An Exotic Flower in Architectural Art History - Fujian Tulou - By: Grace Fan

Fujian Tulou refers to a type of Chinese rural dwellings of the Hakka and others in the mountainous area in southeast Fujian Province. The number of Tulou in Fujian reached over 3,000. They were mostly constructed between the 12th and the 20th centuries.

Fujian Tulou, with its long history, varieties, large-scale, curiousness in structure and complete-function, is praised as “oriental ancient castle”, “an exotic flower in the world construction art history”. A tulou is constructed with rammed earth with high walls between three and five stories. The tulou is usually large, enclosed and fortified, rectangle and circular in shape and shelter near 80 families.

One common feature of tulou is long construction period. An ordinary tulou needs two or three years to finish and a larger one takes decades which uses 300 to 500 cubic meter of wood. The fortified outer structures are formed by compacting earth, mixed with stone, bamboo, wood and other readily-available materials to form the wall up to 1.8 meters thick. Branches, strips of wood and bamboo chips are often laid in the wall for reinforcement. So the Tulou is well-lit, well-ventilated, windproof and earthquake-proof building that is warm in winter and cool in summer.

Tulous share one common character, i.e. defense function. All tulous only have one main gate with thick wall which make it an impregnable fortress. To guard against an enemy destroying the front doors with fire, some door are equipped with water tanks on top to quench fires set by the enemy. When an emergency occurs, dwellers can escape from secret tunnels

The tulou was first constructed in Song dynasty and further developed in early Ming dynasty. The architectural skill became maturate step by step in Qing dynasty. Tulou follows the construction of “harmony between man and nature” of the Oriental philosophy and geomancy with the axis as the symmetry of the layout. In addition, the tulou building have nurtured local ways of production and lifestyle and fostered colorful intangible cultures.

About the Author

Grace Fan is an English editor of ChinaTours.com which provides the full range of tour service such as small group tour package, private tour package, Classic china vacation and so on. If you need more information on China tour, you also can visit Chinatouronline.com

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Grace-Fan/93589

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