Everybody knows that astrology is a really big part of Chinese culture. The signs of the Chinese zodiac, the lunar calendar, and feng shui interior design are all aspects of this. In Mandarin, China is “中国,” the Middle Country. The ultimate expression of the Chinese understanding of the cosmos, however, is at a scale less noticeable to the casual observer but far more significant. Built into the very fabric of Chinese urban life at every scale, the architectural and urban design principles that shaped the construction of imperial cities including Chang’an, Nanjing, and Beijing express the perceived order of the cosmos. City planning and cultural expression reached a synergistic zenith in imperial China. As early as 2000 BC, urban settlements were arranged to comply with the “mandate of heaven,” expressing the astral logic at the center of 5000 years of Chinese culture. The city itself became a temple, a work of art, and an expressive instrument.
These principles included a symmetrical rectilinear layout, with orientation to the compass (a north-south axis at the center). Millenia before the American suburbs spawned gated communities, the Chinese valued a sense of enclosure via gates, moats, etc. The palace was located at the center, because the emperor was symbolized by the North Star, around which all the other stars in the heavens appear to rotate. Enclosure, symmetry, and compass orientation were reinforced through repetition at every scale of the city: house, neighborhood, and metropolis. For example, the a grid street layout means that each intersection is also a compass, indicating north, south, east, and west. At left is a recent satellite image of Xi'an, the modern Chang'an (the first imperial capital of China). I have added a red line indicating the main north-south avenue that passes through the main gates of the city wall. Note how this avenue combined with the walls forms the character for middle/zhong, "中," the symbol for China itself. Intense!
During the Cultural Revolution, Chairman Mao led a campaign to eliminate “The Four Olds.” Many relics of China's imperial past were destroyed, including Beijing's old city walls. This makes Xi'an the last remaining great example of Chinese imperial city planning. Today, a new appreciation for the past in Chinese culture is merging with optimism about the future to create a new Chinese city. Both ancient and modern great works are celebrated and almost worshiped. At left, the Xi'an city walls at night. Below, the Xi'an airport expressway.
These principles included a symmetrical rectilinear layout, with orientation to the compass (a north-south axis at the center). Millenia before the American suburbs spawned gated communities, the Chinese valued a sense of enclosure via gates, moats, etc. The palace was located at the center, because the emperor was symbolized by the North Star, around which all the other stars in the heavens appear to rotate. Enclosure, symmetry, and compass orientation were reinforced through repetition at every scale of the city: house, neighborhood, and metropolis. For example, the a grid street layout means that each intersection is also a compass, indicating north, south, east, and west. At left is a recent satellite image of Xi'an, the modern Chang'an (the first imperial capital of China). I have added a red line indicating the main north-south avenue that passes through the main gates of the city wall. Note how this avenue combined with the walls forms the character for middle/zhong, "中," the symbol for China itself. Intense!
During the Cultural Revolution, Chairman Mao led a campaign to eliminate “The Four Olds.” Many relics of China's imperial past were destroyed, including Beijing's old city walls. This makes Xi'an the last remaining great example of Chinese imperial city planning. Today, a new appreciation for the past in Chinese culture is merging with optimism about the future to create a new Chinese city. Both ancient and modern great works are celebrated and almost worshiped. At left, the Xi'an city walls at night. Below, the Xi'an airport expressway.
2 comments:
You know what this reminds me of, of course.
I've been told by experts that our DC house has good feng shui... How fortunate! Having a rooster in our family is another blessing. Her quest for knowledge is benefiting all of us. Thanks Tracy!
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