Abstract:Xie Shan is one of the most important roof forms in traditional Chinese architecture. It is dignified and gorgeous in shape, and the colorful decoration of pediments also adds to its beauty. Among the existing ancient buildings, the Xie Shan style occupies the largest proportion. As for the origin of Xie shan, Liang Sicheng and other predecessors believed that it was composed of two slopes Xuan shan roof and surrounded by eaves. But its evolution has not been clarified so far. According to the unearthed artifacts, carvings, paintings and the samples of this architectural style in the relics, the comprehensive analysis of the chronological and geographical distribution shows that xie shan architecture originated from the south of China, and its evolution shows a trend of gradually developing and spreading from south to north.