Differences Between Eastern and Western Architecture

By Jiang Dexing

Typical traditional Chinese architecture is made of wood and bricks, while its Western counterpart is mainly stone. There are several distinctive differences between the Eastern and Western architecture.

Single Building VS Unit Building

Firstly, Westerners seem to love single residential buildings, in which each is separate and independent. While in China, people are fond of unit building； The quadrangle style is the best example.

Quadrangle is a good representative of ancient Chinese architecture, in which four houses are connected with each other around a central yard. I was born in the alleys of Suzhou City, where there are many ancient residences respectively belonging to men of letters, ruling bureaucrats, and local residents. These residences are formed in a chain of houses and usually have five or six units. Each single unit is a quadrangle. Normally, a wealthy five-generation family may own a large house-group, characteristic of several quadrangle and green yards in middle.

Why the quadrangle style has been popular in China, which is so different from the Western single-residence architectural style? In my opinion, it has something to do with the different life values of the two societies. In the eyes of Westerners, a man is an independent individual and even owns a separate world. As a building is made in different societies, it should be a carrier of one's culture and values. The traditional Chinese people gave priority to harmony, which means that people should help each other and grow together as a whole.

中国建筑是木结构的体系，西方建筑是石结构的体系。东西方建筑有几个基本的差异。

单体与群体

第一个差异是，西方建筑单体的多，一栋一栋，很独立；而中国建筑是群体建筑，如四合院。

四合院是中国古代建筑的一个单位。我老家是苏州的，苏州小巷里有很多古民居，文人的、官僚的、普通百姓的。进深很深，五进六进，一进就是一个单位，就是一个四合院。大户人家无非是若干个四合院串联起来的大宅子，很大的一个建筑群，庭院深深。

为什么中国会形成四合院样式，而西方是独立的单体建筑样式？这跟东西方的价值观念、跟整个社会的价值取向有关。在西方人看来，人都是一个一个独立存在的，每个人都是独立的个体，都是独立的世界。建筑是人造的，所以，建筑就应该跟人一样。而中国传统强调人和，应该互助共生，是一个整体。

立面的处理

第二，西方建筑非常注重立面处理，中国传统建筑在外观上不做过多装饰，大体跟周围建筑保持一致。

中国传统小巷里的建筑大体都差不多，青砖灰瓦，风格一体。条件好一点的人家最多砌个门楼。像苏州、上海一带基本上砌石库门，一个石库门里面就是一户大户人家。中国建筑的富丽堂皇，只有进了门才能发现，从外面一般看不出这户人家的家底。

苏州东山有个雕花大楼，从外面根本看不出其壮美，跟普通民居差不多，只有进大门来，才能看到其精细的砖雕、木雕、石雕……富丽堂皇。亦如北京故宫，在宫墙外根本看不到三大殿，只有移步宫里，才能看到太和殿等，皇家气概扑面而来。

Façade Decoration

Secondly, while Western architecture lays emphasis on the delicate decorations of the façade, the ancient Chinese architects tend to add less decoration to the exterior of a house for the purpose of keeping in line with the style of the surrounding buildings.

Most traditional Chinese houses, located in the alleys or in the streets, have uniform gray bricks and tiles, and look quite similar—though the richer families may build gatehouses. In the cities of Suzhou and Shanghai, there are many Shikumen (stone gatehouses) through each of which lies a row of houses owned by a large family. The great splendor of some Chinese architecture or the astounding wealth of a family can not be known until you go into their houses.

There is a wood carved building in East Mountain, a scenery spot in Suzhou City. Looking from the outside, you will feel it is similar to other ordinary residential buildings； only when you go inside—those delicate and splendid carvings of brick, wood and stone will capture your eyes. Take the Forbidden City in Beijing for example. Only by stepping into the palaces can we see such a wonderful place as the Hall of Supreme Harmony, while from the outside you can never get a glimpse of these halls, let alone feel the royal grandeur.

On the contrary, Western architecture is mainly single building and begins with individuality and diversity. Everyone has his own unique world outlook and style, so he should pursue a unique architecture style. Therefore, in the Middle Ages, some cities even stipulated that two similar buildings could not be built in a city in laws and regulations.

Square as the City Center

The third difference is more fascinating. In the Western society, squares have been built in the cities since ancient Greece, serving as a shared place for public use.

At that time in Greece, democracy was prevalent. A general assembly of citizens was held in square, rather than in auditoriums. And in a square, Greek citizens could easily communicate with each other and even engage in all kinds of business. It has become a symbolic trait that Westerners are committed to public life and social communication. That is also one of the reasons why Napoleon would declare,“it is one of the most beautiful living rooms in Europe,” when conquering Italy and finding its grand squares.

