Fang Wentai’s Residence

Fang Wentai’s Residence

Fang Wentai’s Residence is located in Kunxiang Village, Huizhou District. It was relocated to the Qiankou Ming Dynasty Residential Museum in 1986 and was built in the mid-Ming Dynasty.

Fang Wentai’s Residence is constructed of brick and wood, featuring a square-shaped courtyard layout with three bays and two courtyards, and is a multi-story building. On the ground floor, the central bay of the front courtyard serves as an entrance hall, flanked by side rooms. The rear courtyard’s central bay functions as a living room, while the side bays are bedrooms. The upper floor’s central bay houses an ancestral shrine, and there is a narrow, elongated courtyard between the two courtyards, with corridor rooms on both sides. A staircase is located inside the right corridor room. The bases of the columns remain square at the bottom, with vertical edges tapering inward. The square corners are carved into concave arcs, while the upper corners are beveled and shaped into irregular octagons, which are then slightly recessed and rounded off. The window partitions and frames are entirely composed of square grids or "corner-joined" tenon joints. The window railings are in the early form of balustrades, with lotus petal carvings on the tops of the side pillars. The upper part of the railing features three exquisitely carved cloud brackets, while the lower section is inlaid with finely crafted openwork floral panels, with a central openwork square grid. The arched railings on the upper floor are the most prominent feature of the residence. Between the vertical columns along the central bay under the eaves, a seat board is installed, and the railing extends outward, curving beyond the outer edge of the eaves columns to form a “flying chair.” The lower apron panels of the railing are entirely decorated with framed latticed door-like patterns, delicate and exquisitely carved, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship.

The window partitions and lattice frames are made of square grids with “corner-joined” tenon joints. The window railings are in the early form of balustrades, with lotus petal carvings on the tops of the side pillars. The upper part of the railing features three exquisitely carved cloud brackets, while the lower section is surrounded by finely crafted openwork floral panels, with the center in a square grid pattern. The proportion and carving quality of the railing are exceptionally fine and are currently rarely seen, making it a highly artistic piece.

The arched railing around the upper-floor perimeter facing the courtyard is the most elaborately decorated part of the residence. Between the vertical columns along the central bay under the eaves, a stool railing is installed, with the railing body curving outward.

It extends beyond the outer edge of the eaves columns, resembling the backrest of a chair. It evolved from the traditional goose-head chair and is commonly known as a “flying chair” or “beauty’s lean.” The lower apron panels of the railing are entirely decorated with framed latticed door-like patterns, delicate and intricately carved.

The design of the arched railing is similar to the railings depicted in the official Ming Dynasty Lu Ban drawings housed in Ningbo’s Tianyi Pavilion, which indicates that the construction method used in this residence was a common practice in Jiangnan during the Ming Dynasty.

The four rooms on the upper floor feature window railings facing the courtyard, with built-in dressing tables, and the space beneath the dressing tables is utilized for a wall cabinet. This design is extremely ingenious.