About the interior structure of Ming Dynasty residences
In ancient times, a house was not only a place of residence, but also a symbol of the owner's identity. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, the imperial court had certain restrictions on the housing styles of officials and common people, but they were still relatively loose. For example, in the Song Dynasty, it was stipulated that officials below the sixth rank could not build Wutou doors in front of their houses, and common people's houses were only allowed to be five doors deep. Only one room is allowed in the house, and no cornices, heavy arches, pavilions, caissons, or colorful decorations are allowed. The focus is on the status difference between zoning officials and common people. In the early Ming Dynasty, the classification of residential buildings became stricter. Officials were not allowed to use gables and double eaves roofs, nor were they allowed to use heavy arches and caissons when building their houses. These restrictions were originally targeted at common people in the Song Dynasty, but now they are targeted at high-ranking officials. This means that except for members of the royal family, no matter how high your official position is, your residence cannot be built on the top of a hill, but can only be built on a "two buildings" (hanging mountain, hard building). Mountain). In addition, the residences of princes and officials were divided into four levels, and strict restrictions were imposed on the number, depth, and paint colors of gates and halls. As for the common people's houses, they are not allowed to exceed three rooms, and brackets and colorful colors are not allowed. The above reflects that the strict hierarchical system of the Ming Dynasty has been fully reflected in the residential form, but the phenomenon of exceeding the system is very common. To this day, a number of very exquisite gilded paintings and masonry carvings are still preserved in the residential buildings in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.
Different levels of officials have different levels of housing. The Ming Dynasty had strict regulations on buildings. According to the "History of the Ming Dynasty·Yu Fu Zhi": vassal kings called mansions, officials called houses, and common people called homes. The size of the houses was also restricted. Princes and officials built houses according to their rank, while common people could only build houses with "three rooms and five shelves". For example, the Prince's Palace in the Ming Dynasty was divided into two parts, the front and back. The former part had three levels of halls, and the back part had three levels of palaces, with courtyards on both sides. The layout was like the Forbidden City, but on a much smaller scale.
Architecture of the Ming Dynasty The style is relatively rough and the decoration is relatively simple
Beginning in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), China entered the late feudal society. Most of the architectural styles of this period were inherited from the Song Dynasty without significant changes, but the architectural design and planning were characterized by grand scale and majesty.
The urban planning and palace architecture of this period were used by later generations: the capital Beijing and Nanjing, the largest existing ancient city in China, both benefited from the planning and management of the Ming Dynasty. The palaces of the emperors of the Qing Dynasty were also built in the Ming Dynasty. It was continuously expanded and improved on the basis of the palace. Beijing, the capital of this period, was rebuilt on the original basis and was divided into three parts: the outer city, the inner city and the imperial city.
The Ming Dynasty continued to vigorously build the Great Wall, a magnificent defensive building. Many important sections of the walls and gates of the Great Wall were built with bricks, and the construction level reached the highest level. The Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty started from the Yalu River in the east and ended at Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu Province in the west, with a length of 5,660 kilometers. Famous Guancheng cities such as Shanhaiguan and Jiayuguan are unique masterpieces of Chinese architectural art; the Badaling section of the Great Wall in Beijing and the Simatai section of the Great Wall also have high artistic value.
During this period, the art and technology of wooden frames were further developed in architecture. The image of official-style buildings was more rigorous and steady, and its decoration, paintings, and decorations became increasingly stereotyped; many bricks and stones were also left in the decoration and furnishings. Works made of different materials such as , glazed, and hardwood, bricks have been widely used in residential walls.
In the Ming Dynasty, the layout of Chinese architectural complexes became more mature. The Xiaoling Tombs of the Ming Dynasty in Nanjing and the Ming Tombs in Beijing are outstanding examples of making use of terrain and environment to create a solemn atmosphere in the tombs.
In addition, at this time, the private garden construction of Jiangnan bureaucratic landlords was very developed, and Ming-style furniture was also famous around the world.
It is worth mentioning that Feng Shui reached its peak in the Ming Dynasty. This unique ancient cultural phenomenon in the history of Chinese architecture has continued to influence modern times.