Symbolic and aesthetic role of polychromy in traditional architecture and sacred art of China
Author
Wu, Yuelin
Liu, Hong
Wang, Shiru
Pawłowska, Aneta
Chang, Peng
Yang, Ding
Magiera, Jan
Published in
International Journal of Conservation Science
Numbering
Vol. 16, Special Issue
Pages
701-720
Release date
2025
Language
English
ISSN
2067-533X
eISSN
2067-8223
DOI
10. 36868/IJCS.2025.si.23
Keywords
China, polychromy, architecture and sacred art, symbolic and aesthetic role
Abstract
An important role in forming the national image of traditional Chinese architecture was played by a specific polychromy, based on a combination of saturated contrasting colors, each of which was used on certain elements and could have a certain sacred meaning. The authors studied the colouristic solution of ancient architectural objects and works of art and identified the most typical examples of the use of colours. Differences in the use of colour in architecture and ancient fresco paintings of China in different periods were traced.
