A Probe Into The Form Of Taoism Architecture--Based On Examples In Shanxi Province

Taoism architecture has been developed with the spreading and expanding of the Chinese local religion Taoism which came from primitive religion. The architecture itself has experienced different stages of ups and downs. Being a religion one ,taoism architecture does not only serve for Taoism purpose but also embodies the ethics of Confucianism. Those scattered around villages also take the part of social life center and thus form a significient position in agrestic settlement. The form of Taoism architecture ranges from magnificent Palace-like appearance to small rough temples freely built in rural areas.With a concern of social culture factors as Taoism intension and folklore, the thesis investigates the aspect of plane function, space form, structure technology and decoration art of Taoism architecture. Most cases in the article are Shanxi Taoism buildings, for the author approaches with a method based on individual cases analysises and tries to reveal the common aspects shared by Chinese Taoism architecture through specific cases in Shanxi while emphasizing their local characteristics at the same time.