Why Are Roof Corners On Chinese Buildings Curved Upward

Subject to building materials ancient chinese architecture is dominated by wood.

Why are roof corners on chinese buildings curved upward.

The roof is one of chinese architecture s greatest glories. The upturned eaves on roof corners are the most identifiable mark of chinese roof architecture. The harmonious blending of these two types of curves is the terimukuri style of roof seen on many japanese shrines and temples as well as on mikoshi portable shrines and hearses. Ancient chinese temple roofs.

At the corners of the roof dougong would be visible and on some important buildings they were painted. Terimukuri curves first appeared in japanese architecture at the end of the ninth century as kara hafu chinese style gables. The curved chinese roof is actually letting more light in while at the same time acting as a lens hood by preventing a large fraction of light from entering. This happens because in summertime the sun is more directly overhead while in the winter it only gets about 35 degrees above the horizon at noon.

Asian roofs are gently curved out at the corners in order to allow more light to enter the windows in winter and provide extra shade in the summer. A curved roof with overhanging eaves which a wooden skeleton supports. The roofs in both of the above photos show what liang ssu ch eng in chinese architecture called the immediately outstanding feature of chinese architecture. The upturned roof design appeared during the han dynasty 206 bc 220 ad and were the standard type used until the song dynasty 960 1279.

This is a traditional chinese architectural style. It s called flying eaves 飞檐 a very light and wonderful name. Zhuozheng garden in suzhou the upturned roof edge in china had the practical effect of admitting the maximum amount of slanting winter sunlight and the minimum amount of downpouring summer light www pasadena edu.