The Application of Auspicious Ornaments in Ancient Architecture

Abstract：　The　application　of　auspicious　ornaments　is　common　in　ancient　architecture.　Their　accumulation　is　profound　and　implication　is　ingenious.　They　have　great　expression　and　infection　on　the　art　of　architecture.　All　kinds　of　the　architecture　have　their　own　auspicious　ornaments　which　can　reflect　the　style　and　character.　In　ancient　Chinese　palace　and　temple，　usually　there　are　some　little　animal　ornaments　which　are　arranged　in　different　number　and　pattern.　These　animals　are　regarded　as　divine　animals.　They　all　have　special　meanings.　It　contains　the　feudal　thoughts　of　ancient　China　and　its　culture　connotation.　This　paper　studies　the　specific　application　of　auspicious　ornaments　through　the　study　of　the　divine　animals　on　the　ridge.

Key　words：　ancient　Chinese　architecture；divine　animals；auspicious　ornaments

中图分类号：J59 文献标识码：Ａ 文章编号：1005-5312（2012）36-0213-01

Ancient　Chinese　architecture　is　the　crystallization　of　wisdom　and　civilization.　It　has　high　status　even　in　the　world’s　architecture　history.　It　wits　the　change　of　Chinese　history　and　reflects　the　culture　and　thoughts.　There　are　some　historical　tradition　and　brilliant　achievements　of　it.

Firstly，　the　wooden　structure　is　a　wonder　in　the　world.　Secondly，　the　complex　relation　of　the　dot，　the　line　and　the　surface　in　the　architecture　style　is　clearly　showed　through　the　gigantic　roof.　Thirdly，　it　combines　the　practical　applicability　and　the　aesthetic　appreciation　together.　It　has　exquisite　craftsmanship，　excellent　technology　and　unique　style.　Among　all　the　unique　features，　the　wooden　structure　is　brilliant.　The　ancient　people　have　great　creativity.　They　can　build　grand　and　magnificent　palace　and　temple　only　by　combining　and　splicing　the　wood.　At　the　same　time，　they　also　make　great　amount　of　decoration　on　the　buildings　to　make　it　aesthetic　and　auspicious.

The　auspicious　ornaments　which　have　abundant　styles　and　special　meanings　are　unique　in　ancient　Chinese　architecture.　Decoration　art　is　the　main　part　of　Chinese　architectural　art.　It　is　important　to　express　the　connotation　of　architectural　culture.　With　the　development　of　the　society，　the　function　of　the　architectural　is　no　longer　limited　to　the　basic　need，　i.e.　live　inside.　There　are　more　needs.　People，　especially　the　upper　class，　require　the　architectural　to　be　aesthetic　and　auspicious.　As　a　result，　there　is　more　and　more　auspicious　decoration　on　the　buildings.　The　ancient　Chinese　palace　is　a　comprehensive　expression　of　ancient　architecture.　The　rulers　express　the　national　economic　strength　and　the　majesty　of　the　royal　court　through　the　art　of　the　architecture.

In　ancient　Chinese　palace　and　temple，　usually　there　are　some　little　animal　ornaments　which　are　arranged　in　different　number　and　pattern.　These　animals　are　regarded　as　divine　animals.　The　decoration　of　the　divine　animal　is　practical　and　aesthetic.　It　contains　the　feudal　thoughts　of　ancient　China　and　its　culture　connotation.　At　first，　it　is　very　practical.　People　put　tiles　on　the　wood　to　form　the　ridge.　The　tile　on　the　front-end　of　the　ridge　has　to　bear　the　strength　of　all　the　tiles　above　it.　In　case　the　tiles　would　fall　down，　people　use　peg　and　porcelain　to　fasten　them.　Gradually，　the　head　of　the　peg　is　developed　into　the　shape　of　animals　in　the　mythology.　Therefore，　it　is　not　only　practical　but　also　shows　the　rank　of　the　owner.

The　number　of　the　divine　animals　on　the　Hall　of　Supreme　Harmony　is　ten，　which　symbolizes　the　supreme　royal　power.　The　number　on　other　palace　is　decreased　according　to　its　level　but　they　are　all　odd.　There　are　nine　on　Palace　of　Heavenly　Purity　whose　level　is　just　next　to　the　Hall　of　Supreme　Harmony.　And　there　are　seven　on　the　Palace　of　Earthly　Tranquility　where　the　Empress　lives　in.

The　divine　animals　on　the　ridge　have　different　meanings.　The　first　one　on　the　ridge　is　an　immortal，　which　reflects　that　the　feudalism　shows　great　respect　to　the　immortals.　The　second　one　is　dragon　because　it　can　bring　the　rain　and　is　the　symbol　of　the　imperial　power.　The　third　one　is　a　phoenix　which　is　the　leader　of　the　birds　and　the　partner　of　dragon.　It　symbolizes　dignity　and　morality.　The　forth　one　is　a　lion　which　is　the　leader　of　all　the　beasts.　It　is　the　ride　of　the　Buddha　in　religion　and　it　is　used　to　protect　the　palace.　The　fifth　one　is　divine　horse，　like　Pegasus.　It　means　that　the　power　and　morality　are　known　all　over　the　world.　The　sixth　one　is　Suanni，　which　is　a　kind　of　giant　lion.　It　is　very　fierce　and　even　the　elephant　is　afraid　of　it　according　to　the　legend.　The　seventh　one　is　Ya　Fish.　Ya　mean　managing.　It　is　the　leader　of　the　fish.　It　can　also　bring　the　rain　to　protect　the　building　from　the　fire.　The　eighth　one　is　Xiezhi　which　is　a　divine　goat.　It　can　distinguish　the　right　from　the　wrong　and　is　the　symbol　of　justice.　The　ninth　one　is　a　bullfight　which　has　the　bull’s　head　and　the　dragon’s　body.　Its　main　power　is　to　bring　rain.　The　tenth　one　is　Hangshi　which　is　a　divine　monkey　with　wings.　It　can　surrenders　devils.

The　animals　on　the　ridge　have　been　improved　on　the　color，　style　and　expression　according　to　the　legend　and　people’s　imagination.　Its　meaning　includes　politic，　economy，　literature，　history，　customs　and　religion.　It　reflects　ancient　people’s　good　wishes　of　life.　Usually，　the　architecture　style　is　connected　to　the　country’s　politic，　economy　and　culture.　It　reflects　the　thoughts　of　the　leader.　That　all　divine　animals　have　their　special　meanings　reflects　these　ideas.　They　are　really　precious　for　modern　people　to　study　ancient　Chinese　architecture　and　the　history，　art　and　customs　of　China's　history.

In　conclusion，　under　the　influence　of　feudalism　thoughts，　Chinese　architecture　emphasizes　on　both　the　coordination　with　nature　and　its　practical　and　aesthetic　value.　The　auspicious　ornaments　reflect　the　sense　of　hierarchy.　It　also　conveys　a　kind　of　romance.　All　these　feature　make　ancient　Chinese　architecture　a　world　famous　unity　for　its　delicate　design　and　national　feather.