Formal aesthetic organization and architectural representation of caisson ceilings in traditional Chinese architecture
The caisson ceiling (zaojing) is a special type of recessed ceiling commonly used in imperial halls, temples, ancestral halls, and pavilions in traditional Chinese architecture. Although often treated as a decorative element and symbol, it is also a visually prominent interior feature. This work examines the architectural form and composition of caisson ceilings through representation and analysis. Five purposively chosen examples of imperial, religious, educational, ancestral, and pavilion buildings are examined through a qualitative architectural research approach that includes visual analysis, geometric abstraction, diagrammatic interpretation, and comparative analysis. Five indicators—geometry, symmetry, layering, centrality, and hierarchy—are defined using evaluative criteria and serve as the basis of the analysis. The analysis identified recurring formal characteristics, such as geometric evolution from square to polygonal or circular forms, layering, and centralization. However, the findings are taken as suggestive of, rather than conclusive evidence for, a universal architectural system. This study provides a transferable method for analyzing interior space through the composition of the ceiling and reveals the role of caisson ceilings in creating spatial emphasis and hierarchy in traditional Chinese architecture.
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