Architecture of Jiangxi
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Architecture of Jiangxi refers to the traditional masonry houses, residential compounds, monuments, and academies built in
Jiangxi Jiangxi (; ; formerly romanized as Kiangsi or Chianghsi) is a landlocked province in the east of the People's Republic of China. Its major cities include Nanchang and Jiujiang. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze river in the north int ...
of
East China East China () is a geographical and a loosely defined cultural region that covers the eastern coastal area of China. A concept abolished in 1978, for economical purposes the region was defined from 1949 to 1961 by the Chinese Central Governme ...
.


Overview

The architecture of Jiangxi is renowned for its exterior and interior design, relating to the surrounding context and settings by using Fengshui principles. It is defined as an architectural style that the intersections of closely spaced buildings, surrounded by brick walls, form a relatively enclosed courtyard. This kind of enclosure, called "Tianjing" () is quite similar to the Roman
impluvium The ''impluvium'' (pl. ''impluvia'') is a water-catchment pool system meant to capture rain-water flowing from the ''compluvium'', or slanted roof. Often placed "inside", instead of "outside", a building, it is a notable feature in many archite ...
and serves in temperature regulation and in venting the building complexes. Natural materials are highly preferred. Raw materials, such as
stone In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its Chemical compound, chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks ...
,
wood Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulose fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin th ...
, and
brick A brick is a type of block used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term ''brick'' denotes a block composed of dried clay, but is now also used informally to denote other chemically cured cons ...
, are abundantly used for the respect for nature. Stone, as the fundamental part in the construction, is variable across different regions;
sandstone Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks. Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates) ...
,
limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
,
granite Granite () is a coarse-grained (phaneritic) intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies undergro ...
are the most frequent choices. Wood is generally used for the framework of buildings, because of its warmth and workability. Compared to the style in surrounding regions like
Zhejiang Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Jiang ...
or
Anhui Anhui , (; formerly romanized as Anhwei) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the East China region. Its provincial capital and largest city is Hefei. The province is located across the basins of the Yangtze River ...
where outer walls are painted white with
quicklime Calcium oxide (CaO), commonly known as quicklime or burnt lime, is a widely used chemical compound. It is a white, caustic, alkaline, crystalline solid at room temperature. The broadly used term "''lime''" connotes calcium-containing inorganic ma ...
, bricks are explicitly viewed in Jiangxi architecture, which therefore demands well-developed techniques to produce fine bricks. The traditional architectures still preserved in Jiangxi were mostly built during the
Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...
and
Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speak ...
. These buildings are characterized by gables of dark bricks, with white lines under eaves, covered by black tiles. They are often elaborately decorated by wood, stone and brick carvings, ink painting, clay sculpture, and sometimes with Nuoxi elements.


Architectural features

Distinct from its counterparts in surrounding regions, Jiangxi architecture has a series of characteristics that differs from its neighbours' styles in many ways. The exterior of Jiangxi architecture is tall brick walls that dominantly favour the original colour of bricks, with a slight white line painted with quicklime under the roof tiles, but this is done otherwise in
Zhejiang Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Jiang ...
and southern
Anhui Anhui , (; formerly romanized as Anhwei) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the East China region. Its provincial capital and largest city is Hefei. The province is located across the basins of the Yangtze River ...
where walls are entirely painted white. ( Wuyuan County of Jiangxi and some places around it are consistent with the style of Anhui and Zhejiang) Also, Jiangxi people are used to living on the ground floor within the residence and thus, Jiangxi architecture generally consists of one storey and a half (the half storey is used for storage), whereas architectures of Zhejiang and Anhui are often two-storeyed or even more. Meanwhile,
Tulou A tulou (), or "earthen building", is a traditional communal Hakka people residence found in Fujian, in South China, usually of a circular configuration surrounding a central shrine, and part of Hakka architecture. These vernacular structur ...
(commonly called Weiwu in Jiangxi) of Hakka people can be found in the southmost counties of Jiangxi, like
Longnan Longnan () is a prefecture-level city in the southeast of Gansu province in China. It borders Sichuan on its south and Shaanxi on its east. As of the 2020 Chinese census, the population of the prefecture-level city was 2,855,555. Geography and ...
, Quannan,
Dingnan Dingnan () is a county under the jurisdiction of the prefecture-level city of Ganzhou, in the far south of Jiangxi province, China, bordering Guangdong province to the south. As of the 2020 Chinese census, the population of Dingnan was 209,914. I ...
, because of the geographic neighbourhood with western
Fujian Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capi ...
and northern
Guangdong Guangdong (, ), alternatively romanized as Canton or Kwangtung, is a coastal province in South China on the north shore of the South China Sea. The capital of the province is Guangzhou. With a population of 126.01 million (as of 2020) ...
. File:Village in Jinxi, Fuzhou.jpg, Jiangxi architecture File:Wuyi Yuyuan 20120219-92.jpg, Zhejiang architecture File:Yixian Xidi 2016.09.10 13-09-44.jpg, Anhui architecture File:Square tulou.JPG, Hakka architecture


