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Huizhou Architecture

Formation and Development

Hui-style architecture, namely Huizhou architecture, marks one of the representative elements of ancient Huizhou and is now predominantly found in provinces such as Jiangxi and Anhui. Its unique style is closely tied to the local Huizhou merchant culture and the distinctive natural environment. The origins of Huizhou architecture can be traced back to the Southern Song Dynasty. With the imperial court’s relocation to Lin’an (present-day Hangzhou) and large-scale construction of palaces, gardens, and other structures, it not only spurred Huizhou merchants to engage in industries such as timber, bamboo, and lacquerware but also nurtured a group of skilled artisans from Huizhou. From the mid-Ming Dynasty onward, with the rise of the Huizhou merchant class and the prosperity of Huizhou’s economy, Huizhou-style gardens and residential architecture entered a phase of rapid development. After achieving wealth, Huizhou merchants, seeking to glorify their families and display their prosperity, invested heavily in constructing luxurious residences, exquisite gardens, academies, and ancestral halls while acquiring extensive farmland. Not only were they adept in business, but they also actively associated with literati and scholars, continuously enhancing their cultural refinement. Gradually, they infused their personal aesthetic tastes and ideals into architectural designs, thereby propelling Huizhou architecture toward maturity and forming a distinctive stylistic system. Furthermore, the development of Huizhou-style architecture was influenced by the geographical environment. The ancient Huizhou region was largely mountainous and hilly, often described as a saying that it is a region of eight-tenths mountains, one-tenth water, and one-tenth arable land. To preserve the precious plains for cultivation, residential plots were often narrow and sloped, leading to tightly clustered buildings with vertical expansion. As the structures of local buildings were predominantly wooden, they were highly susceptible to fires so that fire-proof walls (horse-head walls) were created. These stepped, towering walls effectively isolated fires and became the most striking external feature of Huizhou architecture.

Architectural Features

The Coexistence of Aesthetic and Practical Value

The layout of Huizhou-style architecture follows the natural terrain, harmonizing the buildings with their surroundings. Traditional Huizhou architecture includes Pailou ( decorated archways), ancestral halls, and residential buildings, with the following analysis focusing on residential features.

From the Perspective of Exterior and Layout Characteristics

White Walls and Black Tiles

"Black tiles and white walls" essentially capture the two defining color tones of Huizhou-style architecture—a interplay of dark and light, most characteristically expressed in shades of black and white. (Ji Zhongyang, ed.; Zhu Zhiping, Zhu Huijie, auth., 2021) The towering white horse-head walls stand in elegant contrast to the bluish-black roof tiles. Nestled within the Jiangnan Water Towns, this palette harmonizes perfectly with the surrounding hills and waters, composing a fresh and understated ink-wash panorama. The lime-washed walls serve the practical purposes of damp-proofing and pest resistance, while the dark tiles are valued for their durability and ability to conceal wear. Thus, the choice of materials is both economical and functional, crafting the ethereal, poetic aesthetic of a traditional Chinese painting.

Horse-Head Wall

Also known as a fire-sealing wall, it is constructed by raising the gable walls several feet above the eaves, following the slope of the roof to form a stepped or curved profile. (Xiong Jing, auth.; Wang Yuguang, ed.; Xiong Jing, Wu Yonggui, associate eds., 2024) Its original primary function was fire prevention, which later evolved into an iconic symbol of Huizhou-style architecture. The staggered arrangement of these walls creates a strong sense of rhythm and visual impact.

From the Perspective of Structure and Spatial Characteristics

Courtyard Layout Centered Around the Skywell

All main rooms open towards the internal courtyard, forming a centripetal family communal space that strengthens familial cohesion and privacy, while presenting an enclosed and defensive facade to the outside with high walls. The courtyard also serves as a practical climate regulation system; residences with high walls and small windows rely on the courtyard to draw ventilation, creating air convection and moderating the microclimate. For merchants, who often feared the outward flow of wealth, the courtyard allows rainwater from the roof ridges to flow inward, a feature known as "Four Waters Returning to the Hall," symbolizing the auspicious notion of retaining wealth within the household. (Li Donghai, Zhang Guangbin, 2024) The courtyard design also embodies aesthetic value. It acts as a viewfinder of nature scenes which can capture shadows of eaves and windows cast onto white walls and stone slabs with changing sunlight and moonlight,  creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. The interconnected front and rear courtyards in traditional dwellings produce a visual experience of shifting scenes with every step, akin to unrolling a long scroll with subtle and varied views.

Gate Towers

As prominent structures above the entrance, gate towers reinforce the stability and defense of the doorway. It is highly practical that their extended eaves provide shelter for the entrance area, proof rain and offer shade in summer. Moreover, the towering gate towers demarcate private spaces within closely packed buildings, with their form and scale directly reflecting the owner’s social status and economic standing. The exquisite carvings on gate towers are richly detailed, creating a striking contrast with the simplicity of the white walls and black tiles which is an aesthetic interplay of minimalism and intricacy.