相反，西方建筑虽然单体为主，但强调个性，风格多样。建筑是人造的，每一个人都有自己独特的世界观，有独特的风格，所以建筑也应该追求独特的风格。因此，到了中世纪，甚至有的城市立下相应法规，规定同一座城市不能建造两座相似的建筑。

广场为中心

还有一个很有意思的差别，西方从古希腊开始，城市里基本上都建有广场。

广场，就是一个城市公共使用的场所，叫作共享空间。因为当时的民主是直接民主，开全体公民大会，就要有场所，没有现在的大礼堂，就是在广场上开的。在广场上，人们互相交流，做各种各样的买卖，由此发展出西方人比较注重公共生活、注重社会交往的特质。所以，拿破仑打到意大利，发现意大利的广场，就说“这是欧洲最美丽的一个客厅”。

而中国城市大多不存在西方意义上的广场。城市里当然也有公共集会的场所，但往往跟某种庙观相联系。南京古有夫子庙，今有鼓楼广场，但鼓楼广场实际上根本不能算广场。传统社会，大家集会的地方大概就是夫子庙。上海有个老城隍庙，苏州有个玄妙观。传统集会都是通过庙会或者跟宗教活动有关的场所来进行的。所以中国历来的城市，重点不在中心，而在街道。

对西方城市来说，广场就是一个市中心。到了中世纪，广场周边就建起了很多教堂。到了资本主义社会，又建立了市政厅，建了很多购物大厦、宾馆。所以，市中心集中了一个城市标志性的建筑，是一个城市的核心。

一个城市同另一个城市的区别，主要在于市中心。很多人到了国外，老外通常带你去看两个他们觉得很骄傲的地方。一个是广场，一个是郊区。特别是欧洲一些发达国家，城乡差异基本消失，乡镇也建得非常漂亮。

特色在小巷

中国过去的城市是以衙门为中心，比如北京以皇宫为中心。如今，中国城市建设中的设计理念汲取西方建筑学特点，特别是城市的市中心，都千篇一律。你到南京新街口（南京市中心）看到的就是几个大商场，几个大宾馆。宁波市中心也是几个大商场、大宾馆，走在北京王府井，感受不到这是北京，无非是比别的地方繁华一点，到四川成都市中心走走，跟南京也差不了多少。

中国传统文化里，城市特色是在小街小巷。假如你到成都的小街小巷，看到那么多茶馆，最好到里面去喝喝茶，跟四川人摆摆龙门阵，这样你才能感受到这是到了四川成都。你到北京，你走在后海的胡同里，看到那么多四合院，才能感受到这是北京。

很多南京人想到苏州玩，很喜欢苏州的小巷，烟花三月，天上下着绵绵细雨，走进那幽深幽深的小巷，正好对面走来一个撑着花雨伞的姑娘，是无比天作的意境。过去还有卖花姑娘，喊着一口苏州话。这时候，你心都醉了。就像大家读过的戴望舒的《雨巷》，看到一个像丁香一样结着愁怨的姑娘，这就是苏州。

（摘自《三北讲坛》甘肃人民出版社）

In most Chinese cities, however, no such square can be found. There are, of course, places for public gatherings in a city, which are mostly the temples. People visit the Nanjing Confucius Temple and the Drum Tower Square when they come to the city. Yet the latter can hardly be regarded as a square for gathering. Instead, the Nanjing Confucius Temple has been the place of public gathering. So are the Town God Temple in Shanghai and the Temple of Mystery in Suzhou. In China people normally gather in the temple fairs or in some religious places. So the ancient Chinese cities focus more on the streets, not on the center.

The city center of the Western society is mostly in a square. In the Middle Ages, many churches were built near the square. Even in the capitalist-dominated age, the city hall, shopping centers, and hotels have been erected around the square. Therefore, the age-old square is now accompanied by the city's iconic buildings and naturally becomes its center.

The difference between one city and another lies in the city center. When Chinese people travel abroad, locals usually take them to visit two places they are proud of. One is the square, the other is the suburbs. Now, in some European countries, the line between urban and rural areas have been vague, and the villages and towns are also quite beautiful.

The True Beauty of a City

In ancient China, Yamen (the headquarter of local government) is considered as the center of a city. For instance, the Forbidden City (imperial palace) is the center of Beijing. Nowadays, China's urban construction learns a lot from Western architectural philosophy. As a result, almost all the Chinese big cities (especially the city centers) look similar in appearance and structure. When you visit Nanjing's city center, Xinjiekou, you can see big shopping malls and hotels； when you visit the city center of Ningbo, the very same buildings will meet your eyes. Walking on the street of Wangfujing, Beijing's city center, it is hard for one to feel the unique charm of this great city, although the place maybe a little more prosperous than other city centers. And when you drive 1,600 kilometers westward to visit the center of Chengdu, you may feel that you have never left Nanjing.

In fact, the true beauty of a traditional Chinese city lies not in its center but in its small streets and narrow alleys. When you go along the streets and alleys of Chengdu, you can see many teahouses. Go inside for a tea and talk with the locals, you'll feel the real lifestyle of Chengdu City and even of Sichuan Province. When you go to Beijing, take a walk in the hutongs of Houhai and visit those quadrangles. In this way, you'll perceive the true grace of Beijing.

Many people in Nanjing like to take a visit to Suzhou for its narrow alleys. It would be a wonderful moment in March, when you walk into a deep alley in a drizzling rain, and a girl carrying a colorful umbrella comes from the far end. In the past, there were flower-selling girls whose charming Suzhou accent could intoxicate your heart. Suzhou City is “a girl like a bouquet of lilacs” in Dai Wangshu's poem,Rain Alley. This is the essence of Suzhou.

(FromSanbei Forum, Gansu People's Publishing House. Translation: Wang Xiaoke)