2026-09-07 · source
With the wider opening of "Hangzhou" on August 28, this city that breathes among mountains and waters has revealed a new side to the Vagabonds. In this city, many surprises await discovery, hidden in every detail. For instance, look up, and a stretch of rooftop, a corner of eaves, can likewise reflect the thousand faces of "Hangzhou"'s charm. In roof construction, one honors the timing of heaven above, answers to the energy of earth below, and in between borrows from the beauty of materials and the ingenuity of craftsmanship. So then, why do some roofs have a single eave while others have double eaves? Why do some roof eaves have four upturned flying ridges at their corners, while others have none at all? Today, let's borrow this special perspective to "look again" at Hangzhou with the Vagabonds—
Double Eaves, Single Eaves: The Splendor of the Xieshan Roof
The Xieshan roof (hip-and-gable roof) has one main ridge, four sloping ridges, and four hip ridges, totaling nine ridges, hence it is also called the "Nine-Ridge Roof." Structurally, it is a hybrid of the "人"-shaped (peaked) form and the flat roof surface, with upturned flying eaves at all four corners. The origin of the character "歇" (xie, meaning "rest") in "Xieshan Roof" is quite interesting—as its main ridge extends toward the eaves at both ends, a break appears in the middle, as if a towering mountain rising from flat ground had paused to rest halfway up its ascent, hence the name Xieshan Roof.
The xieshan-style roof (歇山顶, "resting hill roof") is one of the higher-ranking styles among official building forms; within the city of [Hangzhou], xieshan roofs can only be seen in places of eminence and wealth. Xieshan roofs are divided into single-eave xieshan roofs and double-eave xieshan roofs, with the latter being even more noble and magnificent than the former.
The [Hall of Enlightened Sovereign], one of the main halls of [Lingyin New Temple], and the [Emerald Tower] are the two most representative double-eave xieshan roof buildings within the city. One is hidden deep in the mountain forest, the other stands amid the bustling city, and their rooflines present entirely opposite temperaments.
The [Hall of Enlightened Sovereign] is a typical double-eave xieshan-style temple building, blending Zen meditative spirit with solemn dignity to perfect effect. On its four sloping ridges, an immortal figure leads the way, followed in sequence by a row of ridge beasts, with a corner beast standing at the very end of the line. Not far away, a ridge-end beast stands with head held high. The immortal figure leading the procession is also known as "Pinjia" (嫔伽), depicted with a human head and winged body, gentle brows and eyes, and a serene expression. The Sutra of the Right Dharma Mindfulness (《正法念经》) once stated: "In mountain valleys and open wilderness, there dwell many kalavinka birds, which emit wondrous sounds." "Pinjia" evolved precisely from this "kalavinka" (频伽), which in turn carries the meaning of the solemn dignity and enchanting beauty symbolizing the Buddhist Dharma.
In terms of functionality, these immortals and mythical beasts exist to keep the tiles at the corners of the eaves from being blown away. But in terms of aesthetics, they add no small amount of poetic charm and celestial atmosphere to the entire Zen monastery. When pilgrims who come to this hall hesitate, their hearts burdened with lingering concerns, these figures remain forever calm and unmoving, guarding the tile beneath them, which is also a way of guarding a kind of perseverance and permanence.
The [Verdant Peak Restaurant], one of the most prestigious restaurants in the prosperous heart of the city, has a roof with double eaves that, beyond their functional and aesthetic qualities, carry an additional layer of economic significance. The hanging ridges and inclined ridges of the [Verdant Peak Restaurant] bear no immortal figures or beast statues, but the entire roofline and eave edges are finely outlined with a green glazed tile trim. The ends of the corner rafters are also fitted with gilded ornamental beast-head caps, which protect the eave corners from rain erosion. The noble status of the establishment's owner and the restaurant's high-class standing are thus fully conveyed through a single roof.
