Geomantic interpretation of Fujian tulou
"Fujian Hakka believe in Feng Shui. Before the earth building is built, be sure to ask Feng Shui to choose the site. " Hu Daxin said.
These geomantic tricks include: building site selection should be sheltered from the wind and sunny, there should be good water sources, and attention should be paid to the orientation of building gates. Of course, these are all pressures from the older generation. Nowadays, young people think that the so-called geomantic omen, scientifically speaking, means that everyone lives together and influences each other.
After the 1960s, the construction of traditional earth buildings basically stopped. Many young people live in mud brick houses used in cities outside the mountain. More young people go to Xiamen, Quanzhou and other places to "break into the world", and earth buildings are more and more like "living antiques" where people live.
Chengqi Building is a famous building in Yongding County with a history of 300 years. This is the largest Hakka earth building in the area. In its heyday, the Chengqi Building was inhabited by more than 800 people and looked like a maze. People in this building can feel their home when they go in and out with their eyes closed, but it is difficult for outsiders to get in, and it is even harder to think of it. Without the guidance of the people in the building, it takes a lot of effort to get out. Thieves can't escape if they go in.
Times have changed. Today, the Hakkas in Tulou first aim at facilitating life. Jiang Sheng, deputy secretary of Xiayang Town, concluded: A round earth building means everyone is equal. If the four corners of a square building are removed, each room is basically the same. Where the square building is exposed to the wind and the sun is not exposed, it is easy to produce dead ends in the early defense function. The circular building saves land and materials, and also makes the room evenly illuminated, which is conducive to the equality and harmony of the big family.
Connotation of Earth Building and Geomantic Elements
Tulou architecture is an artistic masterpiece that embodies the wisdom of Hakkas. Its existence embodies the harmony between ancient man and nature, the perfect and harmonious combination of man and nature, and also conforms to the principle of Feng Shui adapting to local conditions. They rely on mountains and have a reasonable layout. They not only absorbed the "Feng Shui" concept of traditional architectural planning in China, but also adapted to the living and defense requirements of people living together, and skillfully used the narrow flat land in the mountains, raw soil, wood, pebbles and other local building materials. They are a self-contained, economical, sturdy and highly defensive high-rise building type with great aesthetic feeling.