A Comparison of Approaches to Ancient Timber Construction through Case Studies of Norwegian Stave Churches and Chinese Halls of the 1100s: An assessment of the relative importance of materiality and tradition in architectural outcome

Abstract

This thesis explores the approaches to ancient timber construction in Norway and China in the 1100s, with reference to Norwegian stave churches and Chinese halls. Timber was the common material used, and both building types were used as places of worship for introduced religions yet the architectural outcomes were very different. Three buildings constructed during the 1100s, located in the same region of each country were chosen for comparative study. The Norwegian stave churches selected for study are Umes, Borgund and Kaupanger. The Chinese halls selected are Sansheng hall (三聖殿）of the Shanhua monastery (善化寺), Daxiongbao hall (大雄寶殿）of Upper Huayan monastery (上華嚴寺）and Mituo hall (彌陀殿）of Chongfu monastery (崇福 寺). To understand the context in which the buildings were produced, it was necessary to investigate the relationship between tradition and architecture and why both cultures chose to build with timber. Norway and China in the 110Os did not have access to the same tools, although some carpentry tools were similar. The access to tools may also have influenced architectural outcome. The differences in architectural outcome were perhaps caused two factors, first, the unseen inherent condition or traditions and second, social changes. In the 1100s, both countries faced some significant changes and the reaction to these changes also seems to have affected architectural outcome. Christianity was being introduced in Norway often by force, while Buddhist theories harmoniously merged with Chinese beliefs. Buildings built during this time reflected reactions to these changes. The thesis ends with conclusions drawn from each chapter and these are related back to the motivations behind the research. Within each complex cultural context, tradition greatly influenced the way people lived and worked and the people of each culture held distinctive traditional practices. This thesis suggests that materiality has limited influence on architectural expression, and that aspects of culture such as historical background, belief system, and building traditions have more influence over architectural expression.