Exploring the Evolution and Inheritance of Traditional Chinese Architectural Forms in Jiehua

Abstract

Jiehua, a unique ancient Chinese art form, uses measuring tools to depict architectural themes. Traditional architectural forms in these paintings have been a focal point for experts in Chinese architecture. Despite emerging studies highlighting the value of exploring these ancient architectural forms, few studies have analyzed the internal forces behind the development of ancient Chinese architecture through Jiehua paintings. However, this is vital for studying the continuity of contemporary Chinese architectural culture. This study aims to explore the elements crucial to the evolution and continuation of traditional Chinese architectural culture in contemporary architectural design by analyzing the evolution of traditional Chinese architectural forms within different historical periods and their historical causes. An in-depth literature review enabled the selection of 12 representative Jiehua paintings from various historical periods as samples. The evolution of traditional Chinese architectural forms in these paintings was documented using visual observation methods, and Panofsky's theoretical framework of iconography was used to help explain and understand the historical causes of ancient Chinese architectural forms. The study results show that regional cultural conditions significantly impact traditional Chinese architectural forms, and the main elements affecting the expression of architectural locality include geography, cultural traditions, and economic development. This finding will shed light on the inheritance of traditional Chinese architectural culture and the innovative direction of contemporary architectural forms.