Imperial Chinese architecture

beijing became capital of china after mongol invasion of 13th century, completing easterly migration of chinese capital begun since jin dynasty. ming uprising in 1368 reasserted chinese authority , fixed beijing seat of imperial power next 5 centuries. emperor , empress lived in palaces on central axis of forbidden city, crown prince @ eastern side, , concubines @ (therefore numerous imperial concubines referred palace 3 thousand ). however, during mid-qing dynasty, emperor s residence moved western side of complex. misleading speak of axis in western sense of visual perspective ordering facades, rather chinese axis line of privilege, built upon, regulating access—there no vistas, series of gates , pavilions.

que 闕 towers along walls of tang-era chang an, depicted in 8th-century mural prince li chongrun s tomb @ qianling mausoleum in shaanxi

numerology heavily influenced imperial architecture, hence use of 9 in of construction (nine being greatest single digit number) , reason why forbidden city in beijing said have 9,999.9 rooms—just short of mythical 10,000 rooms in heaven. importance of east (the direction of rising sun) in orienting , siting imperial buildings form of solar worship found in many ancient cultures, there notion of ruler being affiliated sun.

the tombs , mausoleums of imperial family members, such 8th century tang dynasty tombs @ qianling mausoleum, can counted part of imperial tradition in architecture. these above-ground earthen mounds , pyramids had subterranean shaft-and-vault structures lined brick walls since @ least warring states (481–221 bc).