Miniature buildings in the Liao (907-1125) and the Northern Song (960-1127) periods
This thesis is concerned with the construction and uses of miniature buildings in the Liao (907-1125) and the Northern Song (960-1127) periods in China. These miniature buildings exploited the components of Chinese traditional architecture on a small or greatly reduced scale. To date no work has taken the position of this thesis to examine this corpus of miniature buildings that were used widely in tombs and temples as containers to provide coverings for coffins, and to hold images of deities, Buddhist relics and sutras, as seen in both archaeological discoveries and textual resources. The purpose of the thesis is to define this corpus and to consider its significance in the light of the functions that these tiny buildings fulfilled. This thesis proposes that these miniature buildings contributed a unique and indispensable part in presenting the positions of their owners in society. Made as containers, miniature buildings particularly emphasize decoration, which enabled viewers to make a connection with life-size buildings, in the ways of which they were fitted into an existing architectural hierarchied system in the deeply rooted tradition of the Liao and the Northern Song. The thesis makes considerable use
Chen, Xin
History of art and visual culture ; Architecture ; Archeology ; Materials studies (archaeology) ; History of Asia & Far East ; miniature ; models ; Liao ; Song ; China
Miniature buildings in the Liao (907-1125) and the Northern Song (960-1127) periods. This thesis is concerned with the construction and uses of miniature buildings in the Liao (907-1125) and the Northern Song (960-1127) periods in China. These miniature buildings exploited the components of Chinese traditional architecture on a small or greatly reduced scale. To date no work has taken the position of this thesis to examine this corpus of miniature buildings that were used widely in tombs and temples as containers to provide coverings for coffins, and to hold images of deities, Buddhist relics and sutras, as seen in both archaeological discoveries and textual resources. The purpose of the thesis is to define this corpus and to consider its significance in the light of the functions that these tiny buildings fulfilled. This thesis proposes that these miniature buildings contributed a unique and indispensable part in presenting the positions of their owners in society. Made as containers, miniature buildings particularly emphasize decoration, which enabled viewers to make a connection with life-size buildings, in the ways of which they were fitted into an existing architectural hierarchied system in the deeply rooted tradition of the Liao and the Northern Song. The thesis makes considerable use
miniature building northern song period concerned construction use miniature building northern song period china miniature building exploit component chinese traditional architecture small greatly reduce scale date work take position examine corpus miniature building use widely tombs temple container provide coffin hold image deity buddhist relic see archaeological discovery textual resource purpose define corpus consider significance light function tiny building fulfil proposes miniature building contribute unique indispensable part present position owner society made container miniature building particularly emphasize decoration enable viewer make connection life size building way fit exist architectural system deeply_root tradition northern song make considerable use