China has been artificially planned from the beginning. China's traditional urban planning theory can be divided into two directions: the ethical and sociological planning thought represented by Zhou Li Textual Research, and the natural function planning theory represented by Guan Zi and later Feng Shui theory.
As the most influential work in China's ancient urban planning theory, Zhou Li Kao Gong Ji put forward the basic planning thought and urban pattern of China cities, especially the capital city. It puts forward: "Fang Jiuli, next to three doors." ; "Finish painting nine paths, nine meridians and nine latitudes." "Left ancestors and right homes, facing the market outlook." Wait, a series of theories. These theories have always influenced the construction of ancient cities in China, and many big cities, especially political cities, were built according to this theory. The most typical cases are Chang 'an and Beijing in the Tang Dynasty (Yuan Dynasty and Ming and Qing Dynasties). Clear block structure and straight streets, as well as city walls and gates, all embody the concept of "courtesy" of Zhou Li Kao Gong Ji. In these cities, the city itself is not only the place where workers live and live, but also a kind of "symbol", representing a kind of social relationship and order. People live in it, influenced by the spatial order day by day, and unconsciously define their social orientation, but they cannot easily surpass their original orientation. This just meets the needs of the rules, so it is not difficult to find that the influence of "Zhou Li Kao Gong Ji" is so deep that it can still be seen in many contemporary urban planning.
Compared with the "image" in Zhou Li Textual Research, China's traditional urban planning theory also has a very rational and functional side, which is reflected in Guanzi and some later Feng Shui theories. Guanzi, written in the Warring States Period, is a political masterpiece written by later generations under the guise of Guan Zhong. Guan Zi denies Zhou Li in many ways. In the field of urban planning, Guanzi advocates proceeding from reality, not emphasizing form and not sticking to one pattern. It is necessary to "be right because of talent" and not be bound by patriarchal feudalism and ritual system. Therefore, "the city walls don't have to be in the rules, and the roads don't have to be good." At the same time, in terms of the relationship between cities and landscape environmental factors, Guanzi also puts forward that "all countries are based on mountains, not mountains, but mountains." The height is not close to drought, but the water is sufficient. Don't go near water, ditch to prevent the province "("legislation "). These theories have played an important role in the formation and development of geomantic omen theory in later generations.
The influence of geomantic omen theory on China urban planning is undoubtedly important. Apart from superstition, Feng Shui theory reflects the "view of nature" in China's urban planning theory. Whether it is "harmony between man and nature" or "gaining water by hiding wind", it reflects the respect of China City for the environment in the process of site selection and construction. This respect is based on a scientific attitude, not out of consideration for "courtesy". The names of "geomantic omen" in history, such as "surveying and mapping" and "geography", also prove this point from the side. Although some symbolic symbols often appear in Feng Shui theory, if we study it carefully, we can find that it is often a sanctification of a simple view of nature.
If Zhou Li's examination of Gong Ji has a decisive influence on the planning of China's political metropolis, then Guanzi and Feng Shui theory have a more obvious influence on the planning of small and medium-sized cities. Of course, these two planning ideas are not completely separated. In the history of China, the planning and construction of many cities have both embodied these two ideas, such as Nanjing (before 1949). It can be said that before the introduction or invasion of western planning ideas into China, these two ideas have been ruling the urban planning of China, and they have jointly created one personalized man-made city after another.
Western urban planning
Compared with the clear guiding ideology of China's traditional urban planning, western urban planning embodies a kind of pluralism and historicity. We can roughly divide the development of western cities into several important stages (before the industrial revolution): classical period, medieval period, Renaissance period and Baroque period. At each stage, western cities show different morphological characteristics, which not only reflects different planning concepts, but also reflects the changes in social structure. Because the city is the external epitome of human society.
In ancient Greece and Rome (classical period), the center of the city was a series of large public buildings, such as temples, theaters, arenas, etc., which occupied the core position of the city, while ordinary houses surrounded them, just like the younger brothers under the eldest brother. Such as Athens and Rome, have clearly demonstrated this urban structure. It reflects the relationship between gods, rulers and ordinary people at that time, and it is not difficult to see the importance of the thought and propaganda of "the unity of man and god" to the society at that time.
