ARC
4301A
Issues in architectural theory and design
Fall 2004–05
2, Generativity in the Yingzao fashi
Assignment 1 in
- Chan Chi Kan (PDF, 708 KB)
- Chan Lok Ling, Gloria (PDF, 1.9 MB)
- Chan Mei Lin, Minnie (PDF, 268 KB)
- Chmielinski, Kasia Szeto (PDF, 420 KB)
- Chow Chun Man (PDF, 6 MB)
- Choy Ka Fai, Ivan (doc, 184 KB)
- Hui Ting Ting (PDF, 2 MB)
- Hung Chim (PDF, 2 MB)
- Lam Fai, Gavin (PDF, 1.3 MB)
- Lam Ka Man (PDF, 1.5MB)
- Wong, Joseph (PDF, 404 KB)
- Wu Kwun Hang, Charles (PDF, 6.1 MB)
The Yingzao fashi 營造法式 as a “grammar book”
Liang Sicheng called the Yingzao fashi a grammar book 文法課本. He contrasted it with the other surviving text, the Gongcheng zuofa zeli (Methods and models of construction) 工程做法則例, published in 1734, which
sets out 27 different building types. It analyzes each building component one by one, mechanically listing its dimensions. The Yingzao fashi, on the other hand, in all cases gives formulas based on principles and proportions. It does not define each named component [ 名件] individually, but explains in detail its position and form. (Liang 1984, 358, emphasis added).
以二十七種不同的建築物為例，逐一分析，將每件的長短大小呆呆板板的記述。《營造法式》則一切都用原則和比例做成公式，對於每“名件”，雖未逐條定意，卻將位置和斲割做法均詳為解釋。
By “formulas based on principles and proportions,” Liang meant generative. The Gongcheng zuofa zeli is enumerative.
Website construction animation: 338 instances, 38 primitives
is an example of generativity in the Yingzao fashi. Another is the system 材份制.
The system
凡構屋之制，皆以材為祖；材有八等，度屋之大小，因而用之。各以其材之廣，分為十五份，以十份為其厚。凡屋宇之高深，名物之短長，曲直舉折之勢，規矩繩墨之宜，皆以所用材之份，以為制度焉。
size of (in ) 0.60 0.55 0.50 0.48 0.44 0.40 0.35 0.30 size of (in mm) 19.2 17.6 16.0 15.4 14.1 12.8 11.2 9.6 grades of 1 2 3 4 5 grades of 3 4 5 6 grades of other type 6 7 8
1 寸 = 0.1 尺 = 32 mm approx.
So we can use one set of dimensions for eight different objects. Just like an architect’s scale.
Example: bracket sets ( 斗栱)
Example: buildings in eight different grades (Chen 1993, plate I)
The section interpreter
The grammar is a hypothesis that makes predictions (designs) that are by definition grammatically correct. Where does the grammar come from?
These predictions are evaluated for stylistic correctness. Evaluated by whom and according to what criteria?
The grammar is revised according to the evaluations and retested. Revised by whom?
Grammatical correctness
Grammatical correctness versus stylistic correctness
Research
Three parts to an introduction (Booth, Colomb, and Williams 1995):
- Context
- Problem / benefit
- Response
Examples:
- Li (2003)
- Thorp (1984)
- Glahn (1984)
Assignment 2 out
Read the Penn paper (Li 2003)
Download the section interpreter and play with it.
For browser (SWF, 452 KB)
Downloadable projector (Mac, 952 KB)
Downloadable projector (PC, 820 KB)
List of references
and 1995. The craft of research. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
陳明達. 1993. Yingzao fashi da muzuo zhidu yanjiu [A study of structural carpentry in the Yingzao fashi] 營造法式大木作制度研究. 2nd ed. Beijing: Wenwu.
1984. Unfolding the Chinese building standards: research on the Yingzao fashi. In Chinese traditional architecture, edited by Nancy Shatzman Steinhardt, 47–57. New York: China Institute in America.
2003. The Yingzao fashi in the information age. Paper read at The Beaux-Arts, Paul-Philippe Cret, and 20th-century architecture in China, at University of Pennsylvania.
梁思成. 1984. Zhongguo jianzhu zhi liangbu “wenfa keben” [The two “grammar books” of Chinese architecture] 中國建築之兩部文法課本. In Liang Sicheng wenji [The collected works of Liang Sicheng] 梁思成文集, 357–363. Beijing: Zhongguo jianzhu gongye.
1984. The architectural heritage of the Bronze Age. In Chinese traditional architecture, edited by Nancy Shatzman Steinhardt, 60–67. New York: China Institute in America.