Contest between Container and Art:Culture Interpretation of the Problems in Modern Chinese Architecture

Culture is the hidden hand inside the phenomenon.It is necessary to interprete a series of conflicts between Chinese architecture and the West architecture caused by culture difference.Comparing Chinese Culture with western culture,we can see that the core of Chinese culture is container,which orients utility;and the core of western culture is container and art,which pays equal attention to utility and art.This paper has given culture interpretation of modern Chinese architecture in five aspects: the relationship of function and form,the idea of aesthetic and nonaesthetic,the tendence of returnning to tradition,the economic factor and architecture spirit,originality or creativity,and the training of Chinese architect masters.The paper also analyzes the modernization course of Japanese architecture,and points out that the way to develop Chinese modern architecture should rely on the effort of Chinese native architects and the syncretization of Chinese traditional architecture culture and the modern spirit.