Layout and characteristics of quadrangles in Beijing

Beijing quadrangles refer to quadrangles with houses on all sides, four-in-one houses and a center. Since the Yuan Dynasty, quadrangles have been built in Beijing with a long history.

North-South longitudinal symmetry arrangement

The layout of Beijing quadrangles is dominated by north-south longitudinal symmetry, and it is a closed independent courtyard.

Four sides of a quadrilateral

Four of them refer to "southeast, northwest and four sides". Form a mouth-shaped structure, sitting around in the form of north facing south. The basic shape is that the north room (main room), the south room (inverted room) and the east and west rooms are separated on all sides, and the surrounding high walls form a four-in-one and open a door.

This building

Large quadrangles are customarily called "big houses". Houses can be set in five south and five north, seven south and seven north, and there are even nine rooms 1 1 big main rooms, which are generally compound quadrangles, that is, multiple quadrangles are deeply connected.

According to feng shui layout

Siheyuan is very particular about the layout of geomantic omen, and every grass and tree is arranged according to the layout of geomantic omen.

Hanging flower doors and inner rooms

Generally, there are hanging flower doors in the back rooms of Beijing quadrangles. The inner room is the center of the quadrangle, with a corridor in front of the north room and verandahs at both ends.