What are the differences between Western architecture and Chinese architecture?

Fundamentally speaking, the difference between Chinese and Western architectural art first comes from the difference in materials: traditional Western architecture has long been based on stone; while traditional Eastern architecture has always been based on wood. This difference in building materials provides different possibilities for their respective architectural arts.

Different building materials and different social functions give Chinese and Western classical architecture different "artistic languages".

Different languages ​​express different thoughts and reveal different emotions; different buildings carry different cultures and embody different beliefs. Western stone buildings generally develop vertically and point directly toward the sky. In this way, whether the high-density stone roof can be lifted into the sky has become the key to architectural art, and the columns that perform this task have become the key among the keys. Therefore, the "basic vocabulary" of Western architecture is pillars, that is, those vertical stones that stand up to the sky and the ground. If columns are the "basic vocabulary" of Western architectural art, then the roof is its "main sentence structure." The differences in roofs lead to differences in styles, such as Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Gothic, Baroque, etc.

Different from Western stone buildings, ancient Chinese wooden buildings used brackets as their "basic vocabulary". The so-called brackets are overlapping curved wood that hold up the eaves. They can expand the vertical force to the horizontal direction, thereby constructing a variety of cornices. Like the roofs of Western buildings, as the "main sentence" of ancient Chinese architecture, there are many types of cornices, either low hanging, straight, or upward. Its different forms create different artistic effects, either light, simple, or majestic. Not only do pavilions, platforms, buildings, and pavilions have to use cornices to mark their identity and express their emotions, but the height and length of cornices often become difficult and important points in architectural design. As the saying goes, "If it is increased by one point, it is too long, and if it is reduced by one point, it is too short." The design of the cornice must be just right so that it can appear light but not frivolous, simple but not mechanical, and majestic but not rigid.

There is also the fact that Chinese people value new architecture, while foreigners are full of respect and respect for ancient buildings

There is also the fact that Western architecture is full of religious mysticism sentiment, and Chinese architecture is a reflection of Confucian culture. .

In addition, here is a more systematic article, which may be clearer.

But in general, there are just a few points, and the following will be summarized.

Chen Anguo: Comparison of Chinese and Foreign Urban Architectural Culture

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, and the difference in social structure and form. , differences in people's ways of thinking and differences in aesthetic realm.

1. 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 developed and 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, North 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.

2. 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 pattern, 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 buildings occupy the ground, then Western buildings occupy the space. For example, the Colosseum in Rome is 48 meters high, the "Pantheon" is 43.5 meters high, and the medieval Hagia Sophia has a central The dome of the hall is 60 meters above the ground. The most brilliant work of Renaissance architecture, St. Peter's Basilica, is 137 meters high. This majestic and majestic building not only reflects Westerners' enthusiasm for worshiping gods, but also makes use of advanced scientific and technological achievements to give people a spiritual power to work hard.

3. 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 throughout 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.

4. 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-apprentice 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 seek 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", which was Later generations regarded it as a guide and passed it down from generation to generation. At the beginning of the 17th century, architect Henry Wooden proposed that excellent buildings must meet three conditions: "sturdiness, practicality 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.