Ancient Chinese philosophy and its influence on architecture

To date, China - one of the largest countries on the planet, on its territory is inhabited by a sixth of the world's population. The history of the state began several thousand years ago, which allowed us to accumulate vast experience in all areas of human life. A rich cultural heritage, centuries-old traditions, diligence and much more distinguish China among other eastern countries.

Chinese philosophy is especially interesting for scientists around the world. Its development has been going on for four thousand years. Like the philosophy of any other culture, it gave rise to many currents, each of which offered its own postulates.

Few people know that it was from ancient Chinese mythology that two spirits appeared, known today as yin and yang. It is believed that they emerged from chaos before the formation of something orderly on the planet. Later, yin became the spirit of the earth, and yang - the sky. Chinese philosophy developed precisely on the basis of this origin of the planet. Simultaneously with the development of the concept of yin and yang, there appears the doctrine of the five primordia that describe the origin of the world from water, fire, alloy, earth and wood.

Over time, experiencing numerous social and economic upheavals, some philosophers moved away from the usual teachings clinging to heaven, earth and so on. They tried to make more reasonable conclusions on the basis of centuries of experience requiring the creation of certain relationships between groups of people, and to establish clear boundaries between a person and the world around him. It was during this period that Chinese philosophy is characterized by the allocation of such new teachings as Taoism, Moism, Confucianism and others. Teachings preached by these schools have had a huge impact on the development of culture and philosophy.

The emergence of China's philosophy differed from the development of philosophical currents in the same Europe by the fact that school representatives did not take into account natural-science observations. The only teaching that infringed on the use of some facts provided by scientists for the development of philosophical concepts was proposed by the Moists. But Confucianism suppressed this philosophical course very quickly.

Chinese philosophy in the vision of Confucius rejected any relationship with the natural sciences, which led to the suppression of the need for the development of science and applied knowledge. The main thing in Confucianism has always been the self-improvement of personality, its desire for morality and spiritual purity.

Thus, the subsequent formation of philosophy and science passes without points of contact, which greatly complicated and narrowed the scope of possible directions for the development of various doctrines.

Undoubtedly, the ancient Chinese philosophy left its imprint on architecture, painting and other objects of cultural heritage.

Chinese architecture - there are numerous monasteries, temples and palaces. Since ancient times, natural resources have been used as a source material: stone, bamboo, reed, clay. Also widely used porcelain, terracotta and faience.

A great influence on the development of the architecture of the country was made by the Han dynasty. During her reign, unique funerary complexes were erected, the decoration of which reflects the whole essence of ancient Chinese natural philosophy. The standard tendency of art to escape from everyday life, here is contrasted with the image of the surrounding reality.

Chinese architecture adopted some features characteristic of Indian Buddhism. At this time, there were pagodas and cave temples. In addition, bamboo, widely used for construction in China, contributed to the modification of direct forms, leading to the fact that the roof was bent and the roof edges elevated.

With the transition to modern chronology, the Empire begins the construction of unique palaces of beauty. Their distinctive feature is the perception of the importance of nature for harmony, which led to the appearance of temple structures in the form of symmetrical complexes. Particular importance was given to the gardens that surrounded each such complex.

Thus, architecture and philosophy were in direct interconnection. The cultural heritage, set by the Chinese architects, still attracts many tourists.