In the Qing Dynasty (1611-1911),
eight-meter-high ornamental pillars made of stones is a symbol of social
status.
Chen Zongdian and Chen Dengjun, father and son, are a Hanlin (a prefix
to numerous titles of literary and editorial scholors and even other
specialists such as physicians, most commonly but not solely members of
the Hanlin Academy) and a provincial graduate (a successful candidate in
the imperial examinatin at the provincial level in the
Ming<1368-1644> and Qing dynasties) respectively. So two
ornamental columns were erected in front of their house.
According to expert, the house is one of the oldest civilian residence
in the west area of Sichuan. It is a witness of the ups and downs of the
Chens.
Chens' Old Residence locate in Wenjiang county, 40Km away from Chengdu.
The Past of the Ternary Courtyards
In the past, the high ornamental columns
came into sight several hundreds meters away. Behind the gate, there
were spacious and green courtyards. Passing through the lush trees, two
screen walls appeared. The walls were built to stop draught. with
beautiful patterns carved on them, the screen walls are an indispensable
part of the house. On one side of each wall, there were two Chinese
characters "Shou" and "Fu", which represent long
life and peace respectively; On the other side, there are a supernatural
man and a kylin in the middle and the patterns of horses, monkeys,
dragons, lions and flowers carved around it. Coming into the inside of
the house, the ternary courtyards for living were in sight. Every
courtyard consisted of wing-rooms, dooryards and princial rooms. All
eaves were upward and the house was full of flowers and trees. even now,
from the scene of the eaves, we can imagine the happy life of the Chens.
The Studying Room and the Ancestral Temple
There was a group of houses in the north of the big old residence,
including a studying room, a small court, an ancestral temple, and etc.
The studying room was ever the most important art of this literary
family and it was named "Xiyin Room" by Chen Zongdian. The
name of the room means to cherish time. In those years, Chen Zongdian
usually read many books in the studying room which was built with
stones, enjoying alone the quietness. Beside the studying room, there
located a small court, a place for rest after reading.
An Ancestral temple was a place for sacrificing to ancestors. Across the
small court, we can find a solemn ancestral temple named "Zhong and
Xiao Temple" in Chinese. "Zhong" represents loyalty and
"Xiao" filial piety. In the opinion of the ancient Chinese,
intellectuals must be loyal and devoted to emperors and be obedient to
their parents.
The Parlour
In the south of old house, there was a parlour. Compared with the
souolemn atmosphere of the other rooms, the parlour was full of flowers,
tors and ponds. Honored guests were received in the room. Many delicate
patterns were carved on the walls. In the past, many friends of the
family often gathered there to chat and enjoy themselves.
There was an artificial hill with a height of 3 meters and a length of 6
meters in a pond. On the hill, we can find ways, bridges, pavilions,
mansions and Taoist temples. |