There is another building with a double-eaved xieshan (hip-and-gable) roof that differs from all those mentioned above—the "Suibian Hall" of the "Chen Residence." The "Suibian Hall" is also a typical double-eaved xieshan roof building, but the roof uses only simple black-grey pottery tiles, with no ridge-beast decorations whatsoever. The Chen family, a lineage of physicians, has a refined and understated family tradition, upright and gentle in character, and there has never been any need for the roof to display economic status. As for aesthetics, this expanse of bluish-grey roof, together with the lakes, hills, pavilions, and terraces both inside and outside the courtyard, already embodies the bearing and depth of this noble and cultured household.
Single-eave [Cloud-Ascending Tower]-style hip-and-gable roofed buildings can be seen everywhere in [Cloud-Ascending Tower], and they basically all have only a single story roof covered with simple black-grey ceramic tiles. However, upon closer inspection, each hall achieves just the right harmony with the flowers, plants, and trees surrounding it. The roof's recession is meant to avoid competing with the blooming flowers for the visitors' admiration. The furnishings within the garden are not deliberately arranged for others to see, but rather reflect the master's own preferences and self-contained delight. This unconventional temperament naturally reveals itself in the architecture as well.
Official Residences and Common Dwellings, Each in Its Proper Place
The overhanging gable roof and the flush gable roof are fairly similar, with the former also known as "not built with two hip ends." Both types of roofs have only front and rear slopes, generally consisting of one main ridge and four hanging ridges. In overhanging gable roof buildings, the gable walls on both sides are recessed beneath the roof, while the eaves at both ends extend beyond the walls, leaving the gable sides of the roof suspended in the air on their own — hence the name "overhanging gable roof." The roof surface of a flush gable roof, by contrast, is cut off flush with the gable walls, without any overhanging eaves.
In terms of ritual propriety, the overhanging gable roof ranks above the flush gable roof, and the hip-and-gable roof ranks above the overhanging gable roof. Therefore, the main halls of both [Qiantang Government Office] and [Xifu Official Residence] use hip-and-gable roofs, while their side wing rooms use overhanging gable roofs. The [Owl Tail Ridge Ornament] on the roof ridge, resembling a dragon yet not quite one, bites firmly onto both ends of the main ridge. The Owl Tail Ornament is said to be one of the dragon's sons, dwelling in the South Sea, capable of spewing waves that turn into rain — for wooden buildings, it carries the meaning of warding off fire and disaster. As these two locations serve as important office premises, orderliness, dignity, and safety are the foremost considerations.
The "[Naval Camp]" is not a ceremonial structure, but one that emphasizes economy of materials, ease of arrangement, and management. Therefore, the halls where officers and soldiers worked and rested used the overhanging gable roof style. This type of roof is low in cost and simple in construction process—with no exquisite ridge beasts on top—yet it has excellent drainage function and strong practicality. The roof also has two wooden boards installed along the triangular edges of the gable walls, called "[Bofeng Boards]" (wind-repelling boards). Their function is to protect the ends of the purlins from wind erosion and rain damage, representing an extremely ingenious design.
The houses inhabited by commoners were mostly built in the style of overhanging gable roofs or flush gable roofs. This was first due to the invisible requirements that ritual hierarchy placed upon construction itself. Secondly, overhanging gable roofs suited the rainy climate of Jiangnan, while flush gable roofs helped save space and made maximum use of land. Thus, they were also fitting choices in terms of economy.
Roofs in the styles of overhanging gable and flush gable can be seen everywhere in [Qiantang Market] and [Spring Breeze Bazaar]. Looking down from afar, one can see the dark grey ceramic tiles arranged neatly, connecting into continuous expanses, evoking the flourishing of a hundred trades and the prosperity of ten thousand households in [Hangzhou]. Yet, given the frequent rains of Jiangnan, ordinary households simply did not have the time or money to meticulously maintain their roofs. After a rain, small grasses would sprout and moss would spread across the rooftops—which, in its own way, added a charming touch of everyday market life.
