This wall is the shadow wall, also known as the shadow wall, which was called Xiao wall in ancient times. It is a wall used to block the line of sight in traditional Han architecture. In the past, people thought that ghosts frequented their houses. If it is the soul of one's ancestors, it is allowed to go home, but if it is a lonely ghost who sneaked into the home, it will bring disaster to himself. Of course, the screen wall also has its function, which is to block the line of sight of outsiders, even if the door is open, outsiders can't see the house. The screen wall can also set off the atmosphere and increase the momentum of the house.
The Origin of Screen Wall Long ago, there was a skillful craftsman named Wang Jincai in Encun South Street. This Wang Jincai is a good craftsman and a great dutiful son, and people especially flatter him. No matter who builds a house for, the host always tries his best to entertain better. On this day, a family named Zhao in the north of the city came to ask him to build a house. Before Wang Jincai left, he kowtowed to his mother to say goodbye, and then he followed the man on his way. This Zhao family is also very generous, and chicken, duck and fish are essential for every meal. Wang Decai naturally very happy. Later, he took a closer look and found that no matter which meal, chicken thighs were never seen on the table. After careful attention, he still didn't. Wang Jincai couldn't help getting angry: Hum! There is too much meat to serve. You can't compliment just by eating chicken bones! The more I think about it, the angrier I get. I want to leave my life and go home.
On second thought, what is the reason for leaving like this? Can I be called a loser who eats and drinks? Can't leave! Wang Jincai swallowed his anger and went on building the house. As he approached the roof, Wang Jincai remembered that his master had told him that putting a clay figurine pushing a cart on the roof when building a house would slowly make his master's family poor. Wang Jincai was so angry that he secretly pinched a clay figurine pushing a cart and put it on the roof. The new house is finished. The master of the Zhao family held out his salary first, then handed a porcelain jar and said, "Master Wang, I think you are a filial man. Your mother is old. She should take care of herself. This jar contains dozens of chicken legs I have accumulated. Take them back to give your mother a gift! "
When Wang Jincai heard this, his face turned red. He knew that he had wronged the Zhao family. I thought to myself: if that clay figurine can really push his master's family into poverty, then he really has a conscience. It's ugly to pull it out in person, so it's illegal. Thought of here, Wang Jincai didn't pack anything, turned a circle in the yard, and then said to his master; "Zhao brothers, I see your yard is so big, the front door is facing the second door. Really ugly. Just build a shadow wall with the remaining bricks! " Naturally, Zhao's master was very happy, so he set about making it and took out a very skilled craft to make a solid and beautiful screen wall. Wang Jincai thought: "With this wall, the car will not be pushed out, and the owner will not break the money." I don't know why, the host family saw the screen wall and thought it was beautiful and could block the door. They also kept praising Wang Jincai as a "skilled luban"! Later, people saw that the screen wall did have great benefits, and even built a house after it was built. You are cheap and I am cheap, and it has gradually become a custom.