I am a traveler and a cultural addict, but I’m also fascinated by doors – and, for the past couple of years in China, I have become something of a door addict. The intricate designs and the symbols carved on the doors fascinated me from the very beginning of my stay – in China they describe a door as the face of the house, with all the connotation that this gives to the expressions of a face.
Everyone knows that as the Chinese gain confidence, particularly with liquor, they tend to open up. But I like planning my visits. Just as the best gyms offer stretching before doing the real work, it seems to me healthy to begin with a period of observation, conversation, and explanation when exploring a new land.
I appreciate the hospitality that arises out of these initial encounters but am resistant to imposing an agenda if people aren’t ready to talk about things, or if they have a limited command of the English language.
And yet as I looked into the details of the doors – the symbols and the designs – it became increasingly clear that this was a window onto a whole philosophy of time, history, precision, connections, the cosmos, the family unit, and so much more.
Each door in China is a chance to lift the veil of practicality and see a life in the door, a lineage in the lintel, a culture in the curves.
Historical Significance of Doors in China
The iconic reverence for doors in China has centuries-old origins intimately connected to the country’s philosophical and spiritual ideals. In ancient times, the door was much more than a threshold; it was a transcendent abstraction that separated the profane and the sacred, the inner realm from the outer one.
The China door embodied architectural propriety, built of strong wood engraved with auspicious carvings, and embellished with several layers to reflect wealth and status Starting with the door itself, it was made of wood taken from trees of the right age (associated with longevity) and grain (associated with life) that would be spacious and sturdy enough to withstand wind and rain.
The wood was prepared meticulously and grained in a criss-cross pattern called kou biaoxiang (‘dog grain pattern’) to signify the ‘sacred glyphs of heaven and earth’. If any parts of the door were left rough, they had to be shaved or even pared down from the wood.
In the Song dynasty, the door was provided with several layers to ‘reflect wealth and status’. The knuckles guarding two hinges at the top were fashioned like horse flanks. The frame was set on solid oak beams measuring at least 11 feet in length so that the door could hang free and not be supported by the posts around it.
The ‘loop wrapping the arc of the heavy gate’, as the local saying went, could accommodate the passage of a full-grown pig. If the coat of grey lacquer was not applied to the door well, it might be as easily scratched as the hide of a jade animal. After all those considerations, it’s no wonder that the design of a China door and the cast-iron stance of a China door holder exuded architectural propriety.
Traditional Chinese Door Designs and Symbolism
Walking into any of China’s old cities, one is struck by looking up at the variety, proliferation, and sophistication of the decorative styles of old wooden doors. Every region, every period, and every stratum of society has its own styles, and the ebs and flows of Chinese civilization can be understood through them.
- Wood carvings ─ Ornate wood carvings on many old Chinese doors are carved on the top frame of the door. You can easily see different designs from folklore legend, the natural world, or simply goodwill symbols such as dragons, phoenixes, and peonies carved on the wooden doors as a force of blessings. These carved designs help to drive out evil spirits and invite good fortune.
- Colors ─ There is nothing accidental in how color [is] used in the Chinese door – for instance, the Chinese five lucky colors are red, orange, green, blue, and purple, while black represents water and career advancement. Yellow is believed to redirect energy, and purple is said to stabilize it; it’s all about flow and balance.
- Architectural props ─ In Chinese architecture, the symbolism of the architectural prop is typically emphasized ─ traditional doors often have roofs in the shape of round-topped ‘huabiao’ that are meant to ward off negative energy; the stone or bronze door knockers in the shape of lions or other mythological beasts are considered to help ward off evil spirits.
The Role of Doors in Feng Shui and Chinese Architecture
Doors are central to the ancient Chinese geomancy called Feng Shui. The correct positioning of doors in relation to the paths and directions that invite flowing life energy, called qi, is a key feature of Feng Shui practice.
- Orientation ─ It was believed that the direction a door faced influenced the way energy flowed into the dwelling. Doors facing east or south were considered favorable, as favored by the ancient Chinese, with east representing the spring equinox, regeneration, and the start of a new cycle, while the south symbolized growth and affluence.
- Door placement ─ The position of the door, relative to the layout of the building, is also key. Doors should never be opposite each other – eg, with another door or a window – since this is thought to let energy seep out.
- Symbolism ─ A kitchen will intended to channel energy from the floor. Through various design elements, such as the number of panels that divide a door or number of bricks in its paving, or a step on the threshold, the flow of energy can be altered.
For example, doors with an odd number of panels of wood divided across the middle are preferred over doors with even numbers because odd numbers reconcile the principles of yin and yang, or negative and positive energy.
Modern Door Trends in China
Even if these original door designs remain hallowed in Chinese cultural traditions, contemporary trends are changing how these age-old materials are presented. Arriving in the modern-day metropolises of China, I’ve had the chance to observe new trends in old material, as notions of ancient spiritual symbols are overlaid upon modern exterior aesthetics.
- Minimalism ─ The clean lines, sleek surfaces and minimalist designs are especially popular amongst inhabitants of urban areas, bringing about a modern approach to traditional Chinese doors. You can check some latest door designs on OppeinHome.
- Fusion styles ─ Contemporary architects and designers have begun experimenting with a fusion of styles – think of exquisitely carved wood in a front door combined with new materials such as glass and metal to create entrances that are both innovative and visually stimulating.
- Smart door ─ Smart technologies are a trend in the building industry of the new era, as well as in the traditional Chinese doors. For instance, doors in this genre could be fitted with a computerized fingerprint or facial recognition entry system. Moreover, some doors could be a part of automatic sliding doors.
Exploring China’s Door Markets and Shopping for Unique Door Designs
If you are interested in engaging more fully in the landscape of Chinese door culture, a trip is in order to one of China’s door markets, where you will find some of the most unique designs created by several generations of carpenters.
My favorite place in Beijing to buy antiques is the Liulichang Antique Culture Street. Here one can find everything from elaborate Chinese wooden doors to zodiac-shaped door knockers and handles. The moment you dart into these alleys, you seem to transport back in time, with handmade tools, traditional musical instruments and the aroma of incense filling the street.
The Dongsi Antique Market in Beijing is another place where one can discover architectural antiques in abundance in the form of antique doors, many of them reputed to have been used since the Qing dynasty. While bartering skills may be called into play, the Bohemian joy of discovery is matchless.
Conclusion ─ Embracing the beauty and significance of China’s door culture
Teaching modern architecture in China has given me years of access to what has been for me an amazing odyssey through the currently booming door culture of this ancient land of door-knowledge. Doors are too important to be taken for granted or taken away.
From the artistry of a wooden door with delicate carvings that tell a story, to the integration of history and modernity, maybe it’s the doors that will reveal the ideals of harmony and balance, that Chinese people have long sought, in this Chinese New Year.
While writing this essay, I find myself grateful every time I encounter an extraordinary artifice of one of the world’s oldest civilizations, and have come to the realisation that doors are doors to our minds rather than entrances to a place. Hopefully, the next time you face a Chinese door in a museum or a showroom, you’ll let your eyes float to grasp its artistic beauty and access its symbol.
