What is Sishui Guitang? (twenty-seven)

Chinese culture has a long history and is reflected in all aspects of life. The classic building Si Shui Guitang is one of the representatives that integrates traditional Chinese cultural concepts.

The general layout of folk houses in the south of the Yangtze River is roughly the same as that of the courtyard houses in the north. However, the layout is generally compact and the courtyards occupy a smaller area to adapt to the higher local population density and the requirement to occupy less farmland.

Most of the doors of residences open on the central axis, with the main house in front of them being the hall, and two-story buildings often built in the courtyard behind.

The small courtyard surrounded by four-bedroom houses is commonly called a patio and is only used for lighting and drainage.

Because the rainwater from the inner slope of the roof flows into the patio from all sides, which means water gathers in the center of the sky, this kind of residential layout is commonly known as "Four Waters Returning to the Hall".

Jiangnan folk houses are an important part of traditional Chinese folk house architecture. Jiangsu and Zhejiang water towns pay attention to the front streets and back rivers. However, regardless of the Han people in the south or the north, the most common feature of their traditional houses is that they face north and south. It pays attention to internal lighting; uses wooden beams to bear the load, and uses bricks, stones, and earth to build retaining walls; with the main room as the center, it is famous for its carved beams and painted roofs and decorative roofs and cornices.

The general layout of folk houses in the south of the Yangtze River is roughly the same as that of the courtyard houses in the north. However, the layout is generally compact and the courtyards occupy a smaller area to adapt to the higher local population density and the requirement to occupy less farmland.

Structure

The individual buildings of Sishui Guitang style houses use the traditional "room" as the basic unit. Most of the houses have an odd number of bays, usually three or five. Each room is 3 to 4 meters wide, with a depth of five to nine purlins, and each purlin is 1 to 1.5 meters. The individual buildings are connected by corridors and, together with the courtyard walls, form a closed courtyard. However, in order to facilitate ventilation, leaky windows are often opened on the courtyard walls, and windows are also opened on the front and back of the house. This type of residence adapts to the terrain, makes full use of space, has flexible layout, beautiful shape and rational use of materials, showing a fresh and lively appearance.

Features

The first main room of this kind of house is usually a hall. The yard is slightly wider, and the hall has many openings and is connected to the inside and outside of the patio. Generally, the one facing south is the main house, which is the residence of the elders. There are often side rooms on the east and west sides, which are the residences of sons and daughters-in-law. The house on the south side is the gatehouse. Most of the main houses in the north are buildings, with deeper but smaller patios. The roof is paved with small green tiles, and the interior is mostly paved with stone slabs to suit the warm and humid climate of Jiangnan. Houses in Jiangnan water towns are often built near the water, with the front door leading to an alley and the back door facing the water. Each house has its own dock for washing, fetching water, and getting on and off boats.

The patio structure of "Four Waters Returning to the Hall" is a major feature. It is widely used in both ordinary homes and clan ancestral halls. People joke that it is because "the rich water does not flow to outsiders' fields" and "hope" It is caused by the mentality of "not having enough money coming in". From the perspective of Feng Shui theory, the patio is the most important part of a house. It is important for wealth and wealth. It must be straight and square, and must not be sunken, wet or dirty. There are two arches on both sides of the hall, and the wall doors are always closed to nourish the Qi. The courtyards of all wealthy homes are naturally square and square, followed by those of well-off homes. The door is in the air, the patio is in the prosperous direction, and the yin and yang are naturally in harmony. It does not have to be penetrated all the time, and there must be ministers on both sides. Jue says: neither high nor sinking, neither long nor sideways, heaping up gold and jade, endless wealth. Some people also study that it is a relic of ancient cave dwellings.

And we modern people go to Sishuiguitang in order to feel the beauty of the traditional culture of our Chinese nation with our hearts!