''Caihua'' ( zh, s=彩画, p=cǎihuà), or "colour painting", is the traditional Chinese decorative painting or
polychrome
Polychrome is the "practice of decorating architectural elements, sculpture, etc., in a variety of colors." The term is used to refer to certain styles of architecture, pottery or sculpture in multiple colors.
Ancient Egypt
Colossal statu ...
used for architecture and one of the most notable and important features of historical
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, ...
. It held a significant artistic and practical role within the development of East-Asian architecture, as Caihua served not only decoration but also protection of the predominantly wooden architecture from various seasonal elements and hid the imperfections of the wood itself. The use of different colours or paintings would be according to the particular building functions and local regional customs, as well as historical periods. The choice of colours and symbology are based on traditional Chinese philosophies of the
Five Elements and other ritualistic principles.
The Caihua is often separated into three layer structures; timber or lacquer layer, plaster layer, and pigment layer.
History
The origins of Caihua can be traced back to the
Zhou dynasty
The Zhou dynasty ( ; Old Chinese ( B&S): *''tiw'') was a royal dynasty of China that followed the Shang dynasty. Having lasted 789 years, the Zhou dynasty was the longest dynastic regime in Chinese history. The military control of China by ...
,
as the
Zuo Zhuan and
Guliang Zhuan
The () is considered one of the classic books of ancient Chinese history. It is traditionally attributed to a writer with the surname of Guliang in the disciple tradition of Zixia, but versions of his name vary and there is no definitive way t ...
detailed: . The
Rites of Zhou similarly records a ritualistic usage of motifs and colour, based on each respective aspects' corresponding symbolic value.
Gallery
File:五彩遍装斗拱.JPG, alt="Wucai Caihua"(Five Coloured Painting)-decorations as detailed on the Yingzao Fashi., Song Dynasty "Wucai Caihua" (Five Coloured Painting)-decorations guide as detailed on the Yingzao Fashi
File:丹粉刷饰.jpg, alt="Danfen Caihua"(Red and White)-decorations as detailed on the Yingzao Fashi., Song Dynasty "Danfen Caihua" (Red and White)-decorations guide as detailed on the Yingzao Fashi.
File:晋祠水镜台宋式彩画.JPG, Caihua found on Jinci
The Jinci or Jin Temple (晉祠) is the most prominent temple complex in Shanxi, China. It is located 16 miles (25 km) southwest of Taiyuan at the foot of Xuanweng Mountain at the Jin Springs. It was founded about 1,400 years ago and expanded ...
temple.
File:Tempera_design_in_Beijing_Dongyue_Temple.jpg, "Xuanzi"-style decorative design on the Beijing Dongyue Temple
File:故宫乾清门椽子万寿彩画.JPG, Caihua found on the Gate of Heavenly Purity of the Forbidden City
The Forbidden City () is a palace complex in Dongcheng District, Beijing, China, at the center of the Imperial City of Beijing. It is surrounded by numerous opulent imperial gardens and temples including the Zhongshan Park, the sacrifi ...
File:Palace color decorative painting.JPG, "Hexi"-style decorative design on the Imperial Palace gate of the Forbidden City
The Forbidden City () is a palace complex in Dongcheng District, Beijing, China, at the center of the Imperial City of Beijing. It is surrounded by numerous opulent imperial gardens and temples including the Zhongshan Park, the sacrifi ...
File:故宫欽安殿椽子彩画.jpg, Underside decorations of Qin'an Hall of the Forbidden City
The Forbidden City () is a palace complex in Dongcheng District, Beijing, China, at the center of the Imperial City of Beijing. It is surrounded by numerous opulent imperial gardens and temples including the Zhongshan Park, the sacrifi ...
File:Bai_Gu_Jing_at_Long_Corridor_1.JPG, Painted mural depicting an event from Journey to the West
''Journey to the West'' () is a Chinese novel published in the 16th century during the Ming dynasty and attributed to Wu Cheng'en. It is regarded as one of the greatest Classic Chinese Novels, and has been described as arguably the most popul ...
on the Long Corridor from 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-spea ...
Summer Palace
The Summer Palace () is a vast ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces in Beijing. It was an imperial garden in the Qing dynasty. Inside includes Longevity Hill () Kunming Lake and Seventeen Hole Bridge. It covers an expanse of , three-quarte ...
See also
*
Hexi Caihua
*
Ancient Chinese wooden architecture
*
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, ...
*
Yingzao Fashi
*
Architecture of the Song Dynasty
*
Dancheong
''Dancheong'' ( ko, 단청; 丹青) refers to Korean traditional decorative colouring on wooden buildings and artifacts for the purpose of style. It literally means "cinnabar and blue-green" in Korean, and is sometimes translated as "red and blue ...
References
External links
* http://www.gd.gov.cn/zjgd/lnwh/fywh/ctms/content/post_108920.html
Chinese art
Architectural styles
Architectural elements
Chinese painting
Architecture in China
Chinese architectural history
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