The authors conduct a textual research on the internal layout of the wards of Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty and challenge the existing hypotheses and the conjectural model of the ward. Questions are raised from the...The authors conduct a textual research on the internal layout of the wards of Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty and challenge the existing hypotheses and the conjectural model of the ward. Questions are raised from the aspects of spatial cognition, street hierarchy, and the regularity of urban fabric. The significant contrast of block dimensions between eastern and western cities is revealed, by comparing the layout pattern of the urban blocks of Tang Chang'an with that of Kahun of ancient Egypt, Olynthus of ancient Greece, Timgad of ancient Rome, and Mirande of the Middle Ages, as well as Old Herat of Afghanistan. It is concluded that a typical ward of Tang Chang'an had a dual structure of strict super-grid placed over residential quarters in an organic growth pattern. The socio-economic causes of this unique structure are also explored. Finally, the authors make a quantitative comparison between a ward in Tang Chang'an and Heijo-kyo of Japan respectively and illustrate the essential difference on concept and structure between the two models.展开更多
基金part of the research project No.50108002 funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘The authors conduct a textual research on the internal layout of the wards of Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty and challenge the existing hypotheses and the conjectural model of the ward. Questions are raised from the aspects of spatial cognition, street hierarchy, and the regularity of urban fabric. The significant contrast of block dimensions between eastern and western cities is revealed, by comparing the layout pattern of the urban blocks of Tang Chang'an with that of Kahun of ancient Egypt, Olynthus of ancient Greece, Timgad of ancient Rome, and Mirande of the Middle Ages, as well as Old Herat of Afghanistan. It is concluded that a typical ward of Tang Chang'an had a dual structure of strict super-grid placed over residential quarters in an organic growth pattern. The socio-economic causes of this unique structure are also explored. Finally, the authors make a quantitative comparison between a ward in Tang Chang'an and Heijo-kyo of Japan respectively and illustrate the essential difference on concept and structure between the two models.
