Forbidden City Architecture Roof

Imperial roof decoration of a minor building at the forbidden city multiple gables with decorations along the ridges unions between the roof panels near the corner a row of small figures is placed.

Forbidden city architecture roof.

In the forbidden city building there are more than 10 different types of roofs. While most of the buildings in the forbidden city are made from wood and have a similar style its architecture is nevertheless rich in subtle variations and symbolism. The ming 1368 1644 and qing 1644 1912 dynasties. Watch the full documentary on all 4.

The roof form of chinese architecture is rich and colorful. Watch how this structure built in the forbidden city style of architecture holds up to a simulated earthquake. Books were liable to catch fire black was supposed to be the colour of water and a black coloured roof would mean ever ready water to put out fires. Construction on the forbidden city began in 1406 when zhu di son of the hongwu emperor became the yongle emperor and moved the capital of china to beijing.

The largest earthquake we ve ever recorded in history had a 9 5 magnitude. They then put the structure a fifth of the size of buildings in the forbidden city through simulated earthquakes. One example is wenyuange the imperial library in beijing s forbidden city which amidst many yellow roofs stands under a roof of black tiles. The forbidden city s unique architecture chapter 2 the dougong.

These brackets in forbidden city architectures were no longer used to support the house and absorb the effects of earthquakes but only for decoration. The roof of a big hall in the forbidden city is estimated to weigh 2 000 tons all that weight resting on the dougong brackets connecting it to the columns below. The forbidden city is the largest medieval palace architecture in the world and was the main imperial palace of china s final two dynasties. The bracket using to bearing the weight of the roof is also a vital and typical part in ancient chinese architecture.

Marco hernandez even today it sounds a near impossible task. Take the three halls as an example the roofs are different. The roof of the forbidden city is full of glazed tiles. Build an earthquake resistant wooden building strong enough to endure several tumultuous centuries but without using nails or glue.

A nailless chinese construction method.