Introduction to modern China ? the relationship between Chinese architecture and urban culture: Beijing

Résumé du document

Beijing has not originated as the capital of China. As early as history can date back, the city was not even called Beijing. It was always known as the ?Northern Capital' in China. This was how Beijing was called and known prior to the rule of the third Ming emperor, Yongle, who then declared Beijing as the capital of the Middle Kingdom in the 15th century. Therefore, it is from the early 15th century, that Beijing has gained much significance and is regarded as one of the most important cities of China. The credit goes to the ?Sons of Heaven' (the Chinese emperors) who used to rule the country from length and breadth of the Forbidden City (Morgenstern, 1989, 23-25). Due to this great conquest, many stunning and astonishing temples and palaces were built in Beijing and I shall be analyzing some of the monuments as architectural achievements. This essay will be divided into four parts. In the first part, I shall focus my attention on a brief description on the history of the city. Thereafter, I shall be dwelling into the Chinese traditional principles of architecture especially targeting Beijing's major architectural achievements (including the Forbidden City for instance). I will be relating these architectural developments to the Chinese society, its philosophy and in a wider sense the urban culture and its development in China. Lastly I shall describe the modernization of the city and its architecture, as well as that of its urban culture and political organization in the second part of the 20th century.

Extraits

[...] These relationships between Beijing and political power were closely related to architecture. For instance the Forbidden City was the symbol of feudal power and, similarly, the public buildings built to the south of the Imperial Palace in the 1950's stood for communism (Morgenstern 23). Today Beijing remains the capital of China and one of the most important Chinese cities. It has a population of about 7.5 million of people and the 4th highest density in China (888/km²). It is also a very rich town which has the second highest GDP per capita (Gross Domestic Product) and HDI (Human Development Index) in China (wikipedia). [...]

[...] Nowadays the analysis of Beijing's architecture also illustrates the ambiguous relations between China and the Western world, and helps us to understand their complexity. Last but not least I think that we should bear in mind that architecture is perhaps above all artistic. Le Corbusier said: "You employ stone, wood, and concrete, and with these materials you build houses and palaces: that is construction. Ingenuity is at work. But suddenly you touch my heart, you do me good. I am happy and I say: "This is beautiful. That is Architecture. Art enters in . " (Vers une architecture, 1923) (wikipedia, “architecture”). [...]

[...] Furthermore Chinese architecture was also much influenced by the principles of feng shui. For instance it is worth mentioning that the city walls I have just mentioned were built in a way that was much influenced by the position of the four points of the compass (Encarta Encyclopedia), and the geometrical grid of the inner city was designed by Ming geomancers in the 15th century (Holsworth 19). This shows that the siting and the orientation of buildings was a crucial issue. [...]

[...] Logan, John R. “Three Challenges for the Chinese City: Globalization, Migration, and Market Reform” in The new Chinese city : globalization and market reform / edited by John R. Logan (Part Introduction to the New Chinese City) (Oxford, UK ; Malden, Mass. : Blackwell Publishers, 2002). Morgenstern, Manfred and Vestner, Heinz (produced by). Beijing. ((s.l.) : APA, 1989). www.wikipedia.org Articles: “Architecture”, “Orange County, China”. [...]

[...] “Quand les villes chinoises viennent au monde” in the French periodical called Urbanisme 341, March-April 2005). About urbanization in China. Fulong, Wu. "Mobilités résidentielles, relogement et différenciation socio-spatiales" in the French periodical called Urbanisme 341, March-April 2005). About residential mobility, housing and socio- spatial differences in Chinese cities. Holdsworth, May (text by). Beijing photography by Magnus Bartlett, Anthony Cassidy. (London : Harrap, 1988). Lip, Evelyn, Chinese Practices and Beliefs. Chapter 4 “Chinese architecture”(Torrance, Calif.: Heian, 2000). [...]