In the past, there was a wall-like thing inside or outside the gates of courtyards or mansions in old Beijing. What was this wall used for?
In fact, it is an important element of traditional Chinese architecture - the shadow wall, which is called the shadow wall in the south.

Today, the editor will talk to you about the shadow wall in Beijing Siheyuan.

Shadow wall, also known as Zhaobi, or Xiao Wall in ancient times, is a wall used to block sight in traditional Han buildings.

The main function of the shadow wall is to block the messy and rigid walls and scenery inside and outside the gate, beautify the entrance and exit of the gate, and increase the momentum of the house.

When people enter and leave the house, the first thing they see is the elegantly stacked and beautifully carved walls and the auspicious odes inlaid on them.

legend of shadow wall

Very early, in Henan Sheqi, there was a skilled mudmaker named Wang Decai. This Wang Decai has good craftsmanship and is a dutiful son, and people are very proud of him. No matter who builds a house for, the owner always tries his best to entertain.

One day, a man surnamed Zhao came to ask him to build a house. Before Wang Decai left, he kowtowed to his mother again, and then followed the man on the road. This family surnamed Zhao is also very generous. Chicken, duck, and fish are indispensable for every meal. Wang Decai liked it very much. Later, when I paid attention, I saw that no matter which meal I had, I had never seen chicken thighs on the table. Wang Decai couldn't help but get angry: Humph! Don't put up the meat with a lot of meat, just call it gnawing chicken bones, it's really not flattering! The more I think about it, the more angry I get, I want to put it down and go home. I thought again, what's the point of leaving like this? Can people tell me that I'm struggling to eat and drink? I can't leave! Wang Decai endured his anger and continued to build a house.

When the ridge of the house was approaching, Wang Decai remembered what Master said: When building a house, a mud man who pushes a cart in the crevice of the ridge will make the host family gradually become poorer. Wang Decai was angry, so he secretly pinched a mud man pushing a cart and placed it on the ridge of the house.

The new house is complete. The host first offered the wages, then handed over a porcelain altar and said, "Master Wang, I think you are a very filial person. The old lady is old and should nourish her body. There are dozens of chicken thighs accumulated in this altar. Take it back and give my mother a message!" When Wang Decai heard this, his face turned red, he knew that the host was wrong. I thought to myself: If that mud man can really push the host family into poverty, he has a bad conscience to the end.

Pick it up in front of you, it's not good-looking, you can only use a method to break it. Thinking of this, Wang Decai didn't pick up the things, he walked around the courtyard, and then said to the master; "Brother Zhao, I see that you have such a big yard, and the door is facing the second door, it's really ugly, just put the rest of the bricks Use it, build another shadow wall!" The host was naturally very happy, and Wang Decai started to take out twelve handicrafts to build a strong and beautiful shadow wall.

He thought to himself: "With this wall, the car will not be able to open the door, and the owner will not be bankrupt." The owner did not know the reason, but when he saw the shadow wall, he felt that it was beautiful and could block the door. I praised the king's wealth as a skillful Luban! Later, people saw that the shadow wall was indeed very beneficial, and they built one after the house was built. You base me and I base it, and it spreads farther and farther, and it gradually becomes a custom.

Five common shadow walls in Beijing courtyards

Most of the shadow walls of the old Beijing Siheyuan are made of bricks.
The shadow wall is divided into upper, middle and lower parts. The bottom is the base, the middle is the heart of the shadow wall, and the upper part of the shadow wall is the wall cap, which is like the roof and eaves of a room.
 The shadow wall and the gate are inseparable from each other.
Although it is a wall, due to its ingenious design and fine construction, it plays the role of setting the finishing touch at the entrance of the courtyard.

1. Independent shadow wall

The most common shadow wall in Beijing courtyards is the independent shadow wall. The lower part of the independent shadow wall is often set with a Xumi seat, the top is the roof, and the middle part of the wall is called the shadow wall center. There are many variations of its patterns and patterns, and the colors of brick carvings include hook lotus, phoenix peony, lotus leaf lotus, pine, bamboo and plum.

There is also a picture of brick carvings on the entire shadow wall, and the content is auspicious patterns such as flowers and pine cranes.

2. One word shadow wall

The shadow wall is a single slender strip when looking down on the plane. Some one-word shadow walls are too long and look too monotonous, so they are divided into three sections horizontally, the middle is long and the two ends are short, forming one master and two slaves.

3. Eight-character shadow wall

On the basis of the one-character shadow wall, the two sides are folded inward to form an enclosing shape on both sides of the gate or building.

4, the mountain shadow wall

It is located on both sides of the gate and forms an angle of 120 or 135 degrees with the notch of the gate. When doing this kind of shadow wall, the gate should be retreated 2 to 4 meters inward to form a small space in front of the gate, which can be used as a buffer for entering and exiting the gate.

5. A mountain shadow wall

A mountain shadow wall. Small wall caps are built directly on the gable wall of the wing room and the shape of the shadow wall is made, so that the shadow wall and the gable are integrated.

The function of shadow wall

Old Beijingers pay attention to setting up shadow walls inside and outside the gate, and they do not distinguish between rich and poor.
It's just that the screen walls of the rich are bigger, more exquisite, and more luxurious.
The screen walls of ordinary people are generally plain and white, without carvings, and at most one big "Fu" character is written.
But there needs to be a shadow wall, because the shadow wall can not only bring blessings and auspiciousness, but also dispel evil and avoid misfortune.

1. Practical functions
Blocking the sight of outsiders, even if the door is open, outsiders cannot see the inside of the house.
The shadow wall can also enhance the atmosphere and increase the momentum of the residence.

In the past, old Beijingers liked to stop by, but there was an unconventional rule, that is, before entering someone's house, they would ask "Anyone at home?" It is also a courtesy to the owner.

2. Feng Shui function

In Feng Shui, the shadow wall can not only "repel ghosts", make the courtyard wide and deep, but also buffer the airflow, block the evil spirit, condense wealth and popularity, etc.

3. Decorative function

As far as the outside of the gate is concerned, the shadow wall increases the momentum of the gate; as far as the shadow wall inside the gate is concerned, it creates a harmonious, peaceful and quiet environment.

Its constituent elements include not only the shadow wall itself, but also the green bottom, the screen door of the red square, and the potted flowers, lotus roots or fish tank in front of the shadow wall.

As soon as the visitor enters the door, the first thing that catches the eye is the elegant and clean screen wall, lush flowers and plants, and the visual experience is naturally beautiful.

The shadow wall is an important decorative wall inside and outside the gate of Beijing Siheyuan, and it has a position that cannot be ignored in the old Beijing courtyard.

The shadow wall has become a good place for people to chat, play chess, and hide and seek for children. With the large reduction of courtyard houses in Beijing, the shadow wall in front of the door is becoming less and less common.