''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 statue ...

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, th ...

. 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 The ''Rites of Zhou'' (), originally known as "Officers of Zhou" () is a work on bureaucracy and organizational theory. It was renamed by Liu Xin to differentiate it from a chapter in the '' Book of History'' by the same name. To replace a lost ...

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 The ''Yingzao Fashi'' () is a technical treatise on architecture and craftsmanship written by the Chinese author Li Jie (李誡; 1065–1110), the Directorate of Buildings and Construction during the mid Song Dynasty of China. He revised m ...

., Song Dynasty "Wucai Caihua" (Five Coloured Painting)-decorations guide as detailed on the

File:丹粉刷饰.jpg, alt="Danfen Caihua"(Red and White)-decorations as detailed on the

., Song Dynasty "Danfen Caihua" (Red and White)-decorations guide as detailed on the

. 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 The Gate of Heavenly Purity (; Manchu: ''kiyan cing men'') is the main gate of the Inner Court of the Forbidden City, in Beijing, China. The gate once led people to Forbidden City's residential quarters. It is connected to the Palace of Heavenly ...

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 sacrific ...

File:Palace color decorative painting.JPG, "Hexi"-style decorative design on the Imperial Palace gate of the

File:故宫欽安殿椽子彩画.jpg, Underside decorations of Qin'an Hall of the

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 po ...

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-speak ...

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 ...

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 {{architecturalelement-stub

History

Gallery

See also

References

External links