picture taken from the top of the rural dwellings
Looking at the picture, it sure look like 4 rings around a square. If I can only enlarge the picture, it will show more details of what is it all about. This is a picture shared from a friend who traveled to the some part of Fujian province and was amazed at how these community lived together in one building. The four round shape and a square are the roof of a communal living quarters of families, from a single one to their extended families or as a clan. In Chinese tradition, a son will be counted as one, knowing in the future they will marry and have a family of their own. Here in this rural area dominated by rugged terrain and farmland, The Hakka inhabitants, considered an ethnic minority, made earth buildings as shown in the picture, in Chinese word 土 (earth) 楼 (building) - pronounce as Tulou, for their clan homes and they are found beside the streams flowing from the highlands. Tulou houses still exists today, some of which are over 600 years old, close to 700 years old. There is even the oldest one, “Fu Xing Lou” in Hu Le town, that was constructed over 1,200 years ago and is regarded as a “living fossil” of the construction style of central China.
the outer side of the earth building
According to history, Tulou houses were built by the people to protect themselves from invaders. Inside of a Tulou building lived around 80 families depending on the size of the Tulou housing. Some may have less than 80 and some maybe more than 80 families living in the communal building depending on how big the size, the number of rooms, from 3-5 floors. These rammed earth architectural structures served as peaceful settlement for the Hakka and other people in the mountainous areas in southern part of Fujian China. The rooms are built with the same materials and size, equality of space for each family. The lower ground includes the communal water well, a temple for weddings, festivities, worship, meetings and other functions. There is only one main opening for entrance and exit, built from a large solid block of granite. It is a double door built with fire-resistant solid wood boards up to 13 cm thick and is reinforced with thick iron armour plates. The main gate door was barred with several horizontal and vertical strong wood posts inserted into holes in the granite. These amazing architectural earth dwellings is well-lit, well-ventilated, windproof and earthquake-proof building that is warm in winter and cool in summer. A perfect place for a family. The world's earth heritage buildings are amazing architectural design built with ingenuity.
the full view inside the architectural earth building
the rooms on the second to the top
Fujian Tulou
- Chuxi Tulou cluster - located in Yongding County, Xiayang township, Chuxi village
- Zhenchenglou - nicknamed "the prince of tulou", Hongkeng Tulou cluster, Hongkeng village, Yongding County township.
- Chengqilou - nicknamed "the king of tulou"
- Gaobei Tulou cluster - Gaotou village of Yongding County
- Tianluokeng Tulou cluster - tulou quintet cluster located at Fujian province, Zhangzhou City, Nanjing County, Shuyang Township,
- Yuchanglou - Nanjing County, Shuyang Town, Xiabanliao Village.
- Eryilou - Dadi Tulou cluster located at Zhangzhou City, Hua'an County, Xiandu Township, Dadi Village.
- The Nanxi Tulou cluster - Valley in Hukeng Town (Yongding County)
Family Canteen
The fruit of SILENCE is Prayer
The fruit of PRAYER is Faith
The fruit of FAITH is Love
The fruit of LOVE is Service
The fruit of SERVICE is Peace
