chuihua gateina siheyuan

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Though closed，a siheyuan is a compact world.Once inside the courtyard，there is a screen，behind which is the chuihua gate，or the inner gate that has a decorative roof with short carved posts hanging down from the four corners.This inner gate leads to a yard，the center of the courtyard.Opposite the inner gate is the main house，flanked by a row of rooms on each side.

All the doors of the rooms open into the yard.Inside the yard can be found goldfish tanks and different kinds of plants and flowers，such as plum and date trees，Chinese flowering crabapple，pomegranate，oleander，and Chinese wisteria.Residents can thus appreciate flowers in the spring，have shade in the summer and harvest in autumn-“not a day without something fine to enjoy all year round，”as contemporary Chinese writer Yu Dafu（1895-1945）once remarked.

The courtyard was not only a world of fragrant flowers and lively creatures，but also aharmonious world of a huge family.A siheyuan usually belonged to one family of several generations.They would live in different rooms according to seniority，respecting，loving and caring for each other.Whether the outside world was turbulent or not，the inside always had spring sunshine，warmth and love，a peaceful，comfortable sanctuary for family members.

Later，different families moved into one courtyard；however，its advantages were not lost.

The family atmosphere still remained and would touch the hearts of all residents，who，like one big family，supported and cared for each other.This family atmosphere is cherished in the memory of all those who once lived in a siheyuan.

Siheyuans in Beijing are also highly valuable in artistic terms.The gate of each courtyard is artistically accomplished，with carvings and paintings.Such artwork，along with the stone piers that support the pivot of the gate，all demonstrate Chinese craftsmen’s unique management of space and color.The chuihua gate’s carved posts hanging down from the fourcorners and the carved stone piers on the ground present a dignified splendor.The screen opposite the gate is a place to give flight to the imagination，and upon which there are always novel brick carvings.People appreciate siheyuans because each is a world of art that adds significance to their lives.

The feature of a siheyuan most worthy of admiration is that each and every one of its details manifest the idea of its harmonious existence with nature. Facing toward the south,a siheyuan enjoys ample sunshine in winter and refreshing cool in summer. The house in the north is the most important locale, enjoying the best energy of the courtyard. The gate openssoutheast instead of being on the axis line of the compound. To enter into the yard, one need to walk around the screen; thus passersby outside cannot witness the activities inside.

Moreover, the screen prevents the wind from directly blowing in when the gate is opened, as well as adding diversity to the strict layout of the courtyard. Corridors inside connect all the rooms and give shelter to the residents on rainy or snowy days. As the southern exposure of ahouse usually takes in a great deal of heat in summer,a siheyuan, usually consisting of three yards in a row, is usually designed narrow east and west and long north and south, to reduce the chance of exposure to the sun.

Siheyuan is the creative product of human beings taking careful consideration of the　”character”of nature, and making full use of its favors. It is a good example of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.