History


15th to 16th century

This period refers to the early and middle
Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...
when China enjoyed an economic prosperity, and it can be witnessed by the grandiose features of architecture in Jiangxi. Despite the small number of surviving buildings, their architectural features genuinely reflect the style of this period. Structural elements like
dougong ''Dougong'' () is a structural element of interlocking wooden brackets, one of the most important in traditional Chinese architecture. The use of dougong first appeared in buildings of the late centuries BC and evolved into a structural net ...
were generally used, and the selection of raw materials was mainly those of big volume. In decorative carvings, animals like elephants, horses,
qilin The qilin (; ) is a legendary hooved chimerical creature that appears in Chinese mythology, and is said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a sage or illustrious ruler. Qilin are a specific type of the mythological family of on ...
,
phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...
are very representative at this time.


17th to 18th century

Jiangxi saw a large regress in economy as well as in other fields during this period due to the warfare and some natural disasters. While earlier style of grandeur could still be perceived, budgets of house building were relatively limited which led to a minimalist style in decoration. Geometric patterns and symbols of goodwill are the main theme of carvings.


19th century to present

Stimulated by a national trend of sophisticated aesthetics and also by improvements of handcraft, Jiangxi architecture evolved into an elaborately-decorated style. Carvings often took much more time than house building, while structural beauty was no longer the focus in architectural design. The use of
dougong ''Dougong'' () is a structural element of interlocking wooden brackets, one of the most important in traditional Chinese architecture. The use of dougong first appeared in buildings of the late centuries BC and evolved into a structural net ...
was largely reduced, and some decorative parts were even coloured with mineral pigments. By the time Communism began to take shape in Jiangxi at the start of the 20th century, many of its architecture would be influenced by
Stalinist Stalinism is the means of governing and Marxist-Leninist policies implemented in the Soviet Union from 1927 to 1953 by Joseph Stalin. It included the creation of a one-party totalitarian police state, rapid industrialization, the theory o ...
socialist realism Socialist realism is a style of idealized realistic art that was developed in the Soviet Union and was the official style in that country between 1932 and 1988, as well as in other socialist countries after World War II. Socialist realism is ch ...
based on its Soviet designs.


Fengshui design

Fengshui theories have been playing an important role in the entire course of construction, for instance, choosing the site, house direction, etc..


Jiangxi school

Jiangxi school (), also called Xingshi school () is a prominent school in Chinese Fengshui, which emphasizes the harmony between nature and human, namely between environment and residents. Yang Yunsong () is the founder of this school.


Building types


Residential architecture


Memorial architecture


Educational architecture


Recreational architecture


Religious architecture

File:牌头屋.jpg, ''
Paifang A ''paifang'', also known as a ''pailou'', is a traditional style of Chinese architectural arch or gateway structure. Evolved from the Indian subcontinent's ''torana'' through the introduction of Buddhism to China, it has developed many styles ...
'' (memorial arch) in
Nanchang Nanchang (, ; ) is the capital of Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China. Located in the north-central part of the province and in the hinterland of Poyang Lake Plain, it is bounded on the west by the Jiuling Mountains, and on the east ...
File:吉安 渼陂.jpg, Ancestral shrine in
Ji'an Ji'an () is a prefecture-level city situated in the central region of Jiangxi province of the People's Republic of China while bordering Hunan province to the west. It has an area of and as of the 2020 census, had a population of 4,469,176, of ...
File:抚州 流坑.JPG,
Confucian academy The Confucian Academy is a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1930 by Dr. Chen Huanzhang ( 陳煥章) to promote Confucianism. It follows Confucius's teachings to provide students with the relevant knowledge. His teachings are based ...
in
Fuzhou Fuzhou (; , Fuzhounese: Hokchew, ''Hók-ciŭ''), alternately romanized as Foochow, is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian province, China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute t ...
File:Poyang Wenmiao 2017.11.25 08-54-56.jpg,
Confucian temple A temple of Confucius or Confucian temple is a temple for the veneration of Confucius and the sages and philosophers of Confucianism in Chinese folk religion and other East Asian religions. They were formerly the site of the administration of t ...
in Poyang


Decorative structures


Stone carving

Stone carving in Jiangxi architecture is very much outstanding as Jiangxi has abundant resources of many kinds of stones. Roughly speaking, sandstone is preferred in western Jiangxi and limestone is usually seen in the east, while granite is typically used in northwestern region. However, the combination of different stones can also be viewed for seeking aesthetics. Stone is elaborately carved, especially at entrance door, column bases and other visible parts inside the building.


Wood carving

As a major aspect in interior decoration, wood carving often costs the most time and money in the construction. In consequence, carpenters are greatly valued and respected. The content of wood carving are often inspired from historical stories or traditional cultures, such as
Wufu ''Wufu'' (), meaning the five blessings, is a concept that signify a grouping of certain good fortunes and luck in Chinese culture. The number five is regarded as an auspicious number in Chinese traditions and closely associated with the Five ...
,
Shou Shou may refer to: *Robin Shou (b. 1960), a Chinese American actor *The Chinese character ''shou'' (寿/壽) that means "longevity" *Shou, the Chinese god of longevity, one of the Sanxing *Shou County, a county in China *Shō (given name), a masc ...
, 24 Xiao, etc..


