Patios of ancient houses in Huizhou

Anhui folk houses are all equipped with patios, and the largest ones are often "thirty-six patios, seventy-two sill windows, and more than a hundred doorways", which play the role of ventilation and light transmission. Hongcun Chengzhi Hall, located in Shangshui Zhen, was built in 1855 by Huizhou merchant Wang Guogui. It covers an area of ​​2,100 square meters. The main hall and back hall are both cloister-style. What is different from the relationship between the main hall and the patio of other homes is that the eaves of its second floor are arched upwards. At that time, I wondered whether it was mechanically that the upward bow would bear less pressure. I saw that there was a "viewing hole" on the guardrail on the second floor opposite, and I also guessed that it was for the convenience of the young lady's blind date, which was not entirely correct. It turns out that there are female relatives living on the second floor, and some guests are coming. Here they are chatting in the main hall, and there are women walking around upstairs overhead. It is very unsightly, so this kind of attack can be avoided. Of course, the design of the patio also has a hidden meaning. People who do business are always afraid of losing money, so they build a patio so that the rainwater on the front ridge of the house will not flow outside the house.