Page 67 - JCAU-7-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Ting or Chinese pavilion

the Shuijing Zhu (水经注), a commentary on Chinese
rivers and geography written during the Northern Wei
(386 – 535) by Li Daoyuan (470 – 527), ting started to be
recognized as a geographical landmark. For example, the
chapter “Jishui” (济水) records:

“There is a ting named Safety Ting (平安亭), 30 li
(里) southwest of Bochang county, and therefore,
it is a county.” (Li & Shi, 2006, p. 173)

Similarly, in Qishui (淇水), Li Daoyuan transcribed
from an earlier Han text, Dili Fengsu Ji (地理风俗记;
Geography and Customs), stating:
“There is a ting named Willow (柳亭) 50 li
northeast of Gaocheng county, and therefore it is
a county.” (Li & Shi, 2006, p. 209)
These geographical accounts in Shuijing Zhu
demonstrate that ting structures were significant landmarks
for the local administrative divisions by the Northern Wei
dynasty (386 – 535). However, the text does not clarify the
specific architectural form of these ting.
Interestingly, records of the military function of ting
became less prominent during this period. Beginning in
the Wei-Jin (220 – 420) period, ting increasingly served
Figure 4. Anonymous craftsman, a tomb model of a pavilion with the red as venues for local literati to gather, owing to their scenic
bird of the south, crossbowmen, guard dogs, and assembly, Han dynasty locations and provision of temporary accommodation. For
(206 BCE – 220 CE). Source: The Newark Museum of Art, New Jersey
example, the Eastern Jin literati and calligrapher Wang
Xizhi (c.303 – c.361) described in his prose Lantingji Xu (
space. The addition of guardians and animals reflects the 兰亭集序):
definition in the Shuowen, which states that “ting indicates
that people live safely and stably.” “…[we] met at Lan ting to the north of Kuaiji
Mountain to perform seasonal rituals. Gentlemen
Synthesizing these findings, two key features of all attended, and both the young and the elderly
ting during the Qin and Han dynasties emerge. First, all gathered together.” (…会于会稽山阴之兰
ting included long-term inhabitable spaces, serving as 亭，修禊事也。群贤毕至，少长咸集) (Fang,
residences for the officers of ting and lodging for travelers. 1974, p. 2099)
Second, based on the instructions in Mozi, the architectural
features of mingqi, and Shuowen’s explanation that the This famous prose of Lanting (Orchid Pavilion), written
character “ting” derives from the character for “height,” ting in the Eastern Jin period (317 – 420), illustrates the transition
structures likely featured considerable vertical elevation of ting from a semi-military unit to a cultural venue where
atop other structural foundations. It is crucial to note that literati socialized and expressed collective identities.
these early features of ting are often overlooked in modern Despite this shift in function, the considerable height
scholarly translations, which frequently reduce ting to a of ting as an architectural type continued to be remarked
generalized historical building type. upon in the literature of the Northern and Southern
dynasties (420 – 589). For example, a Liang dynasty (502
3. Wei, Jin, and the Northern and Southern – 557) poet, Zhu Chao (birth and death dates unknown),
dynasties (220 – 589): Landmark and wrote in his poem Heyuandi Baihuating huai Jingchu (和
landscape 元帝百花亭怀荊楚; Memorializing Jing and Chu in the
In texts composed between the 3 and 6 centuries, Hundred Flower Ting with Emperor Yuandi):
rd
th
ting continued to serve as a name for local officials and “The ting is high. As I climb up, I can see incredibly
as a lodge for temporary accommodation. However, it far. The spring can be appreciated in the same
gradually evolved into a type of architecture associated way far and near.” (亭高登望极，春心远近同)
with spectacular natural landscapes and landmarks. In (Zhang, 2002, p. 50)

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2025) 4 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4107