Ruiyu Courtyard

Ruiyu Courtyard

Ruiyu Courtyard

Built during the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1853) and with a history of about 140 years, the courtyard was originally owned by a distinguished Huizhou merchant family. Its architecture reflects their business philosophy and values: a yuanbao-shaped brick carving on the door hood bears the characters “Fortune” and “Wealth,” and a stone carving on the right corner of the courtyard wall reads “Lu Dao Han He.” The terrace features a “four waters returning to the hall” layout, where water symbolizes wealth and prosperity. The spandrels around the terrace are adorned with hand-carved, gold-trimmed designs of seasonal flowers and birds, representing the arrival of spring and the promise of prosperity in all seasons. Above the corridors on either side of the Taishi screen is a carved design in the shape of the character “Shang” (commerce), reflecting the owner’s aspiration to elevate social status. The couplet hanging from the columns in the main hall reads, “Joy is often attained through hardship; wisdom is frequently gained through loss,” vividly illustrating the business ethos and personal principles of the Huizhou merchants.

Xidi Village: Located at the southern foot of the Huangshan Mountain Range in eastern Yixian County, Anhui Province, Xidi Village lies 8 kilometers east of the county town. The road from Yicheng to Tan Kou passes by the northwest side of the village.

The ancient dwellings of Xidi are largely well-preserved, featuring a unique architectural style within the Huizhou tradition. The craftsmanship is exquisite, especially the Three Carvings (stone, wood, and brick), with stone carvings being particularly outstanding. These structures serve not only as tangible artifacts for studying Qing Dynasty residential architecture but also as valuable resources for researching the socioeconomic patterns, architectural history, and art history of the Huizhou merchants from the Ming and Qing Dynasties onward. Recognized as the "Museum of Ming and Qing Residential Architecture," the "Treasury of Eastern Culture," and the "Best-Preserved… More information on Xidi Village++