Functions of Chinese Ancient Roofs

The large roof is the most typical feature of ancient Chinese wooden buildings in terms of shape, and its characteristics can be summarized into several points: beautiful curves, far-reaching eaves, diverse and beautiful shapes, rich and elegant decorative components.

These characteristics and practices did not appear out of thin air, but evolved through the ages. Useless things will not survive under the wheel of time. Therefore, many image characteristics of the large roofs of ancient buildings that we see today must have their specific origins. Mainly is the actual function, the role of decoration.

1. In actual function:

⑴Basic heat preservation and heat insulation to ensure basic indoor living environment conditions.

(2) Rainwater drainage: single-slope, two-slope or four-slope roof, etc., the features of the large roof cornices of ancient Chinese buildings are upwards and reversed, and the characteristics of "shangzun and yubei" are more conducive to the drainage of rainwater. ) also has a flat top (column bearing purlin, rafter on the purlin)).

(3) Shading: On the one hand, the depth of the eaves is that the rain does not splash the outside of the wall, and it also has the function of shading. Although the eaves of the roofs from the Song Dynasty to the Ming and Qing Dynasties showed a trend of smaller and smaller, the eaves are still typical characteristics of ancient architectural roofs. In addition, the cornices The inverse warping also helps with sunlight exposure indoors.

2. On decoration:

(1) The roof itself also exists as a kind of modeling element. The types include the top of the temple, the top of the mountain, the hanging mountain, the hard mountain, etc., and there are single eaves and double eaves.

(2) Roof ridge kisses, immortals and beasts, glazed tiles, etc. are also important elements of roof decoration. Of course, these components also have certain practical functions or are out of Feng Shui.