The emergence of algae wells has a long history. As early as more than 2000 years ago, the top of the Han tomb was decorated with algae wells, painted with aquatic plants such as lotus root, such as water chestnut, lotus flower or lotus leaf. The ancients were superstitious and believed that aquatic plants could suppress fire. "Custom Pass" says: "Those who are well-off are like Tokyo; Algae, everything in the water, are used to put out fires. " Of course, it's just kindness.
In ancient China, lotus flowers were often painted as the main decorative content of algae wells. This is because the lotus is a symbol of the pure land of Buddhism, and it is known as "Lotus comes out of the mud without being stained". There are 492 caves in Dunhuang Mogao grottoes, 420 of which have algae wells, and the lotus pattern has lasted for more than 1000 years.
Ancient palaces in China were mostly wooden structures, which often suffered from fires, so they were often decorated with algae wells. The most magnificent existing algae well in China should be the one in the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City. The Hall of Supreme Harmony was the place where emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties handled state affairs. Located in the center of the main hall, this algae well is divided into three layers: the upper layer is a round well, the lower layer is a square well, and the middle is an octagonal well. This design embodies China's traditional viewpoints of "Heaven is on earth" and "Heaven is round". There is a dragon in the algae well, with a silvery white pearl in its mouth, which is finely carved, setting off the golden dragon on the giant column in the main hall, further highlighting the solemnity and luxury of the palace.
Of course, it is not credible that algae wells can put out fires. However, caisson is an original architectural art of working people in China, and later generations are proud of it.
The unique decorative part of indoor ceiling in traditional buildings in China. Generally, it is made into a square, polygonal or circular concave well-shaped bulge, which is decorated with various patterns, carvings and paintings. Mostly used in palaces, temples, thrones and the most important parts above the Buddhist altar. The earliest existing wooden caisson is the caisson on Guanyin Pavilion of Dule Temple in Jixian County, which was built in 984 for plastering square corners. , add eight algae wells.
(? Eight pyramid tops composed of eight corner beams). Longjing in the Taihe Hall of the Forbidden City in Beijing is a round well in the octagonal well, which is carved with a dragon hanging its head and holding beads. It is named Longjing, and it is the most luxurious Longjing in Qing architecture.
Caisson is a kind of superimposed cave roof decoration, which is named because it is similar to the roof structure of ancient buildings in China. Dunhuang caisson simplifies the structure of the traditional ancient laminated wooden caisson in China, with the center protruding upward and inclined on all sides, becoming an inverted bucket with a big bottom and a small top. The theme works are in the central square well, and the surrounding patterns are spread out layer by layer. Because the caisson is located at the top of the center of the grottoes, the top of the grottoes has a lofty and profound feeling.
Caijing is the essence of Dunhuang patterns. Because it stands at the top of the grottoes, it is less damaged by sandstorms and harsh natural environment, and it also avoids many man-made damages, so it is well preserved. There are more than 400 algae wells in Dunhuang, which are beautifully painted.
China's unique architectural structure and decoration technology.
Algae well shape
The shapes of algae wells are round, square, oval, spiral and octagonal. Bath well ceiling
Since ancient times, these caissons have been regarded as the complex decoration technology of wooden structures in China. Because craftsmen can push out a deep algae well without nails.
The diameter of the circular caisson is 18 feet. There is a dragon and a chandelier in the smallest circle on the top.
On the larger circumference outside the dragon circle, 24 yellow pear-shaped lamp holders are carved. There is also a red flying belt from the bottom of the lamp holder, which looks like a circular top cover with yellow background, green leaves and safflower. These 24 radial flight belts set off the graphic caisson more hierarchically. Then it expands outward from the lamp holder of Huanglihuatou, and another circle gradually increases from the inside out. There are 96 lotus lanterns and 120 Mazu statues around these circles. These lampholders and statues narrow the craftsman's deliberate arrangement from the outer ring to the inner ring. The main thing is to make it feel as deep as the flying belt. Twenty-four ancient lions are carved at the starting point of the Twenty-four Flying Belt. Every two lions stand a statue of Mazu. Give the ancient lion a sense of capture.
