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Caihua
Caihua of theForbidden City
Traditional Chinese	彩畫
Simplified Chinese	彩画
Literal meaning	"Colour-painting"
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin cǎihuà IPA [tsʰàɪ.xwâ]

Caihua (Chinese:彩畫;pinyin:cǎihuà), or "colour painting", is the traditional Chinese decorative painting orpolychrome used for architecture and one of the most notable and important features of historicalChinese architecture. It held a significant artistic and practical role within the development of East-Asian architecture, as Caihua served not only decoration but also protection of the predominantly wooden architecture from various seasonal elements and hid the imperfections of the wood itself. The use of different colours or paintings would be according to the particular building functions and local regional customs, as well as historical periods. The choice of colours and symbology are based on traditional Chinese philosophies of theFive Elements and other ritualistic principles.^[1][2]The Caihua is often separated into three layer structures; timber or lacquer layer, plaster layer, and pigment layer.^{[citation needed]}

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The origins of Caihua can be traced back to theZhou dynasty,^[3][4] as theZuo Zhuan andGuliang Zhuan detailed:

秋，丹桓宮楹。禮，天子、諸侯黝堊，大夫倉，士黈，丹楹，非禮也。^[5]

[The Duke painted red the pillars of [Duke] Huan's temple. According to rule, King and royalty use dark and white, gentry use white, yeoman use yellow. Red pillars are against etiquette.]

TheRites of Zhou similarly records a ritualistic usage of motifs and colour, based on each respective aspects' corresponding symbolic value.

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  Painted elements can be seen onHan dynasty pottery tower.
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  Painted elements can be seen onHan dynasty pottery tower.
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  Example of Tang dynasty decorative motifs, from mural ofMogao Caves.
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  Example of Tang dynasty decorative motifs on architecture, from mural ofMogao Caves.
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  Recreation of Tang dynastycaihua architectural decorations.
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  Recreation of Tang dynastycaihua architectural decorations.
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  Tang dynastysancai model of a building.
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  Remnants ofLate Tang orLiao dynasty decorations ondougong of Guanyin Pavilion ofDule Temple.
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  Song Dynasty"Wucai Caihua" (Five Coloured Painting)-dougong decorations guide as detailed on theYingzao Fashi
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  Song Dynasty "Danfen Caihua" (Red and White)-dougong decorations guide as detailed on theYingzao Fashi.
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  Song Dynasty "Qinglü" (Blue and Green)-decorations guide as detailed on theYingzao Fashi.
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  Song Dynasty "Jielü Caihua" (Open Green)-decorations guide as detailed on theYingzao Fashi.
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  Song Dynastyruyi-decorations on beams guide from theYingzao Fashi.
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  Song Dynastyruyi-decorations on beams guide from theYingzao Fashi.
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  Song Dynasty pillar decorations guide from theYingzao Fashi.
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  Song Dynasty decorations used in betweendougong-brackets guide from theYingzao Fashi.
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  Buddhist decorations of Ten-Thousand Buddha Hall ofZhenguo Temple,Five Dynasties period.
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  Decorations onLiao dynasty Geyuan Temple.
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  Caihua found onJinci temple, Song Dynasty.
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  Frescos of Song Silang's Tomb, Northern Song Dynasty.
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  Frescos of Song Silang's Tomb, Northern Song Dynasty.
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  Weathered decorations onYuanmiao Temple (Putian)dougong. Originally Song dynasty construction.
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  Jin dynasty Jingtu Temple ofShanxi.
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  Decorations on corner dougong brackets from inner hall of Yong'an Temple,Yuan dynasty.
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  Datong Confucian temple inner hall decorations.
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  Ming dynasty decorations on Hall of Amitābha atLongxing Temple.
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  Ming dynasty decorations on Jialan Hall atFoguang Temple.
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  Ming dynasty decorations on Hall of Amitābha atLongxing Temple.
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  Ming dynasty decorations on Hall of Amitābha atLongxing Temple.
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  Xuanzi-style decorative design on the Beijing Dongyue Temple
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  Caihua found on theGate of Heavenly Purity of theForbidden City
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  Hexi-style decorative design on the Imperial Palace gate of theForbidden City
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  Underside decorations of Qin'an Hall of theForbidden City
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  Decorations on support beams inside a palace of the Forbidden City.
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  DatongGuandi temple.
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  Decorations onSummer Palace pavilion
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  Magong Chenghuang Temple decorations,Taiwan.
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  Painted mural depicting an event fromJourney to the West on theLong Corridor fromQing DynastySummer Palace
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  Caihua-decorations ofPavilion of Prince Teng, inspired by Song dynastyYingzao Fashi decorations.
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  Caihua-decorations ofPavilion of Prince Teng, inspired by Song dynastyYingzao Fashi decorations.
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  Caihua-decorations ofPavilion of Prince Teng, inspired by Song dynastyYingzao Fashi decorations.

• Hexi Caihua
• Ancient Chinese wooden architecture
• Chinese architecture
• Yingzao Fashi
• Architecture of the Song Dynasty
• Dancheong

Wikimedia Commons has media related toCaihua.

• (in Chinese)http://www.gd.gov.cn/zjgd/lnwh/fywh/ctms/content/post_108920.html

• Chinese art
• Architectural styles
• Architectural elements
• Chinese painting
• Architecture in China
• Chinese architectural history

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