Platform–Corridor–Hall and Regional Mechanisms of Taoist Architecture in Central China: A Comparative Study of Wudang Mountain and Taihui Temple

Abstract

This study investigates the regional mechanisms of Taoist architecture in Central China through a comparative analysis of the Golden Hall complex on Wudang Mountain and Taihui Temple in Jingzhou. Existing scholarship has largely emphasized symbolic meanings, religious iconography, and artistic styles of Taoist temples, but has rarely examined how geography, culture, construction technology, and political context jointly shape regional architectural patterns. Adopting the Platform–Corridor–Hall spatial paradigm as the primary analytical framework, and integrating field surveys, historical documentation, and typological analysis, this research reveals both shared principles and site-specific adaptations. The findings demonstrate that, while both temple complexes embody the Taoist cosmology of the “unity of Heaven and Man” through Bagua-based orientation, axial symmetry, and hierarchical spatial sequences, their construction strategies diverge in response to local conditions. Wudang Mountain employs copper casting, multi-tiered Sumeru platforms, and pronounced imperial symbolism to adapt to humid mountain climates and to materialize royal patronage. By contrast, Taihui Temple raises robust stone foundations, simplifies roof and bracket systems, and incorporates Chu cultural motifs to resist flooding, accommodate urban fabric, and embed local beliefs. Building on these observations, the study develops a four-axis model—nature, culture, technology, and socio-political symbolism—to explain the dynamic interplay driving regional differentiation. This framework offers methodological and practical insights for the conservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse of Taoist architectural heritage in diverse ecological and cultural settings.