Review the ways architects design structures and spaces that communicate the power of the patron and state. Examine the Forbidden City's plan, making preliminary guesses about how this palace communicates power. Post your guesses in your blog.
First of all I would say that this place communicates power in the size of the Palace. The Palace was made to house the emperor and to convey the might of the emperor it was parallel in the great size of the actual Palace. Second I would say that the emphasis on using the number nine is an indication of its greatness. Nine is a number that means a lot in the spiritual power in China. And so to have nine rows of nine of brass nobs or the 9,999 rooms just adds to the power of this place as the number nine used in this Palace makes it seem to have power just beyond housing the great emperor. Thirdly I would say that the extensive treasures, jewels, and many other wonders that filled each of the rooms at the Palace and decorated the halls and open ways just demonstrates the power that is there. If this were some underclass citizens abode there is no way that we would put national treasures there. But there we have thousands of precious objects that would total in millions upon millions of dollars if sold today. This concentration of wealth in the form of treasures displays the power that is associated with the Palace. Lastly I would say that the location of the Palace is another thing to consider in communicating power. The Palace was placed in the political epicenter of China and so by putting the Palace in an important location it makes this Palace very powerful. If however it was placed in a small village or secluded somewhere else there is no way that it could exhibit its power. And that is why location of the Palace is an indication of the Palace communicating power.
These are just a couple of my guesses on how the Palace illustrates power.
No comments:
Post a Comment