I enjoyed this week’s focus on architecture in early China; everything was new to me. All other history courses I have taken never dedicated a part of the curriculum to study the different buildings, such as houses and palaces. It makes me consider, what makes a typical “American 20th or 21st century” house or a Korean traditional house? We can identify locations based on the buildings, by discerning between the suburbs and the city and the countryside. For example, when we look at a structure and categorize it as “European” or “Asian,” it is important to know which facets are convincing us that it should be and their significance.
So much information is conveyed through the architectural blueprint of the building as well as the furnishings that are maintained according to tradition and status. A major portion of designing and decorating a house is outside the power of the owner. It revolved around societal acceptance and understanding of socioeconomic status.
Even before constructing a house, much thought and consideration are put into the the materials of the house and the height off or into the ground it should be. The rules and levels of caution vary depending on the area and its climate.
Three Things I Learned this Week
- There are established rules that society follows for decoration, size, and creation of a residential building.
- So much history and beliefs are shown in the styles and decoration of buildings.
- Dwellings are a representation of social order and societal status.
Bibliographic References
Knapp, Ronald G. China’s Vernacular Architecture: House Form and Culture. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1989.
