Traditional Chinese art
Caihua (Chinese: 彩畫; pinyin: cǎihuà), or "colour painting", is the traditional Chinese decorative painting or polychrome used for architecture and one of the most notable and important features of historical Chinese architecture. It held a significant artistic and practical role within the development of East-Asian architecture, as Caihua served not only decoration but also protection of the predominantly wooden architecture from various seasonal elements and hid the imperfections of the wood itself. The use of different colours or paintings would be according to the particular building functions and local regional customs, as well as historical periods. The choice of colours and symbology are based on traditional Chinese philosophies of the Five Elements and other ritualistic principles.[1][2]The Caihua is often separated into three layer structures; timber or lacquer layer, plaster layer, and pigment layer.[citation needed]
History
The origins of Caihua can be traced back to the Zhou dynasty,[3][4] as the Zuo Zhuan and Guliang Zhuan detailed:
“秋,丹桓宮楹。禮,天子、諸侯黝堊,大夫倉,士黈,丹楹,非禮也。[5](the duke painted red the pillars of [duke] Huan's temple. According to rule, King and royalty use dark and white, gentry use white, yeoman use yellow. Red pillars are against etiquette.)
The Rites of Zhou similarly records a ritualistic usage of motifs and colour, based on each respective aspects' corresponding symbolic value.
Gallery
Painted elements can be seen on
Han dynasty pottery tower.
Painted elements can be seen on
Han dynasty pottery tower.
Example of Tang dynasty decorative motifs, from mural of
Mogao Caves.
Example of Tang dynasty decorative motifs on architecture, from mural of
Mogao Caves.
Recreation of Tang dynasty caihua architectural decorations.
Recreation of Tang dynasty caihua architectural decorations.
Tang dynasty
sancai model of a building.
Song Dynasty
"Wucai Caihua" (Five Coloured Painting)-
dougong decorations guide as detailed on the
Yingzao FashiSong Dynasty "Danfen Caihua" (Red and White)-
dougong decorations guide as detailed on the
Yingzao Fashi.
Song Dynasty "Qinglü" (Blue and Green)-decorations guide as detailed on the
Yingzao Fashi.
Song Dynasty "Jielü Caihua" (Open Green)-decorations guide as detailed on the
Yingzao Fashi.
Song Dynasty
ruyi-decorations on beams guide from the
Yingzao Fashi.
Song Dynasty
ruyi-decorations on beams guide from the
Yingzao Fashi.
Song Dynasty pillar decorations guide from the
Yingzao Fashi.
Song Dynasty decorations used in between
dougong-brackets guide from the
Yingzao Fashi.
Buddhist decorations of Ten-Thousand Buddha Hall of
Zhenguo Temple,
Five Dynasties period.
Decorations on
Liao dynasty Geyuan Temple.
Caihua found on
Jinci temple, Song Dynasty.
Frescos of Song Silang's Tomb, Northern Song Dynasty.
Frescos of Song Silang's Tomb, Northern Song Dynasty.
Weathered decorations on
Yuanmiao Temple (Putian) dougong. Originally Song dynasty construction.
Jin dynasty Jingtu Temple of
Shanxi.
Datong Confucian temple inner hall decorations.
Ming dynasty decorations on Hall of Amitābha at
Longxing Temple.
Ming dynasty decorations on Jialan Hall at
Foguang Temple.
Ming dynasty decorations on Hall of Amitābha at
Longxing Temple.
Ming dynasty decorations on Hall of Amitābha at
Longxing Temple.
Xuanzi-style decorative design on the Beijing Dongyue Temple
Hexi-style decorative design on the Imperial Palace gate of the
Forbidden City Underside decorations of Qin'an Hall of the
Forbidden CityDecorations on support beams inside a palace of the Forbidden City.
Decorations on
Summer Palace pavilion
Caihua-decorations of
Pavilion of Prince Teng, inspired by Song dynasty
Yingzao Fashi decorations.
Caihua-decorations of
Pavilion of Prince Teng, inspired by Song dynasty
Yingzao Fashi decorations.
Caihua-decorations of
Pavilion of Prince Teng, inspired by Song dynasty
Yingzao Fashi decorations.
See also
References
- ^ 孙大章 (1991). 中国古代建筑彩画 [Ancient Chinese Architectural Colored Drawings] (in Chinese). 建筑工业出版社. ISBN 7-112-07328-6.
- ^ 赵双成 (2006). 中国建筑彩画图案 [Chinese architecture painting design] (in Chinese). 天津大学出版社. ISBN 978-7561822494.
- ^ 刘敦桢 (Liu Dunzhen) (1991). 中国古代建筑史 [History of Chinese Ancient Architecture] (2 ed.). 中国建筑工业出版社; 第2版 (China Architecture Building Press). ISBN 9787112019298.
- ^ Flags, color, and the legal narrative : public memory, identity, and critique. Anne Wagner, Sarah Marusek. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. 2021. p. 129. ISBN 978-3-030-32865-8. OCLC 1253353500.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ 穀梁子. 春秋穀梁傳 . Vol. 莊公, 二十三年 – via Wikisource.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caihua.
- (in Chinese) http://www.gd.gov.cn/zjgd/lnwh/fywh/ctms/content/post_108920.html