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Chapter 21 On the architecture of the early Ming dynasty (1368–
1644), the eminent 20th-century Chinese architectural
Architecture of the historian Liang Sicheng (1901–72) wrote:

Early Ming Court: With the founding of the capital at Beijing at the beginning
of the fifteenth century, there appeared, principally in the
official architecture of the court, a style of marked departure
A Preliminary Look from the tradition of the Song [(960–1279)] and Yuan
[(1271–1368)] dynasties. The change is very abrupt, as if
some overwhelming force had turned the minds of the
builders toward an entirely new sense of proportion. 1
Aurelia Campbell Liang’s observations indicate that a new architectural

style had been worked out sometime during the
construction of the two Ming capitals at Nanjing and
Beijing. What did this architectural style look like? In
2
what ways did it differ from the architecture that
preceded it and came after it? What was the reason for
the sudden change? This chapter offers some preliminary
answers to these questions.
Because so few buildings from the first Ming capital at
Nanjing survive, it is almost impossible to study court
architecture during the reign of the Hongwu emperor
(1368–98). But from the reign of his son, the Yongle
emperor (1403–24), enough buildings exist to flesh out
significantly our understanding of what is called the
‘official Ming architectural style’ (Mingdai guanshi jianzhu
明代官式建築). This term refers to buildings constructed
under imperial edict and managed by the government’s
Ministry of Works (Gongbu 工部), which follow distinct
layouts, structures and patterns of ornamentation.
3
Yongle was a prolific builder, arguably more so than
almost any other Chinese emperor until that point. In
addition to constructing the palaces at Beijing, he was
involved in several architectural projects outside of the
capital. Three of the best-preserved buildings
commissioned by Yongle are Ling’endian 祾恩殿 (Hall of
Eminent Favour) (1416) (Pl. 21.1), the sacrificial hall at
Yongle’s tomb, Changling 長陵, located in the
Changping 昌平 district north of Beijing ; Zixiaodian
4
紫霄殿 (Hall of Purple Cloud) (Pl. 21.2), the main hall of

Plate 21.1 Ling'endian 祾恩殿 (1416), the sacrificial hall at Yongle’s tomb, Changling 長陵, Changping 昌平, north of Beijing

Architecture of the Early Ming Court: A Preliminary Look | 189