Form Classification of Ancient Huizhou Monumental Architecture and Its Evolution

CHEN Gang; ZHANG Kailun; FU Aoping

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-0232.2025.01.007

Abstract：Monumental architecture is of great significance in ancient Huizhou,characterized by distinct regional features.Ancient Huizhou is famous for its extensive cultural heritage.Stone-carved monumental architectural pieces(Paifang)are important historical and cultural relics and have significant commemorative and symbolic value.Laws and regulations on the application and construction of monumental architecture have been established.Monumental architectural pieces were erected to honor families or individuals for their deeds in loyalty to the emperor,or for their filial piety,chastity,philanthropy,or official achievements.In Huizhou,monumental architecture often appeared as standalone buildings or as a part of the ancestral halls.Although their designs inherited structural logics from northern China,these structures have developed unique and strong regional identities distinct from those in other regions influenced by local decorative styles. Based on basic information about existing monumental architecture and digital mapping models,different types of ancient Huizhou monumental architecture were classified comprehensively.They can be divided mainly into the Louyan style and the Chongtian style.The Louyan style,also known as the gate tower style,inherits and translates the wooden Paifang in official buildings in northern China.It is mainly divided into four types according to the number of open rooms and eaves,including two columns-one door-one floor,two columns-one door-three floors,four columns-three doors-three floors,and four columns-three doors-five floors.A survey of 98 well-preserved standalone monumental architectural pieces across one prefecture and six counties of Ancient Huizhou was carried out.It was found that Ancient Huizhou monumental architecture has unique forms and decorations,showing diverse and colorful form changes. Ancient Huizhou monumental architecture is a symbol of traditional values and ethics and has abundant social functions.Although some monumental architecture symbolizes dedication to Confucian political ethics like loyalty,filial piety,and righteousness,it displays different representations of specific cultural functions.The design and construction of monumental architecture are not independent and arbitrary but are likely strongly related to the social status and official ranks of owners.Monumental architecture dedicated to individuals with higher-ranking official titles emphasized grandeur and sophistication,highlighting social hierarchy and family honor.In contrast,monumental architecture commemorating individuals with lower-ranking titles was generally smaller in scale and more modest in design.Such differences in form based on official ranks reflect the external expression of social hierarchical systems and ethics in Huizhou. The forms and craftsmanship of ancient Huizhou monumental architecture evolved,shifting from complexity to simplicity and from diversity to standardization.These changes not only reflect advances in architectural techniques but also represent broader cultural trends in the development of stone monuments in Huizhou.More specifically,the evolution of components included the removal of chamfered column edges,the integration of Dougong brackets and architraves,and the transformation of E-fang beams into crescent-shaped structures.More broadly,the large Louyan style that was prominent during the Ming Dynasty was replaced by the more standardized Chongtian style in the Qing Dynasty.These transitions demonstrate the evolution of ancient Huizhou monumental architecture from complex and diverse styles to more simplified techniques.Ancient Huizhou monumental architecture has strived to seek a balance between aesthetics and functionality. As distinctive historical and cultural symbols,ancient Huizhou monumental architecture reflects the social,cultural,and technological developments of different ages through changes in its form,design,and craftsmanship.Through detailed surveys of existing ancient Huizhou monumental architectural pieces and the construction of digital mapping models,this study aimed to establish a historical typology and explore the relationship between functionality and aesthetics shaped by tradition,evolution,and innovation.