Why was there a hurdle in front of the old house before?

Threshold is a very common building accessory in ancient China. Let's talk about the role of the threshold from several aspects:

1. Feng Shui: In traditional buildings in China, there is always a threshold at the entrance of the gate. Its role in geomantic omen is to prevent external unfavorable factors from entering the home and preventing brain drain.

2. Realistic function: The function of threshold is the boundary between inside and outside. At the same time, it can protect the bottom of the door and block the wind blowing from under the door. When the door is open, it can also prevent some small animals from entering the door.

3. Etiquette function: China is a country that pays attention to etiquette. Etiquette here not only refers to people's behavior, but also includes architectural style and grade. The threshold embodies the dignity and identity of the owner; In the folk, it is said that the threshold is the owner's neck or back, and it is forbidden to step on it with your feet. The higher the threshold, the higher the status. In an ancient building complex in Wuyuan, Jiangxi, I saw the threshold of a scholarly family, which was about twice as high as that of the wealthy businessmen next to it. The ancients said that everything is inferior, only reading is high.