Constructing Conception of Ancient Chinese Building Group Space

Abstract

The traditional ancient Chinese building group is composed of individual buildings laid in accordance with the azimuth, orientation, axis and hierarchical order. The plane features of the group space are characterized by axis extension, multi-path expansion, and layer-by-layer progression; the three-dimensional form is distinct in levels and orderly in priority; the space concept embodies the philosophical thoughts of "harmony between heaven and man" and "combination of ritual and music" and "The philosophy of "accompanying of benevolence and righteousness". In the development course of ancient Chinese architectures, "harmony between heaven and man" and "combination of ritual and music" promoted the mutual coordination and integration between architecture and nature, and made the building group space form an aesthetic space of alternated virtual and real things, co-existed static and dynamic states, and compatible internal and external spaces. Keywords—building group; azimuth; orientation; axis; space