The Pyramidal Roof Rises, the Precious Pinnacle Meets Heaven
The characteristic of the pyramidal roof (攒尖顶) is that no matter how many sloped surfaces it has, the roof slopes from four directions ultimately converge at a single point at the top. Therefore, pyramidal roofs generally have no main ridge, only the "terminal ridge" formed where the roof surfaces meet, which is the precious pinnacle (宝顶). The precious pinnacle not only serves to reinforce the roof, but is also an important decorative element. This type of roof is often used for smaller ornamental buildings, such as the currently under-construction [Chengnan Pagoda] and [Xiguan Brick Pagoda], as well as the scattered small pavilions along the West Lake.
The reason why "Hangzhou" has so many towers already built or under construction is closely tied to the prevailing intellectual atmosphere in the city at this time. Each tower's silhouette is a prayer for blessing and smooth fortune.
Drawing on Local Materials, Following Heaven and Earth
There are also several places without roofs of a clearly established form, yet they are marvelous products adapted to natural timing and terrestrial conditions. ["Yunjia Bay"] is nestled against the mountains, and the villagers chose a mixed thatch-and-tile style for their roof construction, with part tiled and part thatched. The main section uses tile material, while the secondary slopes and rear slopes use thatch, making it economical and practical. At the same time, thatch has excellent heat-insulating and thermal-retaining properties; its layered construction forms a thick insulating layer, shielding against the mountain region's intense sunlight in summer. In the famous painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival, the small workshops and suburban buildings depicted show this kind of mixed thatch-and-tile roofing.
As one of the few residences situated by the water, [Mangtan Ford]'s roof does not merely serve the function of shielding against wind and rain—it is also an important interface between people and the waters. Hence, it features a roof of relatively steep pitch, as well as eaves that extend well beyond the walls. The former is meant to prevent water from pooling and lingering, while the latter is meant to expand the sheltered area, so as to keep rain from eroding the wooden walls as much as possible.
Whether residents of "Cloud Home Cape" or "Vast Shoal Mouth," they have all successfully adapted to their surroundings with sincerity and wisdom, while giving this land endless vitality in return.
Next Stop, [Pingslan Academy]!
On September 24, Wanderers will travel to [Pingslan Academy] for their studies. Before this journey begins, why not take a glimpse at the academy's architectural style from beneath its eaves? This place gathers young talents from far and wide, so the buildings here are naturally exquisite and elegant. Among them, the most representative is the [Kuixing Pavilion], a typical double-eaved xieshan-roofed tower. Its main structure references the "Painting of Fengle Tower" by Xia Yong, while the design of its three-sided lean-to annexes draws upon the ancient paintings "Hanging Scroll of Riverside Pavilions by an Anonymous Yuan Artist" and "Painting of the Han Garden" by Li Rongjin. The roof of the [Kuixing Pavilion] is a grand and majestic xieshan-style roof, with a lean-to annex extending outward from the front and each side, also built in the xieshan style, further showcasing the ingenuity and dynamism of its construction. The design of the three-sided lean-to annexes adds layers of depth to the roof, and viewed from afar, the multiple eaves overlap and connect with one another, appearing magnificent yet delicate—full of charm and character.
This is a demonstration of effects still in pre-research, please refer to the final release version This pavilion has welcomed and seen off many scholars—the teacher's instruction, the clear sound of reading aloud, the youthful concerns of young hearts—perhaps all of it has also been listened to by the several roof-ridge beasts atop the ridge. Together with this academy, they are now looking forward to the arrival of wanderers, waiting to hear the wanderers' recitations and laughter. At any given time, people look up at the same sky, but what kind of eaves they can look upon is the result of countless objective and subjective factors working together. The same is true of [Hangzhou]. Months of rainy season, bustling commerce, rich thought and culture—all of these ultimately influence every single roof tile as well. Under the shelter of a single eave, the living space of the people in the city can extend outward without limit, eventually forming a unique philosophy of life. Although wanderers often ask, "Swallow, what are you doing with my memory usage again?" We still believe that these fine details are equally an important source of immersion. Perhaps during some unintentional pause to look up, an eave like this could make a wanderer's beautiful memories all the more complete!
