China is a multi-ethinicity country.
The structures of various minority groups of China, each with its graceful
bearing, have enriched the overall charming appearance of Chinese architecture.
Among the various minority nationalities, the nationality and regional
characteristics of the buildings of the Tibetan, Uygur, Dai and Dong ethnic
groups are most striking and these nationalities have gained the greatest
achievements.
The Tibetan structures are deeply
rooted in the soil of the unique Tibetan Buddhist culture, although they have
absorbed some images and techniques of Han nationality structures. Tibetan
structures contain unique features, such as a grand scale, bright colors, and an
unsophisticated and magnificent character. Beginning from the Yuan Dynasty,
Tibet was formally included into Chinese territory WC can say that there is no
other place in China like Tibet, wherein religion stands above all else, where
life is full of a strong religious flavor and culture contains a strong
theological atmosphere. Tibetan Buddhism was introduced into the Mongolian
region in the Yuan Dynasty and was gradually widely accepted by the Mongolian
people. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the emperors also built some Lama
temples and Lama pagodas in Beijing and north China in order to unite the
Tibetan and Mongolian nationalities. Tibetan Buddhist temples mainly include
three types: Tibetan style, Tibetan-Han style, and Han style.
The Uygur has gained the greatest
achievements in Islamic construction, which belongs to the global Islamic
architectural system, a simple and charming model of quiet, meditative
character. Uygur Islamic architecture includes salat monastery and Holy Spirit
tomb, and their molding style is quite different from Han structures. The
vertical and perfectly round tall pagoda and the horizontal salat mosque formed
with straight lines, achieve a rich contrast between round and square, curve and
straight line, high and low, and vertical and level.
The Dai nationality, living in the
south and southwest of Yunnan, believes in Theravada Buddhism, also called
Hinayana Buddhism. The Buddhist monastery and pagoda, among buildings, have
gained the highest achievements and possess the most distinguishing features.
The Dong ethnic group is distributed
in the juncture of Hunan, Guangxi and Guizhou. Free from too much religious
influence, a primitive sorcery prevailed among the people, so that, unlike many
other nationalities, the Dong nationality's architectural artistic achievements
are not manifested in religious structures. Instead, there are mainly folk
public buildings, such as drum towers and storm-proof bridges, which the Dong
group is renowned for. Apart from balustrade-type residences of unique features,
the graceful and exquisite temples and pagodas are even more charming.
In addition, the Islamic structures of the
Hui nationality, residences of the Naxi, Bai, Tujia and Korean nationalities all
radiate their own splendor. The architectural works of art of these ethnic
groups, like stars glittering in the sky, jointly form the splendid Chinese
architecture together with Han nationality structures.