Siheyuan — Chinese Courtyards

Siheyuan (courtyard), also known as Sihefang, is a combined residential architecture found in Northern China. The basic layout of the courtyard is four houses at four sides circling into a square, hence the name Siheyuan. The four houses include the main house, the wing houses, the opposite house, and the back house.

A siheyuan is a typical form of ancient Chinese architecture, especially in the north of China. They are designed to make it as comfortable as possible to live in a climate that is at times inhospitable. For instance, the siheyuan are enclosed and inward-facing to protect them from the harsh winter winds and the dust storms of spring. Their design also reflects the traditions of China, following the rules of feng shui and the patriarchal, Confucian tenants of order and hierarchy that were so important to society.

Chinese courtyard houses are one of the most common housing typologies spanning all the way from the northern capital of Beijing to the poetic southern cities Hangzhou and back to the picturesque regions of Yunnan. Typically referred as heyuan, these courtyards homes are simply a “yard enclosed on four sides.”

Introduction of Siheyuan

History

The history of Siheyuans in Beijing can be traced back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368), about seven hundred years ago. During that time and for the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) dynasties that followed, when Beijing was formally founded as the national capital, Siheyuans – together with their associated Hutongs – were built in concentric circles around imperial palace and spread across much of central Beijing.

Meaning of Siheyuan

In Chinese, Siheyuan means the term “quadrangle”, and takes the courtyard as its nucleus, which is surrounded by four houses–a principal house (facing to south mostly), an opposite house, an eastern-wing house and a western-wing house. The construction of Siheyuan explains characteristic features of Chinese people and the strict hierarchical system of ancient times, and emphasizes Fengshui (Chinese traditional theory of geomancy). The whole structure of Siheyuan is symmetrical and enclosed from four sides with privacy and confidentiality, keeping one gate towards outside which is highly suitable for a family to live in and can be protected from exterior intrusion. Given by this point, this structure represents the typical characters of Chinese people–introversion and quiet manner. Besides, in hierarchical society, the principal house is inhabited by the head of family, and his or her eldest son lives in eastern-wing house, which is believed to be superior to western-wing house. Usually, the opposite house, also named reversibly-set room, is given to servants as their quarters, while under some special circumstances like a spinster-daughter, a divorced daughter or a widowed daughter-in-law who had never given birth to a son, all of them have to be ordered to live in opposite house. Therefore, the arrangement of residence is totally based on the rules of hierarchical system, aims to keep the order of family members’ status.

Life in Beijing Siheyuans

For hundreds of years, Siheyuans were traditionally built and occupied by single extended family units, with many generations living together in the various wings. Nowadays, most of them have been divided into densely packed, multifamily dwellings due to population growth and housing shortage. Several unrelated households crammed into one courtyard house have to share communal kitchen and use public restrooms. Within, neighbors know each other well, and live closely together like extended families. It is common to see the local residents outside their homes, talking over tea and washing clothes in the courtyard.

The layout of Siheyuan

The Siheyuan is a kind of square or rectangular courtyard, composed of a Sanheyuan and front gate houses. If it resembles Chinese character ‘Kou’, the courtyard is called ‘Er jin yi yuan’; if it resembles Chinese character ‘Ri’, the courtyard is called ‘San jin er yuan’; and if it resembles Chinese character ‘Mu’, the courtyard is called ‘Si jin san yuan’. In general, in larger Siheyuan, the first row is gate houses, the second row is the hall, and the third or last row is private rooms or boudoir, which are women or dependents’ space and are not freely accessible. There are many types of Siheyuan throughout China and the Beijing courtyard is the most typical representative of all.

The planning and layout of the courtyard features north and south longitudinal symmetry and a closed and independent yard. It takes the family yard as the center, neighbors as the route, and community as a social network system, and, meanwhile, contributes to a harmonious environment, which meets people’s psychological needs, maintains traditional culture and cultivates a healthy neighborhood rapport. From the layout and construction, a courtyard is typically symmetrical, pays attention to the differentiated exterior and interior, humble and noble, and loses touch with the outside world to enjoy tranquility and share the happiness of a peaceful family union. In terms of the basic spirit of architecture, the courtyard house seeks serenity, peacefulness and embraces earth and enjoys its own entertainment. Living in a comfortable courtyard, we can cultivate our soul, settle down and get on with our pursuits, and recharge our life and spirit in a serene place.

大门：Front gate, a siheyuan only has one front gate, with scale depending on the status and wealth of its owner. Normally, a richer owner’s siheyuan would have a larger front gate with more exquisite ornaments on the wooden door, and almost always protected by two stone lions. In wealthy homes, there would even be a gatekeeper’s room next to the gate.
影壁：A spirit screen, also called a spirit wall, is a shield construction that can be either positioned on the outside or the inside of the gate in traditional Chinese architecture. Its function is to protect the front gate.
倒座房：A reverse-facing room, beside the front gate. Since the reverse-facing rooms faced north, with poor lighting, they usually served as servants’ rooms.
二门/垂花门：Ermen/Chuihuamen, literally meaning second gate or flower-hung gate in Chinese. This is an inner gate separating the first from the second courtyard. Across from the Ermen are the private quarters of a family. The decorations on the Chuihuamen usually indicate the status of the family head.
厢房：Xiangfang are also called side houses. The Chinese traditionally thought that the eastern xiangfang were better than the western xiangfang in respect of fengshui (invisible forces). The eastern xiangfang are usually used as married sons’ accommodation. Western xiangfang are usually unmarried daughters’ rooms or kitchens.
正房：The main house of the siheyuan is normally positioned along the north-south and west-east axes. The house faces south and is regarded as the best house in a siheyuan complex, since it has shelter from the wind and also has good lighting. It usually served as elders’ accommodation.
耳房：Erfang, literally meaning ears’ rooms. They are so called because the two rooms on either side of the main house are like ears. Erfang were used as children’s or servants’ quarters, and storage or cooking rooms.
后罩房：Houzhaofang only exist in those siheyuan with more than three courtyards. Since the houzhaofang are located at the back of the siheyuan and have private space, they are usually used as unmarried daughters’ or female servants’ rooms.