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| Chinese Pavilion (Ting) |
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A common sight in the country, the Chinese pavilion (ting, which
means also a kiosk) is built normally either of wood or stone or
bamboo and may be in any of several plan figures-- square, triangle,
hexagon, octagon, a five-petal flower, a fan and what not. But all
pavilions described as ting have this in common: they have columns
to support the roof, but no walls. In parks or at scenic spots,
pavilions are built on slopes to command the panorama or on lakeside
to create intriguing images in the water. They are not only part
of the landscape but also belvederes from which to enjoy it.
Pavilions also serve diverse purposes. The wayside pavilion is
called liangting (cooling kiosk) to provide weary wayfarers with
a place for a rest and a shelter in summer from the sun. The "stele
pavilion" gives a roof to a stone tablet to protect the engraved
record of an important event. Pavilions also stand on some bridges
or over water-wells. In the latter case, dormer windows are built
to allow the sun to cast its rays into the well, as it has been
the belief that water untouched by the sun would cause diseases.
Occasionally one finds two pavilions stand side by side like twins.
In modern times, kiosks (also called ting in Chinese) have been
erected in urban areas as postal stalls, newsstands or photographers'
sheds for snapshot services.
Rare among pavilions are those built of bronze. The most celebrated
of these is Baoyunge (Pavilion of Precious Clouds) in Beijing's
Summer Palace. The entire structure including its roof and columns
is cast in bronze. Metallic blue in colour, it is 7.5 metres tall
and weighs 207 tons. Elegant and dignified, it is popularly known
as the "Gold Pavilion."
The largest pavilion in China is also in the Summer Palace. The
ancient building, named Kuoruting (the Pavilion of Expanse), has
a floor space of 130 square metres. Its roof, converging in a
crown on top and resting on three rings of columns (24 round ones
and 16 square ones), is octagonal in form and has two eaves. With
all its woodwork colourfully painted, the pavilion looks at once
poised and majestic, well in harmony with the surrounding open
landscape. |
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