Changjia yard
From the Kangxi period of Qing Dynasty to the end of Guangxu, after more than 200 years of construction, two streets, east, west, north and south, were often built on the curb. On both sides of the street are rows of deep curtilage courtyards, pavilions and pavilions, which set each other off, carved beams and painted buildings, which are spectacular. * * * covers an area of 100 mu, with more than 40 buildings and more than 500 houses, connecting the original four natural villages. There is a saying: "Qiao's family has a yard, and there are always two streets." The building scale of Changjia was called the first of residential buildings in Sanjin at that time. Changjia, Yuci, Shanxi Province, took the ambition of the world with money and pursued the spirit of the four seas. It made tea in Wuyishan and Chaktu, and opened Wanli Tea Road. For more than 200 years, it has been distributed to Mongolia, Russia and Northern Europe, becoming a wealthy businessman in China and the first family in Russian trade. The reason why Chang's family business is prosperous lies in his foresight, being prepared for danger in times of peace, studying hard in class and his family's origin. Handed down from generation to generation, we will abide by the family motto of "learning to be excellent is good" and constantly deliver outstanding cultural talents to the business community. Business groups ensure a lasting elite class, and perfectly embody Confucianism and ethics in economic consciousness and business activities, and realize the unity of economic rationality and moral rationality. In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, when merchants learned from each other and business became increasingly prosperous, they often began to build houses in Che Gu Lu's hometown. In the ninth century, Chang Wanji and Chang Wanda brothers were in full swing, and luxury buildings also entered their heyday. Wan Wan built a street from south to north, commonly known as West Street; Wanda bought land in the north of the village and built a new street, commonly known as backstreet. So it is called two streets at home. After nearly 200 years of improvement, there are more than 4,000 houses and more than 50 buildings, covering an area of 600,000 square meters. The halls in the courtyard are exquisite, magnificent and spectacular. There are also seven gardens, including famous flowers and ancient trees, lofty pavilions, winding paths leading to a secluded place, Zhai Fang and stream pond. Surrounded by eight gates, Li Qian Castle has realized an ideal spiritual manor where the owner can live, cultivate, daydream, watch, browse, enjoy and sigh. The restored 40,000-square-meter mansion and 80,000-square-meter garden, although only a quarter of the original size, basically maintained the manor style and reappeared the former style. Changjia yard
From the layout point of view, the main building is dominated by the majestic and square North Courtyard, and each main courtyard is divided into two entrances. The outer courtyard and the south building are facing the street, and various gatehouses are built on the east side. There are five rooms in the front yard, east and west wings, a south wing in the north and a hanging flower door in the middle. The inner courtyard is rectangular and spacious, about twice as large as the outer courtyard. The upper room and the south room are symmetrical, with ten rooms, nine rooms and eight rooms in the east and west respectively. For example, eight rooms on the upper floor and eight rooms on the south floor are separated from the side courtyard according to the pattern of "five plus three", which never exceeds the rules of "founder" and "grade", fully showing the momentum of famous families. However, its affiliated buildings fully show the exquisiteness of the garden buildings in the south of the Yangtze River, and let the founder soak up the beauty. The beauty of Changjia Courtyard is mainly manifested in three aspects. First of all, there is a wooden archway with small cornices and arches in the middle of the inner courtyard of each square yard. There are brick carved walls on both sides of the archway, and Wan Ru cable ties inlaid with precious stones add the finishing touch to the magnificent North Courtyard. This arched flower wall divides the main courtyard into three forms: five inside and five outside, four inside and four outside, which has a unique style. Secondly, between courtyards and behind courtyards, there are mostly gardens and vegetable gardens, and there are small doors communicating with the main courtyard. After entering the garden, there is a tunnel that runs through and twists and turns, dotted with cloisters, pavilions, bridges, running water, grass and stone farmhouses, or exotic flowers and plants, which is unique, just like a southern garden. Third, the art of brick carving, wood carving, stone carving and painting on wooden components that can be seen in every courtyard has a unique style. The art of brick carving is manifested in four aspects: first, the kiss on the roof, animals and carved flowers to protect the ridge, beautiful shape, skillful lines and delicate knife skills, all of which are fine brick carvings in Qing Dynasty; Second, brick carvings on walls and flower walls, including traditional "birthday pictures", "auspicious pictures" and Buddhist and Taoist stories, as well as brick carving art with strong local characteristics such as flowers, birds and animals, dried and fresh fruits; Three, the "stilts" or flowers, or birds, or animals, or characters at the top of the "hard gables" of each row of wings are all in pairs, but they are rarely the same and have their own characteristics. Fourthly, some existing brick-carved guardrails, on the floor guardrails of Guihetang, are all made of bricks, with patterns of blessing, longevity, loyalty, truthfulness, fragrant flowers, gossip stoves, hanging pots, Four Treasures of the Study and so on. The column plate is seamless, natural and seamless. Whether it is sculpture art or masonry art, it can be called a fine work in Qing architecture. The other part is in Yanghetang, which is well preserved, but the carving art is not as good as the former. The stone carving art of Changjia Courtyard includes guardrails, portal animals, parapets, etc. Most of them are carved with fine sand and engraved with various patterns. The roughness of sandstone and the exquisiteness of sculptor are unique. Changjia yard
The woodcarving of Changjia Courtyard is mainly the woodcarving of windows, doorframes, screens, furniture and partition boards in the mansion. Patterns are ever-changing, modelling technique is different, and wood is diverse, just like a woodcarving exhibition, which dazzles visitors. Unfortunately, wood is not easy to preserve and the damage is very serious. Changjia Courtyard is the representative of Confucian merchants' architecture, and its interior layout is very exquisite, reflecting the stability, simplicity and symmetry of scholarly family everywhere. Chyi Chin's calligraphy and painting, Four Treasures of the Study, exotic flowers and plants, and landscape bonsai are different from other Shanxi merchants' mansions. As the home of Confucian businessmen, it is unique and refreshing. After more than 300 years of vicissitudes of life, the destruction of Changjia Courtyard is great. In view of the need of developing commercial and cultural tourism in Jinzhong, the government is planning to gradually restore the original appearance of ancient buildings, and carry out indoor display and market launch according to the characteristics of Confucian merchants, adding a unique bright pearl to the cultural tourism of Shanxi merchants.