2. Siheyuan, also known as Siheyuan, is a traditional quadrangle building of Han nationality in China. Its pattern is a courtyard surrounded by houses, so it is named quadrangle.
Siheyuan is a house with a gatehouse in front of Sanheyuan. If it looks like a "mouth", it is called a courtyard; The shape of "sky" is called binary courtyard; The shape of "wood" is called Sanjinyuan. Generally speaking, in Jinzhong Window Mansion, the first entrance is the gatehouse, the second entrance is the hall, the third entrance or the last entrance is the private room or boudoir, which is the activity space for women or their families, and ordinary people are not allowed to enter at will. No wonder the ancients said, "The courtyard is deep." The deeper the courtyard, the less you can see its hall.
Siheyuan has a history of at least 3000 years, and there are many types in China, among which Beijing Siheyuan is a typical one. Siheyuan is usually inhabited by extended families, which provides a relatively hidden courtyard space relative to the border between China and Shanxi. Its architecture and pattern reflect China's traditional hierarchical thought 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.