2012年2月19日星期日

Ganlan-Style Dwelling


Chinese Culture--Ganlan-Style Dwelling



Ganlan-style dwelling refers to the so-called “hanging buildings” built on slopes and supported by wooden pillars from the lower floor. It is characterized in its partly suspension by wood or sometimes bamboo columns. The main body of Ganlan_style may have one subsidiary or two subsidiaries. It is sorted as one of the five typical Chinese traditional dwellings, and mostly seen in Guilin and other part of Guangxi and Guizhou provinces.

Ganlan-style dwelling originated from the house on trees in ancient times in order to avoid beasts’ attack. Such models were found both in the relics of Yin Shang Period ( 1600BC-1046 BC ) and the unearthed tombs of Han Dynasty ( 202BC-220AD ). Later, people lowered their house to the ground, yet still half suspended in the mountain areas to get rid of dampness for the humid climate.

A Ganlan-style dwelling usually has two parts, the main body and the subsidiary. Along the central axis of the main body is the sitting room to meet guests and the memorial tablet for the Five Greats—Heaven, Earth, Emperor, Parents and Teacher—to worship ancestors. The subsidiaries usually consist of three stories: the upper serving for food storage, the middle for living and the lower for raising animals. The Ganlan-style features in solid structures, good moisture-proof and desirable lighting. Today, it is often seen in southwestern China such as Guangxi Province and Guizhou Province, where many ethnic minorities are living.

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