Analyzing the structural and semantic dimensions of traditional Chinese architecture and gardening (Case example of imperial buildings in Beijing)

Traditional Chinese architecture and gardening are a mirror of the display of culture and ritual that has shown themselves in a physical body. Ancient Chinese architecture and traditional gardening have always been one of the world's most valuable art styles. The conceptual components of traditional Chinese architecture can be seen not only in symbols and emblems, but also in components and elements, and even in spatial structures. The purpose of this research is to simultaneously observe the physical and conceptual aspects of traditional Chinese architecture and gardening and compile the structuring components of this style of design. Also, the sub-goals such as understanding the beliefs and matching the obtained information with the imperial buildings of Beijing city. The method of this research is of the type of interpretative systems, qualitative and based on the "logical reasoning method". The information of this research was collected based on library documents, field visits, and software analysis. In the review section of the research, obtaining detailed and comparative information about Chinese architecture and gardening, and measuring the effective components, and examining these components in the imperial buildings of Beijing, it has led to the detailed formulation of the structural components of traditional Chinese architecture and gardening. The components of traditional Chinese architecture and gardening were formed based on two physical and semantic axes. But these two forming axes interacted with each other and all the components were formed based on this interaction. Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist beliefs are the basis of the formation of traditional Chinese architecture and garden thinking, which is clearly expressed in the communication structure of these collections. Traditional Chinese architecture and gardening is a type of architecture with the crystallization of physical-semantic and lasting values of ancient Chinese people's relationship with nature and values derived from Feng Shui, Taoism, and Buddhism. With the help of construction tools such as plants, water, stone, and building materials, it has displayed a special identity of the Chinese people in conceptual and semantic layers.