Storeyed Pavilion (Ge)

            There are many poems to describe the China traditional buildings, for example,  

Storeyed Pavilion (Ge)

        The Chinese Ge is similar to the Lou in that both are of two or more storey buildings.

The difference between them is that the Ge has a door and windows only on the front side

with the other three sides being solid walls. Moreover, Ge is usually enclosed by wooden

balustrades or decorated with boards all around.

       Such storeyed pavilions were used in ancient times for the storage of important articles

and documents. Take Wenyuange as an example, in the Forbidden City of Beijing was in effect

the imperial library. Kuiwenge in the Confucius Temple of Qufu, was devoted to the safekeeping

of the books and works of painting and calligraphy bestowed by the courts of various dynasties.

Some of the Ge, notably those erected in parks, like other pavilions or towers (ting, tai and lou),

were used for enjoying the sights.