Medieval Europe was a "dark Europe". During this period, the power of the Catholic church was in an overwhelming position, which was to a great extent above all secular rights (including kingship); People are in a state of extreme ignorance, and the ownership of knowledge is in the hands of a few clergy. This is reflected in urban planning, and we will find that the cities in this period have hardly been planned, and most cities are in a state of spontaneous formation; The city lacks the space for ordinary residents' public activities; At the same time, the church is in an absolute dominant position, which is often in the highland of the city, and its own height is also the ruling point of its city or region.
Renaissance cities also reflected the changes of social thought in that period. With the return of "humanism", people began to reposition their position in society, and with the dim aura of God's servant, the core position of the church in the city was gradually diluted. The city became more pleasant: the appearance of public venues, the improvement of the status of the city hall and the famous arcades in the Renaissance all became the symbols of European cities in this period. Famous cities include Florence and Siena.
The next period of the development of western cities is the Baroque period. During this period, many European countries, such as France, were in the most powerful stage of national strength. Just like the Tang Dynasty in China, the rulers began to show off the greatness of kingship and the wealth of the country. Therefore, the phenomenon of "big square" and "big palace" began to appear in urban construction. This "large-scale" often plays the role of "destroyer" of the city. On the one hand, in order to build them, many original buildings must be demolished. On the other hand, their grand scale will make the surrounding original buildings look "petite". These big guys are not prepared for ordinary life, and the significance of their existence lies in "self-expression".
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As said at the beginning, this is a "miscellaneous" article written with emotion. The comparison between Chinese and western urban planning is really a big proposition, but when we compare it horizontally and vertically, we seem to smell some flavor of this proposition. Perhaps because of the different geographical and political conditions, the development of urban planning in China and the West presents us with an interesting phenomenon. In China, the idea of urban planning was basically formed more than two thousand years ago, and its subsequent evolution can only be said to be its supplement and perfection, which seems to be consistent with the development history of China's philosophy. In the west, the planning thought has changed greatly with the difference of time and space, and it is constantly self-denying and updating. This phenomenon has become more and more obvious after the industrial revolution, which deserves our deep thinking.
The influence of religious thought on ancient urban planning in China and the West
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When a nation creates its own myths and religions, it often takes the environment, a natural force most closely related to its own survival and development, as the primary object of conquest and domination. Primitive humans finally formed a satisfactory habitat model, that is, the prototype of an ideal landscape, by discriminating and utilizing the environment. It is in the process of adapting to the environment that the ideal landscape pattern formed in the depths of national culture has triggered people's intuitive speculation about the "divine domain", "fairyland" and "paradise" in myths and religions, and then attached a set of interpretation system based on the cultural psychology of various ethnic groups.
The Relationship between Ancient Cities and Myths and Legends in China
The two sources of China myth-the fairy mountain in Kunlun myth and Penglai myth are the ideal realm in people's imagination, represented by Kunlun Mountain and Penglai Mountain. The legendary Hanging Gardens, Drum Snake Mountain, Guo Hua and Xu Mi all belong to this model. According to Shan Hai Jing, "the sky of Kunlun is 800 Li, and the height of Wan Ren is ... a rock that can't be used without mercy", while Huainanzi Terrain Training records: "Digging the ground under the sky of Kunlun, Zengcheng is nine-fold, 114 steps high and three feet six inches. There are trees and grass on the mountain, and there are five ways of cultivation: pearl tree, Yushu tree, noble tree and immortal tree. In the west, they can get drunk and not die. Liezi Tang Wen recorded the Three Mountains (Five Mountains): "There are hundreds of millions of miles east of the Bohai Sea ... the mountains are high and low, and the three Wan Li ... the mountains are 70,000 miles apart. "It can be seen that both the legendary Kunlun Mountain and the Three Mountains (Five Mountains) are characterized by emphasizing spatial isolation and focusing on the sublimity and isolation of the mountains.
