Sishi ancient residential complex

Sishi ancient residential complex

The ancient residential complex of Sishi is a typical large clan building complex in Jiangnan in Qing Dynasty. Located in Sizhai village, dongbaihu Town, Zhuji City, Zhejiang Province, covering an area of 1.3 hectares. Most of the existing residential buildings were built in the Qing Dynasty, with a total of 14.

The ancient residential complex of Sishi includes Qianzhu house, Xiaxin house, huaguogong villa, Shangxin house, paixuanmenli, xintanjia and menqianfan. Among them, Qianzhu house, Xiaxin house and huaguogong villa were listed in the fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units in 2001.

The origin of history

Each group of the ancient residence is surrounded by high walls, which constitutes an independent building combination space. The interior is composed of several courtyard, with symmetrical layout and clear axis. The ancient residence of Si family is a "mirror" of the economic and social development level in Jiaqing and Daoguang years of Qing Dynasty. It is a perfect combination of architectural technology, aesthetics and ecology of the ancient residence in the south of the Yangtze River in China. It is also an important material material for studying the ethical patriarchal system of feudal society in China.

Qianzhuwu, also known as sishengju, is the most magnificent platform gate in the ancient residential complex of sishengju, which is a key cultural relic protection unit in China

It was built in the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty. It was a residence built by the local rich Si Yuanru (1753-1822).

Layout structure

The whole building is 108.56 meters wide from east to west, 63.10 meters deep from south to north, covering an area of 6850 square meters. The building faces north from south, with three entrances. The central axis is the gate tower, the hall, and the block building. With the central axis as the center, there are two auxiliary axes on the East and west sides, including eight courtyard, front and rear building, left and right box building.

Xiaxinwu, also known as the birthplace house, is the best preserved platform gate in the ancient residential complex of Sishi, and is a key cultural relic protection unit in China

Built in 1802, it is the residence of Si Yuanren, the brother of Si Yuanru. The whole building is 59.4 meters wide from east to west and 54.8 meters deep from south to north. It covers an area of 3255 square meters. Its plane layout is nearly square. It faces south from north and has three entrances. Along the central axis, it is gate house, hall and block building. The three entrances are separated by patios. The inner side of the central axis is equipped with inner wing rooms (the two sides in front of the hall and the two sides in front of the block). The outer side is built with nine three lanes of East and West Corridor houses (the outer wing rooms). The corridor houses are connected with the gate house, the hall and the block respectively, forming a closed pattern.

Huaguogong villa is a national key cultural relic protection unit

It was built in 1840, in memory of Sihua. According to the tablet of huaguogong villa, huaguogong, whose name is Jirong (1764-1825), loved reading all his life. In order to cultivate the talents of the people, he wanted to build a family school, worked hard and thrifty all his life, but failed to fulfill his wish. His son Zhipu and sun Yuanqing inherited his ambition and built a villa, which means that death is like life. The building faces south from the north, with three entrances. Along the central axis, there are hall, middle hall and back hall in turn. The left and right sides are equipped with box buildings and attached rooms. There is a patio between each entrance. The total area is 2806 square meters. The middle hall is named as the lecture hall, and the back hall is set up with a family temple for spring and autumn sacrifice of Si family members. The function of the school and the family temple is quite rare. There is a half moon shaped pond outside the front hall, which is called panchi. In the Qing Dynasty, the construction of panchi is a symbol of social status, and it is not allowed to be built without a certain level.

Cultural relics protection

Shangxinwu, also known as shangxinju, is a key cultural relic protection unit in Zhejiang Province

Built in the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty, it faces south from the north. Like Si Shengju, it was built by Si Yuanru. It is 80 meters wide from east to west and 49.7 meters deep from north to south, with a total area of 3360 square meters. On the forehead of qingshimen, like sishengju, there are four big characters of jiudiezhuan, which are "yushengju". Confucius' Analects of Confucius is taken as an example to show that sishengju is prosperous. There are three entrances in shangxinwu. Along the central axis, they are the gate tower, the hall and the block building. Each of them is separated by a patio. There are wing rooms on both sides. They are symmetrical in East and West. The wood, stone and brick carvings of shangxinwu are exquisite in decoration. The doors, windows, beams, Bi, Ma Tou wall and stone railings of Yuchi are full of carvings.

Paixuan gate

Paixuan menli, located above the birthplace house, was built in the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty. It is 80 meters wide from east to west and 49.7 meters deep from north to south, with a total area of 3360 square meters. There are three entrances in total. Along the central axis, there are gatehouse, hall and block building in turn. Each of them is separated by a patio, and wing rooms are set on both sides, which are symmetrical from east to west.

