China is a country where architecture has remained stationary from its
early birth, and, consequently, the elementary motives of it are most
distinctly preserved; they are placed side by side, without being
conjoined by a general ruling idea. The external surface of the wall is
still quite independent of the wall itself, and indeed is most
frequently movable. The wall bears its own burden alone, and has only in
view the filling up of the intervals between the wooden columns which
support the third elementary want, (_i. e._) the roof. The wall is only
a screen, more or less solidly executed than others, constructed in
slight brick work, covered externally with painted stucco decoration or
interlaced cane work, and internally with tapestry, or its substitute,
painted paper. The internal divisions are formed by screens of the same
description, and by drapery hung from the ceiling. The design of the
ornament, painted and carved upon them and throughout the building, is
founded on the same principle of interlacings and cane trellis-work,
more or less intricate, and hardly to be recognised through the oddities
of successive fashions. A polychromy, rich and brilliant, prevails,
which has not been considered with that attention which it deserves in
its relation with the ancient style of polychromy.