Unit 3

City Construction in the Early Chinese Empires

Three Stages of Urban ConstructionThree Stages of Urban Construction

The North-centered Urban Development The early cultured regions and capital cities

Movement towards the Southern China Great migration from the North to the South

( 5th ～ 9th centuries): wars and social disturbances

Coast and hinterland development Territory expansion and the hinterland cities(13-16th); Governmental policies for currency circulation and the growth of international trade (Asian areas)

Macro-G

eograph

ical M

acro-Geograp

hical

Stru

cture &

City L

ocations

Stru

cture &

City L

ocations

Yellow R.

Yangtze R.Yangtze R.

Great WallGreat Wall

Emperors Emperors MausoleumMausoleum

Urbanization Process in HistoryUrbanization Process in History

Political centers moving along the axes Horizontal and vertical movements: from W to E ;

From N to S and then to N again

Urbanization areas in the continent Extension from Yellow River Basin to Yangtze River B;

Urbanization of the remote areas (the south-west region)

Confucian influence over city form (scale) Unified urban form and authorized construction (Chinese

urban system: national capital; prefecture; county; townnational capital; prefecture; county; town);

Stagnancy of commercial city (harbor city & border city)

construction

Movement of Capitals and Political Movement of Capitals and Political Centers in Chinese HistoryCenters in Chinese History

Luoyang(Tang D.)

Kaifeng (Song D.)

Xianyang(Qin D)Chang’an(Han & Tang D.)

Hangzhou

(Song D.)

Beijing (Yuan, Ming & Qing D.)

Chinese Cities in Early PeriodsChinese Cities in Early Periods

Urban relics in the Yellow River basin Longshan---Yangshao Culture(2200-1700 B.C)

Pottery and bronze wares, city wall ruins

Urban ruins in the Yangtze River basin Qujialing Culture (2700 B.C)

Borderline between city and village, bronze and jade wares

Structure of the early Chinese cities Small city center and big enclosed suburbs; defense facilities;

State administration (refer to polispolis), commercial and cultural exchanges

Archaeological Discoveries in Archaeological Discoveries in Yangtze River Basin Yangtze River Basin (BC)(BC)

Yancheng, Changzhou Yancheng, Changzhou

Archaeological Discoveries Archaeological Discoveries in Yellow River Basin in Yellow River Basin (B.C) (B.C)

Structure of Early Chinese CitiesStructure of Early Chinese Cities

Qi Qi KingdomKingdom Zhao Zhao

KingdomKingdom

Cities in Early Empires (Qin & Han)Cities in Early Empires (Qin & Han) --- --- Centralized Administration Country in AsiaCentralized Administration Country in Asia

Establishment of the Qin EmpireEstablishment of the Qin Empire The 1The 1stst Centralized Administration System in China; Centralized Administration System in China;

The capital dominated by the biggest palace in history;The capital dominated by the biggest palace in history;

Unified language, currency & communicationUnified language, currency & communication

City form and basic regulation in Han DynastyCity form and basic regulation in Han Dynasty Square or rectangular city (rammed earth wall) form;

The capital administration & the surrounding regions

Characters of the urban space layoutCharacters of the urban space layout Inner city space (palace, administrative buildings);

Confucian facilities (a unified social order) and the special

market/handcraft regions ( for international trade)

Capital of Qin DynastyCapital of Qin Dynasty --- Xianyang --- Xianyang

Palace E’Fang

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor Terracotta Army

City and PalacesCity and Palaces Qin Empire (221-206 B.C) Qin Empire (221-206 B.C)

Capital of Han Dynasty Capital of Han Dynasty ---Chang’an ---Chang’an

The Palace Changle

City form of Chang’an

The Palace Weiyang

Significance of Han Civilization Significance of Han Civilization

The foundation of the orthodox ideology Establishment of Confucian dominance; the writing system and

historical records (Documents of the Early History--ShijiDocuments of the Early History--Shiji)

The unified urban form in Chinese empire High tide of urban construction (1,587 cities) and urban administration system; Assembled cities along the middle and lower Yellow River basin; The standardized urban form

Influence over other Asian countries Construction of cities on neighboring regions (Korea Peninsula Indo-China Peninsula); Wars against the Huns and the opening of Silk Road

Main Cities in Han Dynasty: YechengMain Cities in Han Dynasty: Yecheng

Main Cities in Han Dynasty: LuoyangMain Cities in Han Dynasty: Luoyang

Evolution of Chinese Cities Evolution of Chinese Cities in Early Empires in Early Empires Features of Chinese Empire cities: Long-term social stability; Highly centralized administration;

Strict hierarchy order and social stratum value;

Dissemination of Chinese ideology in urban terms

(Japan, Korean, Vietnam……)

From structure to function;From structure to function;From individual to modelFrom individual to model

Contribution of Urban System Contribution of Urban System in Tang Dynasty ( in Tang Dynasty (618618 ～～ 907 AD907 AD)) Urban planning in large scale Balanced urban space: axis of symmetry, height control……

Clear functional division: palace, market, administration area……

Establishment of urban enclosed square system: time & space

Progress in construction skill and materials Wider span and larger area of architecture: Linde Palace, (20,000

㎡ ), towering pagoda, majestic gates, market and the widely use of brick and stone in large buildings

Extensive influence over E.A countriesExtensive influence over E.A countries Model for capital construction: Japan, Korea, Vietnam……

Similar architectural aesthetics: large roof pattern & courtyard, hierarchy order in space layout

Location and Structure Location and Structure of Chang’an City of Chang’an City

West Market

Daming Palace

The Scale of City and PalacesThe Scale of City and Palaces in Tang Empire in Tang Empire

The enclosed square (Fang)

Structure of Chang’an in 8Structure of Chang’an in 8thth C C

City and Palace (Japan 7-10th )City and Palace (Japan 7-10th )KyotoKyoto

Nara Nara

Construction Techniques in ChinaConstruction Techniques in China ----------The Corbel Bracket StructureThe Corbel Bracket Structure

wood brackets wood brackets

Crossbeam supported by brackets Crossbeam supported by brackets

Stone used in Architectural Structure Stone used in Architectural Structure Europe and China Europe and China

Pillar-base StonePillar-base Stone

Reading Ancient City by Stones Reading Ancient City by Stones Korea GyeongjuKorea Gyeongju