Beijing-style Courtyard Residence
Siheyuan is a traditional Chinese courtyard residence, most commonly seen in Beijing. A typical siheyuan consists of several courtyards divided by doorways, with each courtyard being surrounded by rooms that are directly open to the court and linked by verandas.
It is a self-contained small world: within the humble enclosure walls, there is a multi-layered realm that is orderly and tranquil with access to natural elements.
Siheyuans usually sit in the north and face the south. Such a structural arrangement is not only for maximising the exposure to the sun and blocking the winds in the cold days but also to follow the principle of Feng Shui. So naturally, the hutongs (alleyways in Beijing style) that offer access to siheyuans are normally running in the east-west direction.
The sizes of siheyuans vary. While having two or three courtyards is the most common, they can also contain one courtyard only, or get two or more siheyuans standing side by side with a garden at the rear.
Siheyuan is not just confined to residential uses. The majority of Buddhist and Daoist temples in Beijing are also built in siheyuan style – a case in point is the famous Taoist temple White Cloud. But the most magnificent siheyuan is, undoubtedly, the Forbidden City, which comprises nearly a hundred courtyards, from as majestic as the one with emperors’ audience halls to as tiny as those in which low-rank eunuchs used to live.
A Eunuch’s Courtyard Residence
This leafy courtyard residence used to be the property of eunuch Li Lianying (李莲英), the most trusted assistant to the most notorious Empress Dowager Cixi of the Manchu Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Situated in northwest Beijing’s Haidian District, fairly close to the Summer Palace, it was for a long period inhabited by Li’s brother and his descendants.
The screen wall behind this inner gate has the image of phoenixes and peony flowers carved on, indicating the space beyond is the residential quarter where ladies used to live. In the old days, male guests and servants were not allowed to step across the threshold without exclusive permission.
The top part of the screen wall is decorated with the motif of bats. Bat is pronounced “fu”, the same as that of Luck in Chinese.
The deco over the front gate shows a lion playing with an embroidered ball.
A Tale of a Eunuch
After the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, which ended Manchu rule along with the monarchy system, eunuchs were all sent home.
Allegedly, a former eunuch decided to make a living by raising chickens to sell their eggs, so he purchased a dozen roosters. When a neighbour told him he needed to get hens, he felt insulted. “You reckon I don’t deserve having cocks? You hear this, chickens are chickens, regardless of their gender.” 🤪
