The east gate of an ancient house

Chinese architecture has changed over many different periods in many ways. The daily lives of the Chinese depended on a particular arrangement of one's home to bring good luck and fortune. Chinese architecture is very distinctive, and the use of certain materials in the construction process is also very important: An improper decoration style or building technique could spell years of bad luck. Different regions in China also dictate how a home should be constructed, such as which direction the construction should face.

The main hall of a typical rural house in ancient China

Houses of the Northern Neolithic Period were built on high ground near a river, either at the ground or semi-subterranean level, and were of a circular or rectangular shape. Holes discovered near the wall foundations suggest that the dwellings consisted of a series of woven rods and twigs plastered with

A tile end

clay. Most of the houses were equipped with a fireplace at the entrance, which served as a source of central heating.

Evidence suggests that bricks and ceramic tiles were first used in the Zhou Dynasty (11th century-221BC). All Zhou houses were enclosed by walls with a large courtyard inside. The main building sat on a platform in the back and was divided into central and side walls. Located in the center of the south wall was a gatehouse with rooms on both sides. This period also features the use of tile ends on roofs .

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