小西天 Xiaoxitian Buddhist Temple

景德镇, Jingdezhen, China's Porcelain Capital

Beijing

Sun & Moon Twin Pagodas, a modern recreation of Tang Dynasty Era pagodas (Guilin)

Eroded Anyue Buddhist Grottoes, Sichuan

上里古镇 Shangli Village, Sichuan

Feihong Pagoda, wrapped in 琉璃 coloured glaze

Jinci Temple, Shanxi

Beijing Hutongs 北京胡同

Gulangyu 鼓浪屿 - Amoy/Xiamen Colonial Concession

The ruins of 圆明园 Old Summer Palace, "arguably the greatest concentration of historic treasures in the world, dating and representing a full 5,000 years of an ancient civilization" - Robert McGee, Burnt down and looted by British and French armies in 1860

Wang Family Grand Courtyard

China National Archives of Publications and Culture, Headquarters

Wuhan University

Xidi 西递 Village, the less commercialised sibling of Hong Village 宏村

Abandoned Bank of Canton Building, Wuhan

穹顶 Qiongding Domes traditionally found in Chinese mosques (Various locations)

Potala Palace, Lhasa

Earthen dwellings “Tulou” for the Hakka people in Fujian province. 
There’s 3 different examples of Tulous here. 

(Last 4 photos are the guardian beasts that were traditionally put on top of rooftops to scare off the evil spirits)

<div class="md"><p>Earthen dwellings “Tulou” for the Hakka people in Fujian province. 
There’s 3 different examples of Tulous here. </p>

<p>(Last 4 photos are the guardian beasts that were traditionally put on top of rooftops to scare off the evil spirits)</p>
</div>

Fujian’s Hakka Tulous

Northern Song Imperial Mausoleum

🐉 Chiwen 鸱吻 are animal-shaped motifs found on either end of roof ridges in traditional Chinese architecture. They are modelled after one of the nine dragon sons.

🐉It is said that Chiwen are good at spraying water, so it was placed on the roof by our ancestors to act as a "firefighter". Among the nine sons of the dragon, Chiwen appears in many forms, all very dragon-like. However, the Chiwen on ancient buildings from different dynasties can vary, but we can only see those constructed after the Tang Dynasty.

*Evolution of the Chiwen*

🔴 Qin and Han Dynasties: Simple and Plain
🔴 Sui and Tang Dynasties: Resembles fish, birds and dragons
🔴 Song, Yuan, Liao and Jin Dynasties: Gorgeous and visually striking
🔴 Ming and Qing Dynasties: Very dragon-like

*Recommendations*

Main Hall of Foguang Temple in Wutai Mountain, Shanxi (Tang Dynasty)

Sutra Library Hall of Huayan Temple in Datong, Shanxi (Jin Dynasty)  

Main Halls of Dule Temple in Jixian County, Tianjin (Liao Dynasty)  

Glazed Goose Kiss of Sanqing Hall in Yongle Palace, Shanxi (Yuan Dynasty)  

Green-glazed Goose Kiss in the National Museum of China, Beijing (Western Xia)  

Glazed Goose Kiss of Chongyang Hall in Yongle Palace, Shanxi (Yuan Dynasty)  

Ningde Hall of Beiyue Temple in Quyang, Hebei (Yuan Dynasty)  

Chongzheng Hall of Shenyang Imperial Palace, Liaoning (Qing Dynasty)  

Main Halls of the Eastern and Western Qing Tombs in Zunhua and Yixian, Hebei (Qing Dynasty)  

Chiwen on the City Tower of Pingyao Ancient City, Shanxi (Qing Dynasty)  

Chiwen of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City and the Wanfo Pavilion of Zhihua Temple, Beijing (Ming Dynasty)  

Chiwen of Chunyang Hall in Yongle Palace, Shanxi Museum, Taiyuan (Yuan Dynasty)

<div class="md"><p>🐉 Chiwen 鸱吻 are animal-shaped motifs found on either end of roof ridges in traditional Chinese architecture. They are modelled after one of the nine dragon sons.</p>

<p>🐉It is said that Chiwen are good at spraying water, so it was placed on the roof by our ancestors to act as a &quot;firefighter&quot;. Among the nine sons of the dragon, Chiwen appears in many forms, all very dragon-like. However, the Chiwen on ancient buildings from different dynasties can vary, but we can only see those constructed after the Tang Dynasty.</p>

<p><em>Evolution of the Chiwen</em></p>

<p>🔴 Qin and Han Dynasties: Simple and Plain
🔴 Sui and Tang Dynasties: Resembles fish, birds and dragons
🔴 Song, Yuan, Liao and Jin Dynasties: Gorgeous and visually striking
🔴 Ming and Qing Dynasties: Very dragon-like</p>

<p><em>Recommendations</em></p>

<p>Main Hall of Foguang Temple in Wutai Mountain, Shanxi (Tang Dynasty)</p>

<p>Sutra Library Hall of Huayan Temple in Datong, Shanxi (Jin Dynasty)  </p>

<p>Main Halls of Dule Temple in Jixian County, Tianjin (Liao Dynasty)  </p>

<p>Glazed Goose Kiss of Sanqing Hall in Yongle Palace, Shanxi (Yuan Dynasty)  </p>

<p>Green-glazed Goose Kiss in the National Museum of China, Beijing (Western Xia)  </p>

<p>Glazed Goose Kiss of Chongyang Hall in Yongle Palace, Shanxi (Yuan Dynasty)  </p>

<p>Ningde Hall of Beiyue Temple in Quyang, Hebei (Yuan Dynasty)  </p>

<p>Chongzheng Hall of Shenyang Imperial Palace, Liaoning (Qing Dynasty)  </p>

<p>Main Halls of the Eastern and Western Qing Tombs in Zunhua and Yixian, Hebei (Qing Dynasty)  </p>

<p>Chiwen on the City Tower of Pingyao Ancient City, Shanxi (Qing Dynasty)  </p>

<p>Chiwen of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City and the Wanfo Pavilion of Zhihua Temple, Beijing (Ming Dynasty)  </p>

<p>Chiwen of Chunyang Hall in Yongle Palace, Shanxi Museum, Taiyuan (Yuan Dynasty)</p>
</div>

[Educational] A guide to Chinese Chiwen Motifs

Beautiful Art in Chinese Temples

Wangjiayuan, Wang Family Courtyard, 王家大园

Zhou Ancestral Home, 太和镇, Guangzhou

<blockquote class="twitter-video"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/RMpBhO8UD8">pic.twitter.com/RMpBhO8UD8</a></p>&mdash; 中国传统文化 (@cultureCHN) <a href="https://twitter.com/cultureCHN/status/1878472216586899497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Foguang Temple Architecture

Pingyao 平遥 Ancient City, Shanxi

Guiyuan 归元 Temple, Wuhan

Xi'an Architecture

Longmen Grottoes, Henan

Hui-style architecture in Huizhou, Anhui.

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Northern Song Imperial Mausoleum

Foguang Temple Architecture

Guiyuan 归元 Temple, Wuhan