大学共同利用機関法人 人間文化研究機構　国立民族学博物館

Household compound (siheyuan)

• HI 11051
• The Han, Beijing

Siheyuan, or a four-roomed compound, is the traditional urban residence for the Han people, particularly common in Beijing and other northern regions. A structural unit of Siheyuan consists of one main room and three other rooms on the four sides. These rooms are built around an inner courtyard garden. Large houses are comprised of multiple units. Traditionally, the main room was located on the furthest side from the entrance, and its central space was used for rituals to honor ancestors. On the sides of the main room were side rooms for the older generation, and two wings were annexed for younger generation family members. Opposite the main room was the reception room to receive guests, together with the study and rooms for servants. It was impossible to see through the outer walls, which provided these closed residences with privacy.

China: A Multiracial Country