Retained value and significance of quadrangles

This is history, and future generations cannot destroy it at will. This is culture and cannot be destroyed like this. Siheyuan has a history of at least 3,000 years, and there are many types in China, among which Beijing Siheyuan is a typical one. Courtyard houses are usually lived by extended families, providing a relatively secluded courtyard space. Its architecture and pattern embody China's traditional hierarchy of respect and inferiority and the theory of Yin-Yang and Five Elements.

In modern times, with the change of family structure and social concept, the livability of traditional quadrangles has been challenged. In the process of urban planning, traditional quadrangles are also facing the contradiction between protection and development. Some quadrangles were listed as cultural relics protection units, while others were demolished.

The development of history

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 the corridor courtyard, that is, the central axis of the courtyard was the main building, surrounded by corridors, 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.

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.