Research On Characteristics Of Gan-Qing Architecture In Ming And Qing Dynasties

The provinces of Gansu (甘肃)and Qinghai(青海), which used to be the inevitable course of the Silk Road, are located in the northwest of China, with many ethnic groups, religions and cultures existing, exchanging and melting together. As far as architectural heritage sites are concerned, Gan-Qing(甘青) architecture is of great diversity and compatibility owing to its complexity of the geographic, historical, religion and cultural background. Based on field investigation, craftsmen visits, and case study of important buildings with measured survey, this paper focuses on the architectural vocabulary, way of construction, crafts and skills, and their space-time distribution, and reviews the evolution, the schools of crafts, the characteristics of construction convention, and the technological and artistic achievements. From Ming(明) and Qing(清) daynasties (1368-1910),the Gan-Qing architecture have had its particular features. This paper has divided Gan-Qing architecture into three subsystems: Hezhou system(河州体系), and Qinzhou system(秦州体系) and Hexi system(河西体系) from the late of Qing daynastie. The interrelated common features, the characteristics of each, including different origins, evolution routes and structural and constructional details are intensively discussed.Generally speaking, the Gan-Qing architecture is a branch, or one of the varieties of architectural systems along Huanghe River valley(黄河流域) in northern China. However, its"free style"spirit and flexibility went so far to become adapted to facilities of different ethnic groups and religions such as Tibetan Buddhist assembly halls and minarets in mosques, and even in many Tourist temples, could be found multi-storied architectural complexes with combination of different kinds of roofs. Moreover, this article also emphasize on the carved woodwork which represent another direction in the evolution of dougong (斗栱) from structural components to decorating elements.