Paifang

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Paifang

Paifang in Shunfeng Park, Shunde
Chinese 牌坊
Literal meaning memorial archway gate
Pailou
Simplified Chinese 牌楼
Traditional Chinese 牌樓
Literal meaning memorial archway edifice
A decorated paifang in Shanghai

Paifang, also called pailou, is a traditional Chinese architectural gating style as an arch.

Etymology

The word paifang (Chinese: 牌坊; pinyin: páifāng) was originally a collective term for the top two levels of administrative division and subdivisions of ancient Chinese city. The largest division within a city in ancient China was a fang (坊), equivalent to current day precinct. Each fang was enclosed by walls or fences, and the gates of these enclosure were shut and guarded every night. Each fang was further divided into several pai (牌; literally "placard"), which is equivalent to current day (unincorporated) community. Each pai in turn, contained an area including several hutongs (alleyways).

This system of urban administrative division and subdivision reached an elaborate level during Tang Dynasty, and continued in the following dynasties. For example, during Ming Dynasty, Beijing was divided into a total of 36 fangs. Originally, the word paifang referred to the gate of a fang and the marker for an entrance of a building complex or a town; but by the Song Dynasty, a paifang had evolved into a purely decorative monument.

Origin

It is suggested that the Chinese paifang may have been derived from the torana temple-gate in ancient India,[1] though it has taken on traditional Chinese architecture characteristics such as multi-tiered roofs, various supporting posts, and archway-shapes of traditional gates and towers.[2][3] However, city gates are not particular to India.

During the Tang dynasty, it was called wutoumen (simplified Chinese: 乌头门; traditional Chinese: 烏頭門; literally "black top gate"), because the top of the two posts were painted black. Wutoumen was reserved for officials of rank 6 or higher.

The construction of wutomen was standardized in Yingzao Fashi of the Song dynasty.[4] It consisted of two posts and a horizontal beam forming a frame and two doors. By the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was called pailou or paifang, and evolved into more elaborate structure with more posts and gates, with superstructural gable on top; the highest rank was five gate-six post-eleven gable pailou.

Style

Paifang comes in a number of forms. One form involves placing wooden pillars onto stone bases, and bound together with wooden beams. This type of paifang is always beautifully decorated, with the pillars usually painted in red, the beams decorated with intricate designs and Chinese calligraphy, and the roof covered with coloured tiles, complete with mythical beasts - just like a Chinese palace. Another form of paifang is in the form of true archways made of stone or bricks; the walls may be painted, or decorated with coloured tiles; the top of the archways are decorated like their wooden counterparts. Yet another form of paifang, built mainly on religious and burial grounds, consists of plain white stone pillars and beams, with neither roof tiles nor any coloured decoration, but feature elaborate carvings created by master masons.

Outside of China, the paifang has long been the symbol of Chinatowns. The largest outside of China can be found at Washington D.C.'s Chinatown.

In the past, "Chastity Paifangs" were given to widows who remained unmarried till death, praising what was seen as loyalty to their deceased husbands.

Gallery


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See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paifang.

References

  1. ↑ Joseph Needham, Science and Civilization in China, Vol 4 part 3, p137-138
  2. ↑ Ronald G. Knapp (2000). China's old dwellings. University of Hawaii Press. p. 85. ISBN 0-8248-2214-5. 
  3. ↑ Simon Foster, Jen Lin-Liu, Sharon Owyang, Sherisse Pham, Beth Reiber, Lee Wing-sze (2010). Frommer's China. Frommers. p. 435. ISBN 0-470-52658-0. 
  4. ↑ Li Jie, Yingzao Fashi, vol 6, Minor Woodwork I, section The Construction of Wutomen
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