The landscape pattern of combining the sacred mountain with the sea in China mythology presents a pattern of water surrounding the mountain. There are plants and buildings on the mountain, which is a living space with strong security and excellent ecological environment. This model also laid the landscape pattern of "one pool and three mountains" in China garden buildings in later generations. Due to the specific geographical environment and cultural accumulation, the characteristics of ideal landscape patterns in different cultures are different. China's ideal landscape model emphasizes "enclosure" and "concealment", which is a model attached to nature.
Chinese civilization originated in the Yellow River valley, and the Zhou Dynasty was a period of its cultural development. During the period of cultural stereotypes, Zhou tribes mainly lived in the Guanzhong Plain, west of Chang 'an, with Qishan as the center. There are Qinling Mountains in the south and Loess Plateau in the northwest of this area, which is a hidden defense space with good microclimate, abundant rainfall in summer, strong sunshine and more thermal radiation, which is beneficial to crop growth. Judging from the ecological experience and cultural accumulation in this period, the closed and resource-rich natural landscape is worthy of attachment and trust, and it is a natural shelter for hiding and relying on. Therefore, the ideal landscape of China ancestors is a landscape model that is attached to nature, hidden, defensive and inclined to "introverted personality".
The relationship between ancient western cities and myths and legends.
The ideal landscape pattern in ancient Greek myths and legends is represented by Mount Olympus, where the gods live together. Mount Olympus "is located in the mountains of Greece and is a steep mountain that ordinary people can't climb." The climate here is suitable, and there are strange flowers and plants everywhere, where immortals enjoy their happiness. Zeus, the main god, lives on the steep peak, and other gods live on the top of each peak, all of which occupy an important position in space, emphasizing the possession of commanding heights and the control of visual control points.
European culture originated in the Aegean region, spent its formative period in the Greek peninsula and Aegean islands and coastal areas centered on the Aegean Sea, and then spread to the vast areas along the Mediterranean coast. European ancestors lived in barren places, were influenced by the Mediterranean climate, lacked land and climate suitable for farming, and lacked self-sufficient natural shelters, which made the behavior of defending habitats lose its practical significance. Therefore, European ancestors did not have the soil and space to support a centralized society, and scarce resources could only maintain scattered small city-States. These city-states are centered on castles that occupy the commanding heights, and castles are places where wealth gathers. Therefore, Europeans trust man-made castles, trust their own strength, and show off their tenacity and shock others without natural shelter. Therefore, Europeans pay more attention to the control of commanding heights, which is matched with an extroverted and conspicuous architectural landscape.
The influence of myth and legend mode on urban site selection and layout structure
China's ideal landscape mode pursues harmony with nature, and prefers to be hidden in a shielded structure, mostly in secluded places far away from the world. The so-called "ancient temple hidden in the mountains" hides humanity in nature, and its style is relatively peaceful and subtle. Generally, the surrounding natural environment will be maintained deliberately, and the layout structure of "one pool and three mountains" in China classical garden buildings is the most prominent. The most concentrated expression is in the construction of the palace: Qin Shihuang built the "Epang Palace" on an unprecedented scale, and for the first time in the history of China, a garden with "immortal artistic conception" was established. During the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the "Shanglinyuan" building appeared the immortal artistic conception with "one place and three mountains" as the main body. The "Zhongnan Beihai" in Beijing and the "Xuanwu Lake" in Nanjing are also products under the guidance of the idea of "one pool and three mountains".
The location of European cities is mostly in the settlement center, which shows its grandeur in architecture, pays attention to decoration, and embodies the conquest of nature and shows off itself. The ancient Greek Acropolis was built on a steep platform at the top of the city, and the mountain was dangerous. From the Acropolis, you can see the beautiful scenery of the surrounding mountains, taking into account the beauty of being in it and the landscape effect when looking up from around the Acropolis, showing a strong preference for commanding heights and visual control points.
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As the highest expectation and beautiful ideal for the living environment, every culture has a unique understanding and imagination of the ideal landscape. Myth and religion are primitive philosophy and cosmology, and are the early cultural thoughts of human beings, which are closely related to human understanding and experience of life practice in their geographical environment. The ideal life mode in myths and legends is the crystallization of human early survival experience and wisdom, which has its irreplaceable value in reality.