Why Are Roof Corners On Chinese Buildings Curved Upward

The harmonious blending of these two types of curves is the terimukuri style of roof seen on many japanese shrines and temples as well as on mikoshi portable shrines and hearses.

Why are roof corners on chinese buildings curved upward.

It s called flying eaves 飞檐 a very light and wonderful name. The upturned roof design appeared during the han dynasty 206 bc 220 ad and were the standard type used until the song dynasty 960 1279. This is a traditional chinese architectural style. At the corners of the roof dougong would be visible and on some important buildings they were painted.

The curved chinese roof is actually letting more light in while at the same time acting as a lens hood by preventing a large fraction of light from entering. Terimukuri curves first appeared in japanese architecture at the end of the ninth century as kara hafu chinese style gables. Asian roofs are gently curved out at the corners in order to allow more light to enter the windows in winter and provide extra shade in the summer. A curved roof with overhanging eaves which a wooden skeleton supports.

The development of curve the ancient chinese would also begin to curve the relatively straight profile of their temple roofs until the 6 th century a d when they developed the upward point of the roof s outer corners. The roof is one of chinese architecture s greatest glories. Ancient chinese temple roofs. This kind of architecture is very scientific and practical in some part of china there is a heavy rainfall throught the year the curved roofs make the rain fall down on the ground easily and keep.

This happens because in summertime the sun is more directly overhead while in the winter it only gets about 35 degrees above the horizon at noon. The roofs in both of the above photos show what liang ssu ch eng in chinese architecture called the immediately outstanding feature of chinese architecture. Subject to building materials ancient chinese architecture is dominated by wood.