The historical origin of ancient buildings facing south

    The Palace Museum covers an area of 720,000 square meters, with a building area of 150,000 square meters. It has more than 70 kinds of palaces and 9,000 houses of different sizes.These buildings varied in form and function to meet the different needs of the Ming and Qing emperors.However, the Forbidden City has one thing in common, that is, the whole is facing south.This characteristic is the manifestation of the life experience and collective wisdom of ancient people. The Forbidden City is not only a group of buildings, but also a city.Both buildings and cities abide by the principle of facing south.

    Among ancient cities, Chang 'an, the capital of tang Dynasty, is the most representative.Miyagi city is located in the north center of the city, which is the exclusive high-grade community of the emperor and the royal family. The imperial City is located in the south of the palace city, which is slightly larger than the palace city and is the gathering area of government agencies.Outside the palace and the imperial city, there is Waiguocheng, which is designed for commercial and residential areas. The east and west cities are corresponding. Zhuque Street runs through the north and south, which is not only the central axis of Chang 'an City, but also the main road in the city.The overall design of Chang 'an, magnificent momentum, rational layout, can be called an outstanding representative of the history of ancient architecture.

    The same is true of urban construction, where houses are more elaborate.China is located in the northern hemisphere, at the eastern end of Eurasia, and most of its territory lies north of the Tropic of Cancer.According to the law of the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, the building facing south can adjust the light, so as to achieve the effect of warm in winter and cool in summer.

    In winter, the Angle of the sun is smaller, so the south-facing doors and Windows of the building can accommodate more sunlight to increase the indoor temperature. In summer, the Angle of the sun is larger, and the building can block part of the sunlight to reduce the indoor temperature.Classics calculate, in winter, face south and face north room compare, indoor temperature wants tall 1-2 Celsius.

    From a scientific point of view, the sun can promote the synthesis of vitamin D, prevent the occurrence of rickets in children, and the ultraviolet ray in the sun has a bactericidal effect, especially to cause respiratory disease bacteria, have a strong lethal.Often bask in the sun, but also enhance human immunity.Because of this, the building facing south shows unique advantages.

    Affected by the topography, China has a monsoon climate.In summer, typhoons from the Pacific send cold winds and rain northward.In winter, a cold current from Siberia sweeps south with northerly winds and snowflakes.Facing south, the building can receive cool wind in summer, reduce the room temperature, and can block the cold wind in winter, heat preservation.

    Architecture, on the one hand, is the shelter of people, on the other hand, is the result of political, cultural, natural and other factors.Seemingly ordinary ancient buildings, with the natural environment, form a harmonious coexistence of good ecology, filial piety, hospitality and party organic combination, resulting in a broad and profound residential culture, truly embodies the "unity of nature and man" philosophy, we have to praise for the wisdom of the ancients!