Analysis on the Application and Technology of the Five Elements in Chinese Ancient Buildings

Abstract

As an important carrier of human civilization, buildings reflect the scientific thoughts and technological level of the times. The theory of the Five Elements is a summary of the ancient Chinese’s cognition of the world; as one of its branches, geomancy has had an important impact on the development of Chinese architecture.  Because the formation of the Five Elements Theory mainly involves cognition, thinking and other fields, it will inevitably affect people's psychological recognition of buildings after acting on life and living. This special background makes it necessary for us to understand the five elements Do in-depth research on the specific application of this issue to understand its past objective situation. Due to the rich heritage and distinctive regional characteristics of the ancient buildings in Huizhou, as well as its special emphasis on the five elements, they are representative in terms of the application of the five-element theory; therefore, the research team took the ancient buildings in Huizhou as the target, and explained the application and technology of the five elements in Chinese ancient buildings on the basis of multiple field surveys and sampling, as well as the cross-comparison between the data of building materials and the analysis of the characteristics of the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The results show that the specific application of five elements in ancient architecture is based on human psychological activities, and reflects the maximum rationalization of the application of material resources. The five elements of wood, fire, earth, gold and water are used as application materials with different properties, and they are used differently to maximize strengths and avoid weaknesses. , forming a summary of the experience of giving play to the best performance of materials and the best use plan according to local conditions, which meets the needs of Feng Shui and conforms to the idea of green and environmental protection. It is believed that the application of the five elements of ancient Huizhou architecture fully reflects the local construction methods and the level of construction technology at that time. The development of things is inseparable from the real conditions of the times and society, and even more inseparable from the externalization and active role of human psychological activities. It has great scientific value; the pursuit of the unity of man and nature is also highly consistent with the concept of green and sustainable development advocated today, and it still has a great influence on today.