China - Table of Contents..............Chinese Architecture Dictionary............ Architecture Around the World
| Long Corridor/Long Gallery The Long Corridor is 728 meters long (almost half a mile) and has 4 octagonal gazebos
representing the four seasons. The beams and ceilings of the walkway
are profusely decorated with over 14,000 paintings depicting scenes
from Chinese history, literature and mythology and lots of flowers and
animals including horses, birds, fish and insects.
The Long Corridor was first built in 1750, when the Qianlong Emperor commissioned work to convert the area into an imperial garden. The corridor was constructed so that the emperor's mother could enjoy a walk through the gardens protected from the elements. Like most of the
Summer Palace, the Long Corridor was severely damaged by fire in 1860 during the Second Opium War. It
was rebuilt in 1886. As a part of the Summer Palace, the Long Corridor
was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in December, 1998.
 Entrance to the Long Corridor  The Long Corridor is a covered walkway.  First erected in the middle of the 18th century, the Long Corridor is famous for its length (almost half a mile) in conjunction with its rich painted decoration (more than 14,000 paintings decorating the crossbeams and side panels.).  Painted ends of the horizontal support beams ... Two painted scenes on side panels ... Chinese fretwork  Painted crossbeams under the roof divide the long Corridor into 273 sections. Details below:  The most significant characteristic of Chinese architecture is the use of timber framework. Wooden posts, beams, lintels and joists make up the framework of a house and, here, a covered walkway. Paintings and carvings were added to the architectural work to make it more beautiful and attractive.  Six examples of exterior and interior paintings below:     |
Sculptures Guardian lion. "Statues of guardian lions have
traditionally stood in front of Chinese Imperial palaces, Imperial
tombs, government offices, temples, and the homes of government
officials and the wealthy, from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), and
were believed to have powerful mythic protective benefits. The lions
are usually depicted in pairs. When used as statuary, the pair would
consist of a male resting his paw upon an embroidered ball
(in imperial contexts, representing supremacy over the world) and a
female restraining a playful cub that is on its back (representing
nurture)." - Wikipedia (online Dec. 2013)
 The qilin, kirin, or kylin is a mythical hooved chimerical creature with dragon head, lion tail, deer horn, and cattle hoof. Known throughout various East Asian cultures, it is said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a sage or illustrious ruler. It is a good omen thought to occasion prosperity or serenity. In legend, the Kylin guards against destruction by fire. It is often depicted with what looks like fire all over its body. It is sometimes called the "Chinese unicorn" when compared with the Western unicorn.  Dragon and Phoenix (Feng-huang) The dragon and the phoenix are the principal motifs for decorative designs on the buildings, clothing and articles of daily use in the imperial palace. The dragon represents the emperor; the phoenix represents the queen.  Dragon  Dragon  Dragon: 5 claws were adopted by the first Ming emperor for his personal use.  Phoenix (Feng-huang)  Phoenix (Feng-huang) Both the dragon and the phoenix were used as incense burners to perfume the air on formal occasions.  Rock  Incense burner  3-Dragons bas-relief sculpture  |
 Yunhui Yuyu Archway on the bank of Kunming Lake. Ceramic sculpture on flying eaves detailed below:  Dragon ... Tile-ends      Both scenes detailed below:      Scene detailed below:        |