Xintanjia, a key cultural relic protection unit in Zhejiang Province

Built in the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty, it faces north from South with a width of 80 meters from east to west and a depth of 49.7 meters from north to south, covering a total area of 3360 square meters. Xintan family has three entrances. The central axis is the gate tower, the hall and the block tower. Each of them is separated by a patio. There are wing rooms on both sides, which are symmetrical from east to west.

The FanTai gate in front of the gate was built in the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty. The whole building is composed of the big room gate, the two room gate and the three room gate, which were built by Si Jirong's three sons, Si Jingyuan, Si Dongshan and Si Zhipu. When you enter the FanTai gate in front of the gate, you can find well preserved and exquisite wood, brick and stone carvings from time to time. "You Zhi Si Hu", "Jia Dun Ren Rang", "Shi Shou Ji Du", "Ji Du Jia Feng" These simple stone doors reflect the style of the family. The four characters of "youzhisihu" are jiudiezhuan. They are carved in blue stone. Beside them are brick figures, decorated with pomegranate, bergamot and other patterns. There are Kuixing figures on them. The patio of FanTai gate in front of the gate is also unique, which is paved with small pebbles. Among them, there is a patio laying pattern, which is composed of 10 "copper coins" and is very exquisite.

Memorabilia

In 2000, Sizhai village was awarded the second batch of historical and cultural reserves in Zhejiang Province.

In 2001, sishengju, faxiangju and huaguogong villa were listed as the fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

In 2005, shangxinju and xintanjia were listed as key cultural relics protection units in Zhejiang Province.

In 2011, Sizhai village was rated as national AAA scenic spot.

In 2012, Sizhai village was rated as the third Chinese landscape village.

In 2013, Sizhai village was named the first Chinese traditional village.

In 2016, Sizhai village was rated as the top ten most beautiful villages in Zhejiang Province.

Architectural features

First: its layout is very rigorous, with a clear axis. While highlighting the central axis, it is left-right symmetrical, with clear primary and secondary. Its floor area is not to advance in depth, but to expand to the left and right sides, and strict emphasis on correctness, this layout is different from other dwellings in the south of the Yangtze River.

Each group of Si's residence is surrounded by high walls. The appearance is very closed, just like a fortress, with good defense function, and this strong sense of security is a manifestation of traditional Chinese feudal thoughts and concepts. At the same time, in order to enrich the enclosed appearance and break the monotony and depression, almost all the units in each group of Si's residential buildings are built with fire sealing gables. The style is not in a single form, but full of variety and exquisite decoration. It has the function of fire prevention, and makes the appearance of the buildings uneven and full of aesthetic feeling.

Auspicious patterns

In the facade of the building, we spare no effort to build the gate and side door, and carve various auspicious patterns on the door cover and stone window, which is unique in style.

Second: its architectural appearance is vigorous, and its interior is beautiful. It has the overall form of exterior and interior. The details are exquisite and superb, especially the foyer, hall and block building on the central axis. As a place for family sharing activities (sacrifice, discussion and ceremony), it not only has excellent materials and huge materials, but also has complicated carving and decoration. The engineering is huge, especially the hall in the central position, which is mostly three rooms in width, open style, and each carving is very beautiful It has a wide range of subjects, profound meaning and high artistic value.

The foyer, the block and the inner chamber are mostly with double eaves, and the decoration is also very exquisite. The doors, windows, partitions, and wood carvings are meticulous, and the composition is ingenious. Even the gables and rhinoceros are carved with exquisite bricks. All of these give the closed inner courtyard warm and delicate feelings, reflecting people's understanding of life. They are rare in Jiangnan residential buildings, such as the wood carvings, brick carvings, and stone carvings of ancient residential buildings in Sishi It can be called a treasure of folk architectural art.

Cultural value

The ancient architecture of Sizhai is a brilliant pearl in Zhuji's long historical and cultural heritage. It embodies the diligence, bravery and intelligence of our ancestors. The master skillfully used various architectural techniques, such as the scale and proportion in form, the rhythm and rhythm in layout, the metaphor and association in image, the collocation and contrast in color, to create practical and beautiful buildings, some majestic, some beautiful, some magnificent, some elegant and quiet It is undoubtedly a large-scale artwork of great value.

The house is the spiritual wealth created by the working people in the past dynasties, which contains a strong historical and cultural heritage. It is not difficult to see that most of the ancient architectural designers of Sizhai had high cultural accomplishment. They were good at poetry, calligraphy, painting and architecture

Chinese PinYin : Si Shi Gu Min Ju Jian Zhu Qun