The Fang Guantian Residence

The Fang Guantian Residence

The Fang Guantian Residence is a typical farmhouse dwelling of the mid-Ming Dynasty, consisting of a single-entry, three-room building with two floors, built from brick and wood. It features small blue tiles, horse-head walls, and both its architectural style and wooden framework reflect Ming Dynasty design. Partitions and the railing panels in the upstairs hall courtyard all employ the Song and Yuan Dynasty "fengfeng" (seam-covering) construction technique, with “one board one (wooden strip).” Between the upper and lower beams, partitions made of reed walls are used. The floorboards protrude approximately one foot, and the eight-sided corner columns on the upper floor are fitted with bracket sets supporting the eave beams. Simple stools are placed between the eave columns. Notably, a wooden element is added between the house columns and their pedestals, serving functions such as moisture-proofing, anti-corrosion, and shock absorption. The structure of this residence is compact, with simple and unadorned decorations, making it representative of local ordinary farmer dwellings from the Ming Dynasty.