Chang'an Avenue and the Modernization of Chinese Architecture

Glossary

315 Glossary The following is a glossary of the most important terms used in the text, giving pinyin romanization, standard Chinese, and the English translation, and explanations when necessary. Please note that personal names are not included, nor are most cities or general historical terms. Except for the “Chang’an Avenue” terms, all terms are listed alphabetically. Chang’an Avenue (Chang’an Jie) 长安街 The entire east-west thoroughfare of Beijing, including both Chang’an Avenue proper and its east and west extensions. Today this long thoroughfare is referred to as the “Hundred-Li Long Avenue” 百里长街. Chang’an Avenue is not a static thoroughfare created at one time. Instead, it has grown and experienced many changes over time, and the term “Chang’an Avenue” has been used to refer to different sections of this street in different historical periods. The following naming system is used throughout this book in order to create clear definitions and avoid confusion. The ordering of the terms generally follows the historical development of the avenue, in such a way that the definitions of later terms are built on earlier ones. historic East Chang’an Avenue (Lishi Dong Chang’an Jie) 历史东长安街 Between Dongdan and Nanheyan Streets. This was the easternmost section of Chang’an Avenue before 1949. historic West Chang’an Avenue (Lishi Xi Chang’an Jie) 历史西长安街 Between Xidan and Fuyou Streets. The latter forms the western boundary of Zhongnanhai. This was the westernmost section of Chang’an Avenue before 1949. historic Chang’an Avenue (Lishi Chang’an Jie) 历史长安街 From Xidan to Dongdan Streets (about 3,765 meters in length), including West Chang’an Street and East Chang’an Street during the Ming and Qing dynasties. These are the oldest sectionsofChang’anAvenue.DuringtheRepublicanera,historicChang’anAvenue included (from west to east) West Chang’an Street, Fuqian Street, East Three-Arch Gate Street (Dongsanzuomen Dajie), and East Chang’an Street. During the PRC era, Fuqian Street merged into West Chang’an Street, and East Three-Arch Gate 316 Glossary Street merged into East Chang’an Street. In a contemporary Beijing map, only historic Chang’an Avenue is specifically labeled as “Chang’an Jie.” Chang’an Avenue proper (Chuantong Chang’an Jie) 传统长安街 From Fuxing Gate to Jianguo Gate (about 6,672 meters in length). This is the stretch of Chang’an Avenue inside the former Inner City walls of Beijing, including Inner Fuxing Gate Street (Fuxingmennei Dajie, from Fuxing Gate to Xidan Street), West Chang’an Street (from Xidan Street to Tiananmen Square), East Chang’an Street (from Tiananmen Square to Dongdan Street), and Inner Jianguo Gate Street (Jianguomennei Dajie, from Dongdan Street to Jianguo Gate). These sections were comprehensively referred to before the 1980s as “Ten-Li Long Avenue” 十里长街. East Chang’an Avenue proper (Chuantong Dong Chang’an Jie) 传统东长安街 Chang’an Avenue proper, east of Tiananmen Square. West Chang’an Avenue proper (Chuantong Xi Chang’an Jie) 传统西长安街 Chang’an Avenue proper, west of Tiananmen Square. Chang’an Avenue extensions (Chang’an Jie Yanchangxian) 长安街延长线 The sections of Chang’an Avenue exclusive of Chang’an Avenue proper, that is, west of Fuxing Gate or east of Jianguo Gate. East Chang’an Avenue extension (Dong Chang’an Jie Yanchangxian) 东长安街延 长线 Chang’an Avenue east of Jianguo Gate, including Outer Jianguo Gate Street (Jianguomenwai Dajie) and Jianguo Road (Jianguo Lu). West Chang’an Avenue extension (Xi Chang’an Jie Yanchangxian) 西长安街 延长线 Chang’an Avenue west of Fuxing Gate, including Outer Fuxing Gate Street (Fuxingmenwai Dajie), Fuxing Road (Fuxing Lu), and Shijingshan Road (Shijingshan Lu). East Chang’an Avenue (Dong Chang’an Jie) 东长安街 Chang’an Avenue, east of Tiananmen Square. West Chang’an Avenue (Xi Chang’an Jie) 西长安街 Chang’an Avenue, west of Tiananmen Square. Baoyuelou 宝月楼 Tower of the Precious Moon bei 碑 a traditional Chinese stele Beihai 北海 the northern part of the former imperial garden west of the Forbidden City Beijing 北京 North Capital Beiping 北平 North Pacification bichengxiangmu 必成项目 must-be-completed projects Glossary 317 caihua 彩画 paintings on the wooden frames and ceilings in traditional Chinese architecture Chang’an 长安 Eternal Peace Chang’anyoumen 长安右门 Right Chang’an Gate Chang’anzuomen 长安左门 Left Chang’an Gate chaohe 朝贺 imperial banquets and receptions chengshi xingzhi 城市性质 urban nature chixiandai 迟现代 late-coming modernization chongyan cuanjian 重檐攒尖 double-eave pointed roof Chuantong Zhouxian 传统轴线 Tradition Axis chuantongde 传统的 traditional chuihuamen 垂花门 a gate type in traditional Chinese architecture, mostly inside a residential courtyard Chunqiu 春秋 Spring and Autumn Period cijian 次间 side bays cuanjian 攒尖 pointed roof without horizontal ridge in ancient Chinese architecture dabendan 大笨蛋 a big stupid egg Dadu 大都 Great...