Earthen Houses of Fujian
Many Hakka earthen houses can be found in the south Fujian regions of Yongding, Longyan, Zhangping and Zhangzhou. The earthen houses are usually huge - each has three to four levels and reaches up to 12 or 13 meters in height. The outer walls, which are one to two meters thick, are made of clay and are very sturdy. These uniquely designed earthen houses are regarded as the most typical, peculiar and prominent architectural form among Fujian's residences. The three most representative types of Fujian's earthen houses are round earthen houses, rectangular earthen houses and the wufeng (Five Phoenixes) earthen houses.
The people that built the earthen houses were the Hakkas, a group of Han Chinese who gradually migrated southwards starting from the Wei Dynasty (220-265). At the time, the society was unstable, and robbery and thieves were rampant. Each of these fortress-like houses could accommodate hundreds of people of the same clan. The earthen house was a method of defense against attacks and trespasses adopted by the Hakkas.
The most representative of the circular earthen houses is the Chengqi Building in Yongding county. The Chengqi Building was built in the 48th year of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It was built in three years and has a diameter of 62.6 meters. The Chengqi Building contains four concentric rings. The outer ring has four levels, with the ground level used as the kitchen, the second level used as a store, and the third and fourth levels as bedrooms. Every level is connected with a corridor. The second and third rings are single-level houses, and the entire innermost ring is home to the ancestral hall.
About the book
Chinese Architecture Written by Cai Yanxin Published by China Intercontinental Press, Beijing, 2018
Many Hakka earthen houses can be found in the south Fujian regions of Yongding, Longyan, Zhangping and Zhangzhou. The earthen houses are usually huge - each has three to four levels and reaches up to 12 or 13 meters in height. The outer walls, which are one to two meters thick, are made of clay and are very sturdy. These uniquely designed earthen houses are regarded as the most typical, peculiar and prominent architectural form among Fujian's residences. The three most representative types of Fujian's earthen houses are round earthen houses, rectangular earthen houses and the wufeng (Five Phoenixes) earthen houses.
The people that built the earthen houses were the Hakkas, a group of Han Chinese who gradually migrated southwards starting from the Wei Dynasty (220-265). At the time, the society was unstable, and robbery and thieves were rampant. Each of these fortress-like houses could accommodate hundreds of people of the same clan. The earthen house was a method of defense against attacks and trespasses adopted by the Hakkas.
The most representative of the circular earthen houses is the Chengqi Building in Yongding county. The Chengqi Building was built in the 48th year of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It was built in three years and has a diameter of 62.6 meters. The Chengqi Building contains four concentric rings. The outer ring has four levels, with the ground level used as the kitchen, the second level used as a store, and the third and fourth levels as bedrooms. Every level is connected with a corridor. The second and third rings are single-level houses, and the entire innermost ring is home to the ancestral hall.
About the book
Chinese Architecture Written by Cai Yanxin Published by China Intercontinental Press, Beijing, 2018
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