the courtyard in a Beijing siheyuan
(xihuannet)The Hutong (lane) is a unique
form of community in Beijing. Along these hutongs are tens of thousands of
siheyuans, or traditional quadrangle houses with courtyards in the center. If
you become tired of the high-rises and wide streets, you can take a break and
visit some of Beijing's hutongs. You will discover the unique "hutong culture"
and "courtyard culture"
The Chinese word "hutong" means a small street, or lane, between two courtyards. It can also mean a community, within a city, consisting of hutongs and residences. There are thousands of hutongs in Beijing. Most of then were built during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties (1271-1911).
Traditionally, Beijingers lived in Siheyuans within hutongs. A small or medium-sized sihuyuan generally had a main, or only, gate at the southeastern corner, with a screen wall to prevent outsiders from peeping.
Such a residence offered its tenants space, comfort and privacy. It was also good for security, and protection against dust and storms. The courtyards, generally with plants and flowers, were like gardens.
In feudal times, courtyard dwellings were built in accordance with traditional concepts of the five elements, which, Chinese believed, composed the universe, and the eight diagrams of divination. In a typical sihuyuan, the gates were generally placed at the southeast, or “wind”, corner, and the house faced on the north side of the compound, which Chinese believed belonged to "water".That, Chinese thought, would help ward off fire.
By looking at a quadrangle, given its size and style, it was easy to determine whether a commoner or a powerful, rich person was the resident. A simple house owned by an ordinary person would have just one courtyard, and the main building would be to the north; the southern building would have living quarters; and the northern and the southern buildings would be flanked by the eastern and western chambers. A mansion owned by a wealthy family would have two or more courtyards, and the main building would be hidden, by a wall with a fancy gate, from the view of the southern building. A smaller house would generally be located behind the main building. It would be connected to the main quadrangle.
The landowners would live in the main building, and their children would live in the chambers to the sides. The southern building, generally the closest to the entrance, would commonly be used as the study, the reception room and the man servants' residence. Palaces, government offices, temples and monasteries were built on the pattern of siheyuan, which was a common feature of traditional Chinese architecture.
