Chinese architecture

Table of Contents

Introduction
The elements of traditional Chinese architecture
Stylistic and historical development to 220 ce
- Neolithic and Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 bce)
- The Zhou dynasty (1046–256 bce)
- The Qin (221–206 bce) and Han (206 bce–220 ce) dynasties
Stylistic and historical development from 220 to 1206 ce
- The Three Kingdoms (220–280) and Six Dynasties (220–589)
- The Sui (581–618) and Tang (618–907) dynasties
- The Five Dynasties (907–960) and Ten Kingdoms (902–978)
- The Song (960–1279), Liao (907–1125), and Jin (1115–1234) dynasties
Stylistic and historical development, 1206–1912
- The Yuan dynasty
- The Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
- The Qing dynasty (1644–1911/12)
Stylistic and historical development since 1912
- The influence of foreign styles
- Into the 21st century

References & Edit History Related Topics

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Qin tomb: terra-cotta statues

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Fogong Temple: timber pagoda

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Chinese architecture: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos

Beijing: Forbidden City

principal sites of prehistoric and Shang China

Qin tomb: terra-cotta statues

Han dynasty funerary banner

Great Buddha Hall

Guanyin and bodhisattvas

Zhang Zeduan: Going up the River at Qingming Festival Time

Fogong Temple: timber pagoda

See All Images →

Topics

pavilion concept feng shui China architecture Western architecture Latin American architecture Japanese architecture Egyptian art and architecture African architecture Korean architecture Classical architecture Southeast Asian architecture Mesoamerican architecture Islamic architecture

Quiz

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