the front. Chinese palace buildings need to be viewed from the air to give them a closed and depressing feeling. Differences in Chinese and Western architectural cultures. Differences in Chinese and Western architectural cultures. Differences in Chinese and Western architectural cultures. This article starts from the differences between Chinese and Western architectural cultures in four aspects: building materials, architectural colors, architectural space layout, and architectural shapes. , by comparing the cultural differences between China and the West, briefly analyzing the cultural differences between Chinese and Western traditional architecture, clarifying the basic differences between Chinese and Western architecture, and strengthening exchanges and sustainable development between various cultural categories. Keywords: Chinese and Western architectural culture, building materials, architectural colors, architectural space layout, architectural modeling, brief analysis of differences between Chinese and Western traditional architectural cultures Text: Chinese culture values ​​people, Chinese culture values ​​morality and art, Chinese culture values ​​integration, unification and coexistence and oneness. The difference in cultural traditions is reflected in architectural styles, which is the difference between Chinese and Western architectural cultures. Western culture places more emphasis on objects, while the West pays more attention to science and religion, while the West pays more attention to the unique spirits of different eras or multiple schools.