ABSTRACT
The spatial conception of the ideal Chinese city consisted of several basic elements walls and gates, a street grid, and, most importantly, monumental structures. This superstructure also defined the cardinal directions and helped to organize the city as it grew. The city's primary monumental structures administrative compounds and government bureaus, temples, and bell and drum towers were all sited within the grid laid out by the superstructure. Moreover, the basic architecture of the monumental structures especially the administrative compounds and temples was very similar regardless of the specific functions of these institutions. Temples, monasteries, and mosques also fit within the city's superstructure. The basic structure and layout of most temple compounds followed similar principles to that of the administrative yamen.