Rectangular algae are arranged on the left and right sides of the circular algae well. These two kinds of algae are 2 1 ft long, 0/6 ft wide and 3 ft 6 in deep. ?
Sixty lotus lanterns are carved on each building. There are 88 Mazu statues and 28 ancient lions.
The larger rectangular caisson in the middle is 2 1 ft long, 7 feet 6 inches wide and 3 feet deep. There are 32 lotus lanterns, 50 Mazu statues and 22 ancient lions.
On the left and right sides of the rectangular large algae well, there is also a rectangular small algae well. Each building is 15 feet 6 inches long, 7 feet 6 inches wide and 3 feet deep.
Each statue is carved with 24 lotus lanterns, 42 Mazu statues and 18 ancient lions.
All Mazu statues in rectangular algae wells and circular algae wells, eight auspicious cranes in the four corners of circular algae, and the Panlong at the top of the center. Covered with real gold foil. Make these algae wells look like. Brilliant. Have a noble style. It's really a sigh.
Classification of algae wells
introduce
Caijing is the essence of Dunhuang patterns. Because it stands at the top of the grottoes, it is less damaged by sandstorms and harsh natural environment, and it also avoids many man-made damages, so it is well preserved. There are more than 400 algae wells in Dunhuang, which are beautifully painted.
classify
According to its square well structure and central pattern, it can be divided into five categories:
① Nested caisson of square well: it is a relic of the flush pattern of the Northern Dynasties, and the nested frame structure of square well has to be preserved, but the pattern in the well has changed. ? ② Pan-stem lotus algae well: It is a unique algae well in the Sui Dynasty, characterized by an eight-petal lotus in the well, and the stems and vines wrapped around the lotus are honeysuckle patterns, which tend to be natural. Outside the well, there are three decorative patterns: round beaded pattern, gold and silver pattern and white beaded pattern, as well as a long, large and exquisite triangular curtain. ? Sui Dynasty's caisson works have no programming, novel images, diverse ways, different thoughts and wonders. ? (3) Flying lotus algae well: the well is wide, and some flying flowers are painted around the big lotus. This kind of algae well decoration has gone beyond the space of the cave room, giving people a feeling of looking up to the vast space. ? (4) Shuanglong Lotus Algae Well: Two dragons playing with pearls are painted on both sides of the lotus in the well center, and sixteen flying flowers are painted around the Algae Well, which echoes inside and outside and has a strong sense of movement. ? ⑤ Da Lian algae well: Only one big lotus flower is painted in the well, or four corners are even matched with a horn flower, and there are many layers of decorations outside the well, which is simple and fresh.
pattern classification
① Nested caisson of square well: it is a relic of the flush pattern of the Northern Dynasties, and the nested frame structure of square well has to be preserved, but the pattern in the well has changed. ? ② Pan-stem lotus algae well: It is a unique algae well in the Sui Dynasty, characterized by an eight-petal lotus in the well, and the stems and vines wrapped around the lotus are honeysuckle patterns, which tend to be natural. Outside the well, there are three decorative patterns: round beaded pattern, gold and silver pattern and white beaded pattern, as well as a long, large and exquisite triangular curtain. ? Sui Dynasty's caisson works have no programming, novel images, diverse ways, different thoughts and wonders. ? (3) Tian Fei Lotus Algae Well: The well center is wide, and some flying skies are painted around the big lotus, decorated with algae wells.
It has gone beyond the space of the cavern, giving people a feeling of looking up at the vast space. ? (4) Shuanglong Lotus Algae Well: Two dragons playing with pearls are painted on both sides of the lotus in the well center, and sixteen flying flowers are painted around the Algae Well, which echoes inside and outside and has a strong sense of movement. ? ⑤ Da Lian algae well: Only one big lotus flower is painted in the well, or four corners are even matched with a horn flower, and there are many layers of decorations outside the well, which is simple and fresh. ? The unique decorative part of indoor ceiling in traditional buildings in China. Generally, it is made into a square, polygonal or circular concave well-shaped bulge, which is decorated with various patterns, carvings and paintings. Mostly used in palaces, temples, thrones and the most important parts above the Buddhist altar. The earliest existing wooden caisson is the caisson on Guanyin Pavilion of Dule Temple in Jixian County, which was built in 984. It is a square with four corners removed and an eight-bucket (the top of an eight-pyramid composed of eight corner beams) added. The Panlong algae well in the Taihe Hall of the Forbidden City in Beijing is a round well in the octagonal well, in which a carved Panlong hangs its head and holds a pearl, named Longjing, which is the most luxurious algae well in Qing architecture.