Brick carving

Brick carving is comparatively less often applied in Jiangxi architecture, however, classic work can still be found. A renowned example is a residence in
Yihuang County Yihuang County () is a county of Jiangxi province, People's Republic of China. It is under the jurisdiction of the prefecture-level city of Fuzhou Fuzhou (; , Fuzhounese: Hokchew, ''Hók-ciŭ''), alternately romanized as Foochow, is the ca ...
, built in 1755, and its entire entrance is decorated with finely-carved bricks.


Ink painting


Infrastructure


Defensive wall


Pavement


Bridge


Water well


Significant buildings and areas


Major National Historical and Cultural Sites

*
White Deer Grotto Academy The White Deer Grotto Academy (, Gan: Pak-Luk-Tung Su-yon, sometimes translated as White Deer Cave Academy or White Deer Hollow Academy) is a former school at the foot of Wulou Peak in Lushan, now in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province. It was one of th ...
, one of the Four Great Academies of China * Traditional Architecture of Liukeng Village *Paifang of Grave of Zhu Shi * Yuanzhou Drum Tower * Ehu Academy * Bailuzhou Academy * Paifang of Chen Family * Qingyunpu, residence of
Bada Shanren Bada Shanren (; 1626 – 1705), born Zhu Da (), was a Chinese Buddhist monk, calligrapher, and painter of the ink wash painting style. He was of royal descent, being a direct offspring of the Ming dynasty prince Zhu Quan who had a feudal establis ...
* Guanyin Bridge * Mingshui Bridge * Fengqu Bridge * Wannian Bridge *
Ganzhou City Walls Ganzhou (), alternately romanized as Kanchow, is a prefecture-level city in the south of Jiangxi province, China, bordering Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, and Hunan to the west. Its administrative seat is at Zhanggong District. Hist ...
* Wan'an City Walls * Ancestral shrine of Jia family * Longxuetushi Paifang and Cishichuanfang Paifang * Confucian Temple of Anfu * Wanshou Palace of Fuzhou * Yuceshanguan and Yutingbieshu villas * Shiwuli residence of Yiqian


Influence on neighbourhood

Significant migrations from Jiangxi to its neighbouring regions took place several times in the last millennium, which profoundly changed the demographics of these regions. Jiangxi culture, as a consequence, has been spread as far as southwestern China, and this can be witnessed in linguistic aspect as well as in architecture. It is noted that eastern
Hunan Hunan (, ; ) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the South Central China region. Located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze watershed, it borders the province-level divisions of Hubei to the north, Jiangxi to ...
, southeastern
Hubei Hubei (; ; alternately Hupeh) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, and is part of the Central China region. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Dongting Lake. The prov ...
, southwestern
Anhui Anhui , (; formerly romanized as Anhwei) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the East China region. Its provincial capital and largest city is Hefei. The province is located across the basins of the Yangtze River ...
and northwestern
Fujian Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capi ...
are the major destinations of historical Jiangxi migrants. Many features of the architecture of Jiangxi are preserved in these regions, although architectural adaptations to local environment should also be taken into account. Zhanguying Village of Hunan is a notable example.


Regional variation

There are regional variations within Jiangxi architecture.
Gan River The Gan River (, Gan: Kōm-kong) runs north through the western part of Jiangxi before flowing into Lake Poyang and thus the Yangtze River. The Xiang-Gan uplands separate it from the Xiang River of neighboring eastern Hunan. Two similarly sized ...
is regarded as the dividing line, west of which the use of "Tianjing" (sky well) decreased to such an extent that Tianjing, especially in
Ji'an Ji'an () is a prefecture-level city situated in the central region of Jiangxi province of the People's Republic of China while bordering Hunan province to the west. It has an area of and as of the 2020 census, had a population of 4,469,176, of ...
, is primarily used in ancestral shrines to set up some architectural hierarchy. Moreover, architectures in Ji'an tend to be more coloured than other regions in Jiangxi, since wood carvings and clay sculptures are often painted in decoration. As for the architectural framework, wooden beams of a building in the west of Gan River are usually laid directly on the inner walls, instead of on the
columns A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...
.


See also

*
Cantonese architecture Lingnan architecture (), or Cantonese architecture, refers to the characteristic architectural style(s) of the Lingnan region – the Southern Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi. Usually, it is referring to the architecture associated wit ...
*
Chinese architecture Chinese architecture (Chinese:中國建築) is the embodiment of an architectural style that has developed over millennia in China and it has influenced architecture throughout Eastern Asia. Since its emergence during the early ancient era, the ...


References


Characteristics of Jiangxi architecture
{{Jiangxi topics Houses in China Chinese architectural history History of Jiangxi Ming dynasty architecture Qing dynasty architecture Culture in Jiangxi Traditional Chinese architecture