Traditional Chinese architecture has predominantly been wooden, yet there is a long history of stone carving structures, which dates back to the prehistoric stone chambers of the Dongyi region. Additionally, the sturdy and aesthetically pleasing rammed earth buildings are inseparable from stone components and carved decorations. Therefore, the term "building stone carving" here encompasses a broad meaning and is merely a relative classification, including various stone carving components and decorations for buildings, as well as decorative and commemorative stone carvings attached to buildings.
In terms of architectural stone carvings, large wooden structural palace buildings since the Tang Dynasty have extensively utilized brick-and-stone combined platforms, such as step stones, tread surfaces, and hanging stones, all of which are decorated with carved patterns. Stone balusters and dragon heads for railings have been found at the site of the Han Yuan Hall in the Great Ming Palace of Xi'an during the Tang Dynasty.
The various components of architectural stone carvings not only possess distinct characteristics of their era but also resemble exquisite scrolls, showcasing a vibrant array of artistic styles and patterns from different angles. For instance, the decorative patterns of stone carvings are mostly similar to the popular craft patterns of their time, such as the rope patterns, tooth patterns, S patterns, continuous curve patterns, scroll grass patterns, lotus patterns, dragon patterns, and coiling chi patterns commonly seen in the Han Dynasty's portrait stones.
As components of architectural carved stones, their diverse types and styles each follow their own evolutionary patterns. Therefore, architectural carved stones have always been of great importance to archaeologists, art historians, and architectural historians. The specialized research conducted on them, categorized and classified, has become the foundational research work and prerequisite for the development of various disciplines. However, it is precisely this focus that has been overlooked by the金石 studies of past generations. Only by employing the stratigraphic and typological methods of archaeology can one systematically organize the rich art of ancient Chinese carved stones.