The Coexistence of cultural and historical Value

Huizhou-style architecture is not merely a place for dwelling but also a carrier of spiritual and cultural significance, imbuing it with profound cultural value. In residential buildings, the skywell serves as the center with the main hall as the axis. And rooms are allocated according to age and gender, reflecting Confucian family ethics such as "order between elders and juniors" and "distinction between inner and outer." The style of Huizhou architecture is deeply influenced by Neo-Confucianism: the exterior features white walls and black tiles, with decorations balanced in complexity and simple colors, embodying values such as stealth wealth and the Golden Mean. Huizhou architecture is also heavily influenced by feng shui principles. In village sites, the ideal model is backing onto mountains and facing water, embracing yin and yang, which is seen in the ox-shaped water system design of Hongcun. This not only meets daily and fire prevention needs but also symbolizes prosperity and endless wealth. In summary, Huizhou architectural culture is deeply shaped by feng shui, Confucianism, and Huizhou merchant culture, integrating these elements into the buildings to form unique cultural symbols. Huizhou-style architecture emphasizes the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature. Buildings are situated near mountains and water, adapting to the terrain to minimize environmental alteration, reflecting the philosophy of unity between heaven and humanity. At the same time, Huizhou architecture also recounts a unique history of the rise and fall of Huizhou merchant culture. The scale and decorative level of its buildings directly reflect changes in the financial strength of Huizhou merchants. During the mid-Ming period, as their wealth began to accumulate, buildings were modest in scale with a simple and restrained decorative style. By the mid to late Qing dynasty, the salt and tea trades had brought enormous wealth, leading architecture into a phase of grandiosity and extravagant ornamentation. From the late Qing to the Republican era, with reforms in the salt administration, warfare, and shifts in economic centers, the financial power of Huizhou merchants declined sharply. The scale of newly built residences shrank significantly, decorations were simplified or even omitted, and some grand mansions were subdivided, sold off, or left with their original carvings neglected. This vividly reflects the overall economic downturn of the Huizhou merchant class. Therefore, Huizhou architecture is indispensable in the study of China’s economic and cultural history as a material archive.

Typical Huizhou Architecture

Hongcun is known as the "village in the Chinese painting." Established during the Southern Song Dynasty, it preserves 137 ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Its most distinctive feature lies in its ingenious "ox-shaped" layout: Mount Leigang to the east serves as the ox’s head, with towering ancient trees representing its horns; the famous Moon Pond is the ox’s small stomach; the water channels diverting water into the village act as the intestines; the South Lake, an artificial lake to the south, forms the ox’s stomach; wooden bridges in the west stand for the legs; and the village’s dwellings make up the body. (Shanghai Documentary Channel, 2014) This artificial water system not only addresses firefighting, water supply, and drainage but also forms the dynamic core of the village’s landscape. The architecture features typical Huizhou-style design among Chengzhi Hall which was built by a salt merchant in the late Qing Dynasty. It is renowned for its grand scale and exquisite wood carvings, calling it the " Folk Forbidden City." For those famous architecture, Hongcun and Xidi are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000.

Summary

Huizhou architecture also documents the social and economic conditions and cultural ideologies of the Huizhou region, holding significant historical value. In the future, it will not only be preserved as a testament to history but will also continue to play an irreplaceable role as cultural heritage in the new era. （Lou Zhongxia 2023）The Hui culture represented by Huizhou architecture has had a profound influence, and thus the inheritance and development of Hui culture rely on the support and promotion of Hui-style architecture. So Huizhou architecture and Hui culture are deeply intertwined and mutually reinforcing, together forming a treasure within the cultural treasury of China. In the era of economic globalization, Huizhou architecture will undoubtedly break new life back into culture through international cultural exchanges.

Terms and Expressions

Pailou (decorated archways) 牌楼

Gate tower 门楼

Skywell 天井

Horse-head Walls 马头墙

White Walls and Black Tiles 粉墙黛瓦

Four Waters Return to the Hall四水归堂

Questions

1.What are the external characteristics of Huizhou architecture?

2.Where is Huizhou architecture distributed today?

3.What is the cultural value of Huizhou architecture?

4.What is the architectural ingenuity of Hongcun's Huizhou buildings?

Answers

1.

Reference

[1] 季中杨主编；朱志平，朱慧劫著. 决胜小康 探索乡村振兴之路宅坦村卷[M]. 2021

[2] 熊静著；王余光主编；熊静，吾永贵副主编. 中国图书馆学史 第五卷[M]. 2024

[3] 李东海，张广斌．徽州历史人物与徽州文化[M]. 2024

[4] 上海纪实频道. 山中的乾坤. 2014