The history of quadrangles

Siheyuan has a long history. As early as 3000 years ago, there were complete quadrangles in the Western Zhou Dynasty in China. The remains of Jin Liang quadrangle unearthed from Joo Won? site in Feng Chu village, Qishan County, Shaanxi Province, are the earliest and most orderly quadrangles known in China.

The quadrangle architecture in Han Dynasty has been updated and developed. Influenced by geomantic omen theory, quadrangles have a whole set of views of Yin-Yang and Five Elements from site selection to layout. In the Tang Dynasty, quadrangles inherited the Han Dynasty and the Song and Yuan Dynasties, with a narrow front and a narrow back.

However, the quadrangle that prevailed in ancient times was a corridor courtyard, that is, the central axis of the courtyard was the main building, surrounded by cloisters, or houses on the left and right, rather than houses on all sides. In the late Tang Dynasty, quadrangles with cloisters appeared, gradually replacing cloisters. After the Song Dynasty, cloisters gradually decreased and disappeared in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

During the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, quadrangles gradually matured. Yuan Shizu Kublai Khan "told the residents of the old city that the capital was too old, and those who lived in high places (rich people) and occupied places (serving in the imperial court) came first, and customized eight acres of land for one point", which was distributed to wealthy businessmen and officials who went to the metropolis to build houses, thus beginning the period of large-scale formation of traditional quadrangles in Beijing. From 65438 A.D. to the early 1970s, the ruins of Yuan Dynasty quadrangles unearthed from Houyingfang Hutong in Beijing can be regarded as the embryonic form of Beijing quadrangles. After the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Beijing's unique quadrangle architectural style was gradually formed.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, many quadrangles in Beijing have become miscellaneous hospitals. After the reform and opening up, with the development of urban transformation, many traditional quadrangles have been demolished, such as 1998 Kangyouwei Xinyue Dongge, Zhao's former residence in 2000, Meng Duan Hutong No.45 in 2004, Cao Xueqin's former residence in 2005 and Tang Shaoqin's former residence in 2006. At the same time, some quadrangles were included in the protected courtyards in Beijing and all districts and counties.

In ancient times, quadrangles basically met the needs of family life. At that time, quadrangles with two entrances and larger quadrangles were usually the residences of bureaucrats and gentry. In modern times, on the one hand, it is sanitary facilities such as water supply and drainage and heating. The quadrangles that have not been in quadrangles and have become big yards have not been continuously improved to meet the needs of automobiles, air conditioners and other equipment. On the other hand, there are few big families with four generations living under one roof. Wealthy families are usually willing to buy villas in suburbs with convenient transportation instead of living in densely populated urban areas. Therefore, whether quadrangles are still valuable as folk houses is also a controversial issue since modern times.

With the development of the protection of the old city, the original quadrangle was transformed. For example, in 1990, Professor Wu of Tsinghua University presided over the reconstruction project of Beijing Juer Hutong Courtyard. On the basis of retaining the quadrangle structure, the bungalow of the original quadrangle was changed into a building, and facilities such as kitchen and bathroom were added. The renovation project won the United Nations World Habitat Award. During the reconstruction of Wang Hongbin, some quadrangles were changed into two floors and underground garages were built. In 2006, Beijing published the Architectural Elements Map of Beijing Siheyuan as a reference for the protection, repair, renewal and transformation of Siheyuan.