Symbolic design
In the traditional concept, caisson is a symbol of sacred significance. Can only be used in religious or imperial buildings. ? It is also a special form of architecture in China, and its development has experienced changes from simple to complex, from practical structural modeling to decorative structure. ? After the Ming Dynasty, the structure and form of algae wells have developed greatly, and their functions are exquisite and magnificent. In addition to increasing the proportion, mirrors symbolizing the kingdom of heaven also began to increase, with lotus petals placed around and Yunlong painted in the center. Later, more and more emphasis was placed on Yunlong in this center. In the Qing dynasty, it became a group of lifelike carved dragons. The hanging chandelier at Panlongkou does not lose the original shape of the mirror. Because of the prevalence of algae wells in Qing Dynasty, it was renamed Longjing. ? The shapes of algae wells are round, square, oval, spiral and octagonal.
Decorative technology
Since ancient times, these caissons have been regarded as the complex decoration technology of wooden structures in China. Because craftsmen can push out a deep algae well without nails. ? There are two kinds of algae wells in Tianhou Palace, one is round and the other is square. Circular algae well
The structure of the well is even more wonderful. Although it appears in the form of cement carving, it is not as meticulous as wood carving. ? The diameter of the circular caisson is 18 feet. There is a dragon and a chandelier in the smallest circle on the top. ? On the larger circumference outside the dragon circle, 24 yellow pear-shaped lamp holders are carved. ? There is also a red flying belt from the bottom of the lamp holder, which looks like a circular top cover with yellow background, green leaves and safflower. These 24 radial flight belts set off the graphic caisson more hierarchically. ? Then it expands outward from the lamp holder of Huanglihuatou, and another circle gradually increases from the inside out. There are 96 lotus lanterns and 120 Mazu statues around these circles. These lamp holders and statues are contracted from the outer ring to the inner ring? Craftsman's careful arrangement. The main thing is to make it feel as deep as the flying belt. ? Twenty-four ancient lions are carved at the starting point of the Twenty-four Flying Belt. Every two lions stand a statue of Mazu. Give the ancient lion a sense of capture. ? Rectangular algae are arranged on the left and right sides of the circular algae well. These two kinds of algae are 2 1 ft long, 0/6 ft wide and 3 ft 6 in deep. ? Sixty lotus lanterns are carved on each building. There are 88 Mazu statues and 28 ancient lions. ? The larger rectangular caisson in the middle is 2 1 ft long, 7 feet 6 inches wide and 3 feet deep. There are 32 lotus lanterns, 50 Mazu statues and 22 ancient lions. ? On the left and right sides of the rectangular large algae well, there is also a rectangular small algae well. Each building is 15 feet 6 inches long, 7 feet 6 inches wide and 3 feet deep. ? Each statue is carved with 24 lotus lanterns, 42 Mazu statues and 18 ancient lions. ? All Mazu statues in rectangular algae wells and circular algae wells, eight auspicious cranes in the four corners of circular algae, and the Panlong at the top of the center. Covered with real gold foil. Make these algae wells look like. Brilliant. Have a noble style. It's really a sigh. ? China's unique architectural structure and decoration technology. Ancient buildings in China paid great attention to the decoration of the ceiling, and often made a polygonal, circular or square concave part in the most conspicuous position of the ceiling, and then decorated with bucket arches, painted patterns or carved patterns. Because this part has produced exquisite and gorgeous visual effects. Caisson is one of the important modeling methods of China architectural national style in interior decoration.
Development history
The open caisson is also a special form of architecture in China, and its development has experienced changes from simple to complex, from practical structural form to decorative structure. ? After the Ming Dynasty, the structure and form of algae wells have developed greatly, and their functions are exquisite and magnificent. In addition to increasing the proportion, mirrors symbolizing the kingdom of heaven also began to increase, with lotus petals placed around and Yunlong painted in the center. Later, more and more emphasis was placed on Yunlong in this center. In the Qing dynasty, it became a group of lifelike carved dragons. The hanging chandelier at Panlongkou does not lose the original shape of the mirror. Because of the popularity of caissons in Qing dynasty
It was urgent, so he changed the algae well into Longjing. ? In the traditional concept, caisson is a symbol of sacred significance. Can only be used in religious or imperial buildings. So what? Algae wells are mostly used in palaces, temples, thrones and the most important parts above the Buddhist altar. The earliest existing wooden caisson is the caisson on Guanyin Pavilion of Dule Temple in Jixian County, which was built in 984 for plastering square corners. , add bucket eight (? Eight pyramid tops composed of eight corner beams). The Panlong algae well in the Taihe Hall of the Forbidden City in Beijing is a round well in the octagonal well, in which a carved Panlong hangs its head and holds a pearl, named Longjing, which is the most luxurious algae well in Qing architecture. ? Caisson is a kind of superimposed cave roof decoration, which is named because it is similar to the roof structure of ancient buildings in China. Dunhuang caisson simplifies the structure of the traditional ancient laminated wooden caisson in China, with the center protruding upward and inclined on all sides, becoming an inverted bucket with a big bottom and a small top. The theme works are in the central square well, and the surrounding patterns are spread out layer by layer. Because the caisson is located at the top of the center of the grottoes, the top of the grottoes has a lofty and profound feeling.
Fire protection function
When you have the opportunity to stroll through the land of China, visit places of interest, and step into various magnificent halls and pavilions, have you noticed some architectural features and explored its special significance? For example, in the middle of the ceiling of some halls and pavilions, on the long and short beams and rafters that are staggered and overlapped, and on its plane (. ? There are many descriptions about the special decoration of algae wells in historical materials. Zhang Heng (AD 78- 139), a famous astronomer and writer in the Eastern Han Dynasty, wrote in his masterpiece "Xijing Fu" that he described the scene of Kyoto: "The long beams of the majestic rainbow are connected with shackles, and the eggplant is placed in an algae well, hunted with red flowers, decorated with flower walls and flowing." Xue zong's note: "eggplant (lotus root) stems are also." The stem is inverted in algae, and its flowers are inverted. Hunting, reconnecting. The caisson is in the middle of the building, and the wood is doing it. Now the well is dry. " Yan He, a metaphysical scholar of the Wei Dynasty in the Three Kingdoms, also said in the Fu of Jingfu Hall, which describes the palace architecture: "Eggplants are planted upside down, covered with flowers, covered with algae wells, and sparsely woven. ? All of the above explains how Dong Heliang conceived caisson and described it in detail. The lotus root is deeply planted in the caisson, and the hidden red lotus drops. The carved frame is like a mine field, with short rafters around it, and the wall decoration on the top of the beam is shining like morning light. ? The significance and symbol of the decoration of algae wells are also related to fire fighting. According to "Custom Pass", "This hall is a patio. Well, so is the image of Tokyo. Ling, something in the water. Therefore, so is Tired Ofthe Fire. "As for Dongjing, Sima Qian, a great historian in the Western Han Dynasty (about 145 or 135-), recorded in the earlier astronomical documents" Historical Records "and" Tianguanshu "in China:" Dongjing has eight stars. "Tokyo is the official name of Su Jingxing. One of the 28 hotels has eight stars, which the ancients thought was the main water. To sum up, I hope to drill a well at the top of the hall and pavilion, and decorate it with algae and aquatic plants such as lotus, water chestnut and lotus root, which can suppress the fire demon. ? Since the discovery of fire, people have also learned about the harm of fire. In order to survive and develop, people have learned to avoid harm. However, due to the low productivity at that time, people still lacked effective means to subdue natural disasters, so they could only try to express their wishes in various ways. The special treatment of caissons by palaces and pavilions belongs to this category. Although idealistic, it also reflects the ancient people's good wishes for fire prevention.