Read hierarchy, ritual, climate and daily life in roof forms, courtyards, gates, brackets and carefully framed garden views.
13 guides
Entrances and markers
What Is a Chinese Paifang, and Is It Really a Gate?
Open marker · inscription · closing leaves
Neighbourhood form
What Is the Difference Between a Hutong and a Siheyuan?
Lane · gate · courtyard compound
Wall finishes
Why Are the Forbidden City Walls Red?
Red earth · protective plaster · maintenance
Roof colours
Why Are the Forbidden City Roofs Yellow?
Glaze · imperial rank · special functions
Roof curves
Why Do Traditional Chinese Roofs Curve Upward?
Main slope · flying rafters · corner rise
Dougong
How Dougong Carries a Chinese Roof
Brackets · columns · load path
Roof forms
How to Tell Four Chinese Roof Types Apart
Slopes · gables · hierarchy
Ridge ornaments
Why Chinese Roofs Have Different Numbers of Ridge Beasts
Rank · placement · counting
Courtyard planning
How the Central Axis Organises a Beijing Courtyard House
Principal hall · wing rooms · offset gate
Entrance
What a Chinese Screen Wall Does at an Entrance
Privacy · turning path · feng shui
Garden opening
What a Moon Gate Does in a Chinese Garden
Movement · framed views · form
Garden view
How Borrowed Scenery Works in a Chinese Garden
Viewing point · boundary · distant landmark