The Tang Dynasty (618-907) was a glorious chapter of openness and inclusiveness in the history of Chinese civilization, and its architecture, renowned for its grand symmetrical layouts and intricate wooden structures, remains an indispensable part of the Chinese heritage.
Now, users around the world can experience its splendor through "Tang Architecture: Building Timeless Glory," the latest multimedia immersive and interactive virtual exhibition from CGTN Art Series – a project launched by China Media Group in 2022.
"Tang Architecture: Building Timeless Glory" features three sections: Building Design, Palace Complex and Urban Planning. Through an interactive virtual tour of the famed Great East Hall at Foguang Temple, the Daming Palace and the urban planning of Chang'an City, the exhibition aims to offer users an in-depth exploration of the dynasty's architecture.
The Building Design section focuses on the Great East Hall of Foguang Temple, the only surviving wooden building of its kind in China from the Tang Dynasty. With the dual endorsement of the dynastic period and the architectural hierarchy, it stands as an invaluable case study in the annals of Chinese architectural history.
The temple was rediscovered by architects from the Society for Research in Chinese Architecture in 1937 on Mount Wutai, north China's Shanxi Province, breaking the myth that Tang Dynasty buildings had only survived in Japan.
The Palace Complex section features a tour of Daming Palace – the political, cultural and artistic center of the Tang Dynasty in the ancient capital of Chang'an – showcasing how its layout reflects ancient Chinese governance methods and political philosophies.
Located northeast of Chang'an, Daming Palace was shaped as an irregular polygon. It was wide in the south and narrow in the north. Its walls stretched 7,628 meters, enclosing an area of 3.2 square kilometers, about the size of 500 football pitches.
Noting 17 emperors in the Tang Dynasty ruled the empire from Daming Palace, Geng Shuo, associate professor of School of Humanities at Central Academy of Fine Arts, said, "The palace's planning and construction epitomized the Tang Dynasty's peak achievements."
The Urban Planning section explores the Tang capital of Chang'an – the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. In the seventh century, Chang'an boasted a convergence of various cultures and embraced diverse foreign customs.
It also featured a unique orderly layout, with streets arranged like the grid of a Go board (108 wards, 11 north-south streets, 14 east-west streets), square and well-organized.
"The layout of Chang'an not only influenced other cities within the Tang Dynasty, but also had an impact overseas, including on ancient capitals in neighboring Japan, such as Fujiwara-kyo and Heian-kyo," Geng added.
Click here to explore the online exhibition: "Tang Architecture: Building Timeless Glory"
"Tang Architecture: Building Timeless Glory" is the third offering in the CGTN Art Series, following two seasons of the acclaimed "The Song, Painted," a virtual painting exhibition that brought the artistic legacy of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) to life. The series won multiple prestigious awards, including a gold trophy at the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards.
You can also access the second season, "The Song, Painted – Nature," by clicking here.
Separately, "Secrets of Tang Dynasty Architecture," an interactive digital exhibition jointly launched by CGTN and CNN, aims to further expand awareness of Tang Dynasty architecture in the world.
With three categories – "Rooted in Nature," "Blueprints of Harmony" and "Of Heaven and Earth" – the micro-documentary follows Martijn de Geus, a Dutch associate professor at the School of Architecture of Tsinghua University, on a visit to the Foguang Temple and explores the differences in ancient architectural education concepts between the East and the West.