The main entrance and the public rooms in the south wing were divided from the inner courtyard by a wall and decorative gate, isolating the inner chambers from outside intrusion. Women were not allowed to leave the inner courtyard, and guests were not allowed to enter it. Larger compounds often had secondary courtyards and buildings that were used to house unmarried daughters, or for miscellaneous purposes.

The windows of the rooms all faced the inner courtyard. Screens walls were placed inside the main gate and doors, to block the view from the outside. Life inside the courtyard was a self-contained world that emphasized the difference in status between elder and younger generations, elder and younger sons, and men and women. These dwellings embodied the patriarchal, hierarchal organization of feudal Chinese society, particularly the distinction between superior and inferior, interior and exterior, male and female, and master and servant.

Aerial view of courtyard residence

3. The Forbidden City: the embodiment of Confucian ideology

The Forbidden City represents the ultimate architectural expression of Confucian ideology. This massive imperial courtyard complex clearly embodies the Confucian emphasis on strict divisions of rank, and the position of the individual within a hierarchical system.

This is Beijing's Forbidden City, designed by Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) architect Kuai Xiang, who lived from 1397 to 1481. Construction of the complex began in 1406. The Imperial Palace is the world's largest wood-frame construction royal complex.

Page:

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8