Research On Architectural Arts Of Hunan Traditional Archway

Memorial gateway, or honorific arch is a kind of portal building with the character of commemoration, landmark and ornament, which has significant cultural and artistic value. Although it is just a kind of architecture pieces, it is especial and outstanding, because nearly all the factors of classical architecture can be found from it. Regrettably, it has not received considerable attention as a secondary building in ancient times.This thesis has studied the history and evolution as well as common and specific characteristics of existing memorial gateways before Qing dynasty(and include it) in Hunan province by field study, literature analysis and iconography. As for the origin, the author has presented personal view after those famous perspectives(such as the linked "Que" saying by sicheng Liang; the "Fangmen" saying by dunzhen Liu; the columns saying by yunhe Li). The existing traditional archway of hunan do a more detailed statistics, can saying is so far, traditional archway of hunan is most comprehensive statistics. Then types has been discussed, classified by facade, plane, material, explore the archway of Chinese endemic in traditional culture and folk customs architectural features.In a word, the origin, actuality, classification and characteristics have been detailed by integrating theory with practice, after field survey in the majority area in Hunan province. It is my honor to contribute to the study and protection of historic building in our province, if this study can provide useful information for restoration and design.