Building Convergence And Diversity Of Cultural Analysis

In the author's view, the process by which architecture has developed isin reality a process in which homogeneity and pluralism are in constantinteraction. Homeogeneity represents the universalization of mankind'sexperience, while pluralism reflects man's continuous search for somethingbeyond the current status quo. Together they form a unity of opposites, eachdependent on the other for its foundation and its continued development. Thisthesis conducts analytical research from a cultural angle on the internalorigins of homogeneity and pluralism in architecture. 0n this foundation,the basic principles governing architectural development are clarified, so asto facilitate an objective and sober understanding of globalization incontemporary architecture. In the light of the characteristics of traditionalChinese culture and the evolution of architectural history, the thesis alsooffers some thoughts on contemporary Chinese architectural designs, with a view to assisting the development of architectural theory and production.From a macroscopic perspective, the thesis divides the long and complexhistory of architectural development into three major stages. It offers ananalysis firstly of primitive architecture. In early times, mankind in itsstruggle for survival was convinced of the existence of sopernatural spirits,and so people were not content to passively submit to the orderings of fate,but sought out the protection of the spirits, and primitive religion thusbecame for them the power that determined their lives. Survival was the mostpressing problem faced by primitive peoples, and prayers for securityrepresented their common aspiration, while an attitude of fear, doubt, andeagerness in the face of the objective world was their common state of mind.The basic concepts shared by asnkind determined the characteristic ofsimi1arity which typifies primitive architecture. The low survival abi1ity ofprimitive man a1so shaPed their re1iance on the natura1 enviroment. Thisdependency is revea1ed in architectura1 terms by the regiona1 variations inbuilding desigD.The second stag6 is traditiona1 architecture. A1though traditionalarchitecture was 1imited technica1ly by the laws of nature, it a1so possessedquite mature model1ing techniques, and a1though theoretica11y it wnsinf1uenced by traditiona1 cu1ture, it a1so had room fOr re1ative1yindependent innovation. Regions and cu1turei sti11 remained in a re1ative1yiso1ated condition, and a1though interaction between them cou1d stimulatemutua1 change and deve1oPthent, as a genera1 ru1e traditiona1 culture playedthe dominant ro1e. The forastion of traditiona1 architecture rss thebeginning of the division betWeen Chinese and Western 8rchitecture: for thefirst time men did not subordinate themse1ves exc1usive1y to the gods, butrather exPI'essed the understanding of the wor1d that typified a particu1arcu1ture or region. being to differences in their understanding of the wnrld,China and the West created different traditiona1 cu1tures and differenttraditiona1 architecture. Homogeneous tendehcies in Chinese and Westernarchitecture on the one hand ref1ect a unanimity in people's basic concepts,and on the other hand ref1ect the coaron psychO1ogical needs of simi1arconununities within their societies. HOWever, such homogeneity has gOnelarge1y unnoticed, having been concea1ed by the radica11y differentarchitectura1 foms characteristic of the two societies.The third stage is contemporary architecture. 0wing to the support ofadvanced science and techno1ogy, contemprary architecture can practica11ytranscend the 1imitations of time and space and be shaped at,i11 into anyfor that can 6e human1y iasgined. In this respect, architecture has intheoretica1 tems g8ined an uaprecedented degree Of freedom. The increasinglydense web of internationa1 interactions and the ro1e of modern architectura1theory are the source of architecture's wnr1dwide hosogeneity. H...