thumb|260px|right|[[Yunnan, Kunming]]

A siheyuan (; [sɹ̩̂.xɤ̌.ɥɛ̂n];Sìhéyuàn) is a traditional Chinese architectural style characterized by a courtyard enclosed by buildings on all four sides. This design was prevalent throughout northern China, notably in Beijing and rural Shanxi. Historically, siheyuan served as the foundational layout for various structures, including residences, palaces, temples, monasteries, family businesses, and government offices.

Siheyuan originated in the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) and became popular during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties. A spacious siheyuan would be occupied by a single, usually large and extended family, signifying wealth and prosperity. Today, remaining siheyuan are often still used as subdivided housing complexes, although many lack modern amenities.

As a courtyard surrounded by buildings on all four sides, siheyuan is also rendered in English as courtyard houses and Chinese quadrangles.

History

The siheyuan dates back as early as the Western Zhou period and has a history of more than 2,000 years. They exhibit outstanding and fundamental characteristics of Chinese architecture. They exist all across China and are the template for most Chinese architectural styles. Siheyuan also serves as a cultural symbol of Beijing and a window into its old ways of life.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">

File:Beijing view pic.jpg|Beijing's Xicheng District with the Gulou and Zhonglou bell and drum towers viewed from a distance; this area is known for its concentration of historic siheyuans (courtyard houses).

File:Siheyuan fukan.JPG|View of a section of a siheyuan neighborhood in Beijing

File:Maodunguju.JPG|The Mao Dun Memorial in Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province.

File:Hutong Jiemen (Snowyowls).jpg|A gate into a siheyuan; the style of the gate indicates that it belongs to a lower-middle class urban family.

File:Bjlaosheguju.jpg|Lao She Memorial

File:Hotel in Beijing 2.jpg|A traditional-style hotel in Beijing. Some of Beijing's historic siheyuans have been purchased and renovated by hotel chains and now function as hotels.

File:Gmrgj 1.JPG|Siheyuan belonging to the wealthy usually feature an elaborate doorway

File:Beijingdoorpic4.jpg|An example of upscale siheyuan

File:Wangfudamen.JPG|The large front gate of the Prince Chun Mansion

File:Sqlgj men.JPG|The Former Residence of Soong Ching-ling

</gallery>

Present

According to the Beijing Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage, there are over 500 historic courtyards preserved in the Cultural and Historical Conservation Areas as important cultural monuments. Many of these are public museums, and preserved historical siheyuans include Lu Xun Memorial, Guo Moruo Memorial, Mao Dun Memorial, Mei Lanfang Memorial, Lao She Memorial and many others. A 2008 study by the United Nations found that there were still about 400,000 residential courtyards remaining in Beijing. The sales market of siheyuan has also been booming in recent years. However, the prices vary based on the area and the market. For residential siheyuans in the Dongcheng and Xicheng districts in 2009, the prices can go up to 40,000 yuan per square meter. For siheyuans near the Houhai and Shichahai area, the prices can go up to between 100,000 and 150,000 yuan per square meter. A 2,000 square meter siheyuan near the Shichahai area was sold for 40 million yuan ($6 million) in 2005. In the historic center of Beijing modern siheyuans have been constructed in the period since 2005 using the courtyard concept and ostensibly many of the features of the traditional Beijing house, but using modern techniques and concrete blocks with 'faux' brick facing instead of the traditional carefully laid wide grey Chinese bricks; plastic coated window frames and beams instead of the traditional wood ones coated in natural wood lacquer.

alt=Shanxi Houses|thumb|244x244px|Modern courtyard house built as an extension to an old courtyard house, in rural Shanxi Province, 2017

See also

  • Hutong
  • Sanheyuan
  • Shanxi Courtyard Houses & House of the Huangcheng Chancellor
  • Tulou

References

  • Beijing's Siheyuan
  • In Ancient Alleys, Modern Comforts
  • The Herbert Offen Research Collection of the Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum