The Su Xuehen Residence

The Su Xuehen Residence

The Su Xuehen Residence is a cultural heritage site protected by Anhui Province.

The Su Xuehen Residence is a brick-and-timber residential building dating back to the mid-Ming Dynasty. The structure features a concave floor plan with a single ridge and two halls (front and rear), and is a two-story building. The overall width spans three bays, with corridors on either side of the central courtyard. The staircase is located inside the left corridor, and the main room on the ground floor serves as a living room, with bedrooms on both sides. The upper floor originally had an incense altar in the central bay, with bedrooms on the sides. The lower floor is notably lower than the upper, which is quite evident. The upper floor is constructed with beams supporting crossbeams, upon which the floorboards are laid. The crossbeams have a square cross-section, spaced 30 centimeters apart. The beam frames all use the mortise-and-tenon style, employing long, narrow pieces of wood roughly hewn into a slightly crescent shape, interlocking between the pillars. Though the surfaces are plain and unadorned, the cross-sections are shaped like musical instruments, and the beams have a slight curve that adds a decorative touch. The use of bracket sets, eagle-beak tenons, and the interval design of reed walls reflect the architectural characteristics of Ming Dynasty structures in Huizhou.

The design of the arched railings is similar to that of the Fang Wentai Residence, but the composition is much more austere. The skirt board section adopts the style of one board and one wooden strip, reminiscent of the old protective seam method from the Song and Yuan dynasties. The rear eave pillars and walls of the residence were altered during past renovations. During the dismantling process, archaeological evidence from the foundation excavation confirmed the reason for the relocation of the rear wall. To address lighting issues in the rear hall and side rooms, the original rear courtyard was restored, referencing the Fang Tuzai Residence in She County, which shares a similar structure.