IMPORTANCE OF ROOF IN THE BUILDING RITES OF CHINA
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Abstract
The article deals with an unexplored aspect of the ritual building practices in China – roof construction. It was very important because the roof was a highly sacred part of a building, which was surrounded by different beliefs and ceremonies in the traditional culture. The roof was identified with heaven in the Chinese system of symbols. The construction of a house implied much more than a series of technical operations. Professional carpenters were usually mobilized to build a new house. Their professional skills included astrology, geomancy and building magic, and they used the carpenter’s manual Lu Ban jing (Canon of Lu Ban) as well as different almanacs. The raising of the ridgepole, which incorporated many ceremonies and superstitious customs, was the culmination of the building of a house. It influenced the luck of the people who will live in it, therefore a ridgepole was decorated with different amulets, benevolent symbols, and well-wishing inscriptions. Omens and signs were of consequence as well. In addition, houseowners made every effort to avoid any conflict with carpenters and masons and to neutralize their possible sorcery.
How to Cite
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Building Rites, China, Roof
Baker Hugh. Ancestral Images: A Hong Kong Collection. Hong Kong – Aberdeen, 2011.
Benedyktowicz Danuta, Benedyktowicz Zbigniew. Dom w tradycji ludowej. Wrocław, 1992.
Bray Francesca. Technology and Gender: Fabrics of Power in Late Imperial China. Berkeley – Los Angeles, 1997.
Chau Adam Yuet. Miraculous Response: Doing Popular Religion in Contemporary China. Stanford, 2008.
Eberhard Wolfram. Dictionary of Chinese Symbols: Hidden Symbols in Chinese Life and Thought. London – New York, 1986.
Eberhard Wolfram. Studies in Chinese Folklore and Related Essays. Bloomington, 1970.
Feuchtwang Stephan. An Anthropological Analysis of Chinese Geomancy. Ventiane, 1974.
Frazer James George. The Golden Bough: Afternath. A Supplement to the Golden Bough. London – Basingtoke, 1936.
Hayes James. Specialists and Written Materials in the Village World // Popular Culture in Late Imperial China. Berkeley, 1985.
Kendall Laurel. Shamans, Housewives, and Other Restless Spirits: Women in Korean Ri-tual Life. Honolulu, 1987.
Knapp Ronald G. China’s Living Houses: Folk Beliefs, Symbols, and Household Ornamentation. Honolulu, 1999.
Ruitenbeek Klaas. Carpentry and Building in Late Imperial China: A Study of the Fifteenth-Century Carpenter’s Manual Lu Ban Jing. Leiden – New York, 1993.
Sartori Paul. Sitte und Brauch. Zweiter Teil: Leben und Arbeit daheim und draußen. Leipzig, 1911.
Seaman Gary. Winds, Waters, Seeds, and Souls: Folk Concepts of Physiology and Etiology in Chinese Geomancy // Paths to Asian Medical Knowledge. Berkeley, 1992.
Seligmann Siegfried. Der böse Blick und Verwandtes: ein Beitrag zur Geschichte des Aberglaubens aller Zeiten und Völker. Hildesheim, 1985.
Williams Charles Alfred Speed. Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs: An Alphabetical Compendium of Antique. Boston, 1974.
REFERENCES
Baker Hugh (2011), Ancestral Images: A Hong Kong Collection, Hong Kong and Aberdeen.
Benedyktowicz Danuta, Benedyktowicz Zbigniew (1992), Dom w tradycji ludowej, Wrocław.
Bray Francesca (1997), Technology and Gender: Fabrics of Power in Late Imperial China, Berkeley and Los Angeles.
Chau Adam Yuet (2008), Miraculous Response: Doing Popular Religion in Contemporary China, Stanford.
Eberhard Wolfram (1986), Dictionary of Chinese Symbols: Hidden Symbols in Chinese Life and Thought, London and New York.
Eberhard Wolfram (1970), Studies in Chinese Folklore and Related Essays, Bloomington.
Feuchtwang Stephan (1974), An Anthropological Analysis of Chinese Geomancy, Ventiane.
Frazer James George (1936), The Golden Bough: Afternath. A Supplement to the Golden Bough, London and Basingtoke.
Hayes James (1985), “Specialists and Written Materials in the Village World”, Popular Culture in Late Imperial China, Berkeley.
Kendall Laurel (1987), Shamans, Housewives, and Other Restless Spirits: Women in Korean Ri-tual Life, Honolulu.
Knapp Ronald G. (1999), China’s Living Houses: Folk Beliefs, Symbols, and Household Ornamentation, Honolulu.
Ruitenbeek Klaas (1993), Carpentry and Building in Late Imperial China: A Study of the Fifteenth-Century Carpenter’s Manual Lu Ban Jing, Leiden and New York.
Sartori Paul (1911), Sitte und Brauch. Zweiter Teil: Leben und Arbeit daheim und draußen, Leipzig.
Seaman Gary (1992), “Winds, Waters, Seeds, and Souls: Folk Concepts of Physiology and Etiology in Chinese Geomancy”, Paths to Asian Medical Knowledge, Berkeley.
Seligmann Siegfried (1985), Der böse Blick und Verwandtes: ein Beitrag zur Geschichte des Aberglaubens aller Zeiten und Völker, Hildesheim.
Williams Charles Alfred Speed (1974), Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs: An Alphabetical Compendium of Antique, Boston.
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