Classification: Industry Knowledge Author: Source: Publication Date: 2019-07-15

　　Most ancient Chinese buildings adopted wooden framework structures, which had a fatal weakness in being prone to fire. Therefore, fire prevention became a matter of great importance for successive governments and the common people in China. Below, Jiangsu Beiertaike Building Technology Co., Ltd. will talk about the fire prevention signs in ancient Chinese architecture:

　　1. Chiwen:

　　At the two ends of the ridge of ancient buildings were two symmetrical ornaments, towering high, resembling the shape of a dragon, with curled heads and tails, and open mouths holding onto the main ridge, with swords inserted into their backs. This ornament is called "Chiwen." The dragon shape of Chiwen evolved gradually from a creature called Chi. Local and folk architectural decorations varied widely, including depictions of playful fish, seahorses, and turtles. Overall, they represented mythical sea creatures capable of summoning rain. According to ancient Chinese legends, Chiwen is one of the nine sons of the dragon, known for storing water. By placing its image on the roof, it was both symbolic and practical, reflecting people's fear of fire and their desire for water sources. This architectural feature, combining symbolism and form, is highly characteristic of China.

　　2. Caisson:

　　In buildings, caissons were generally used in the central part of the roof of halls, adorned with dragon patterns or motifs of lotus flowers, aquatic plants, etc. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, it was written, "The caisson symbolizes the Eastern Well, and the algae represent items from the water, all used to suppress the outbreak of fires." By the Song Dynasty, the caisson, also called "covering the sea," depicted vast oceans on the roof, serving as a barrier against any fire.

　　The decoration of the caisson is associated with symbolism, representation, and firefighting. In the "Records of the Grand Historian - Book of Celestial Officers," it is noted: "The Eight Stars of the Eastern Well govern the balance of water." The Eastern Well refers to the constellation Well, one of the twenty-eight constellations, with eight stars, which ancient people believed governed water. By placing a well at the highest point of halls and pavilions, decorated with lotus flowers, aquatic plants, and other aquatic flora, they hoped to suppress the fire demon's influence.

　　3. "Doors Without Hooks":

　　In ancient architecture, above city gates, palace gates, hall gates, altar gates, and temple gates, there were plaques installed to indicate the name of the gate. The plaques were hung or embedded, horizontally or vertically, with various styles, but the character "门" (door) was consistently written without a hook at the end, to avoid any association with "fire hooks."

　　4. "Names Associated with Water":

　　Ancient architectural names avoided the character "火" (fire) at all costs. Even during fires, people were not allowed to shout "fire!" but instead shouted "bring water!" Many names of key fire prevention buildings were associated with "water." For example, six out of seven pavilions storing the "Complete Library of the Four Treasuries" had characters with the "water" radical. They were named "渊" (abyss), "源" (source), "津" (ferry), "溯" (upstream), "涸" (dry up), and "汇" (confluence). Only the Wenzong Pavilion did not have the "water" radical in its name. This is because the Wenzong Pavilion was built on Jinshan in Zhenjiang, facing the Yangtze River, a place known for "water flooding Jinshan," naturally abundant in water.

　　These fire prevention symbols in ancient architecture were evidently idealistic. However, in an era when science had not yet advanced, people's understanding of fire was still rudimentary, which is understandable. They served as advertisements and reminders, constantly alerting people to fire prevention. At the same time, they have become a symbol of distinctiveness in ancient Chinese architecture.

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