Dingzhuang Li Family Courtyard

Dingzhuang Li Family Courtyard

Dingzhuang Li Family Courtyard faces south and is divided into north and south rows by an east-west alleyway. The south row consists of the East Courtyard foundation site, First Courtyard, Second Courtyard, Third Courtyard, Fourth Courtyard, and Fifth Courtyard; the alleyway has an alley gate and three inner gates from east to west. The north row includes the Sixth Courtyard, Seventh Courtyard, Guard House, Eighth Courtyard, Ninth Courtyard, and West Courtyard. The entire complex consists of twelve independent quadrangle courtyards, laid out in a rectangular shape, measuring 89.4 meters from east to west and 34.5 meters from north to south, covering a total area of 3,084 square meters. The overall layout is intact. This is one of the larger and better-preserved residential complexes among the existing civilian houses in Jishan County. It reflects, from one aspect, the prosperity of Shanxi merchant mansions and serves as important physical material for studying the architectural art of Shanxi merchant courtyard houses.

The Guard House is located between the Seventh Courtyard and the Eighth Courtyard, facing south. Its main gate is one bay wide and three rafters deep, with a single-eave flush gable roof. Below the front eaves, the continuous bracket arms are carved with double dragons encircling a longevity symbol in flat relief; the central part features a panel door, with drum-shaped column bases and line-engraved scroll patterns. On either side of the gate are wing rooms, each one bay deep with a single-eave flush gable roof. Passing through the main gate, there is a second gate facing directly south. The roof is constructed with brick carvings imitating wooden structures, and the front eaves feature three sets of carved brick brackets. The central part has a brick-arched doorway, above which is embedded a brick plaque inscribed with “Ning Rui Ju” (Residence of Gathered Auspiciousness).

Li Family Courtyard No. 3 in Dingzhuang was built in the 20th year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1815), according to an inscription on the beam ridge plaque, by brothers Li Zhixiu and Li Shixiu. The courtyard faces north and is laid out as a quadrangle, measuring 17.6 meters from north to south and 11.3 meters from east to west, covering an area of 192 square meters. It consists of a southern penthouse, east and west wing rooms, and a southern room, and is generally well preserved. The east and west wing rooms each have four bays in width and one rafter in depth, with a single-slope flush gable roof. The westernmost bay of the west wing room is used as the entrance to the courtyard. The southern penthouse is one bay wide and two rafters deep, with a single-eave flush gable roof, featuring exposed beams under the eaves on the east, west, and south sides. The southern room is the main house, three bays wide and two rafters deep, with a single-eave flush gable roof. The interior roof structure is a three-rafter, no-corridor style, with the main beam extending beyond the front and no bracket decorations. The central bay and the eastern side bay both have six-panel partition doors with six leaves, while the western side bay’s partition doors have been modified and now have wall lattices and patterned windows. The central bay’s horizontal plaque is inscribed in regular script with the characters “Wen Rou Dun Hou” (Gentle and Kind). The column base of the central bay’s golden column is an octagonal prism, with line-engraved longevity and cloud motifs. An iron screen is installed above the courtyard to enclose the entire inner yard.

Li Family Courtyard No. 4 in Dingzhuang was established in the 12th year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1807), according to an inscription on the beam ridge plaque, by brothers Li Zhixiu and Li Shixiu. The courtyard faces north and is laid out as a quadrangle, measuring 17.6 meters from north to south and 14.2 meters from east to west, covering an area of 250 square meters. The main gate is located in the center of the north wall, one bay wide and two rafters deep, with a single-eave flush gable roof. The front eaves feature two pendant columns, continuous bracket arms carved with intertwined lotus patterns in flat relief, and a central pair of panel doors. Two stone lions are placed on either side as door socket stones. Between the two golden columns at the rear eaves, there are six-panel partition doors. The horizontal plaque is inscribed in regular script with the characters “Zui Le Tang” (Hall of Supreme Joy). The east and west wing rooms are each three bays wide and one rafter deep, with a single-slope flush gable roof. The central bay features a panel door, with a latticed door in front, and the side bays have patterned windows. The southern room is the main house, four bays wide and two rafters deep, with a single-eave suspended gable roof covered with gray tube tiles and chrysanthemum decorations on the ridge. The interior roof structure is a three-rafter, no-corridor style, with a wooden mezzanine installed overhead for storage. The easternmost bay is used as a side door. An iron screen is installed above the courtyard to enclose the entire inner yard.

Li Family Courtyard No. 5 in Dingzhuang was built in the 5th year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1855), according to an inscription on the beam ridge plaque. The courtyard faces north and is laid out as a quadrangle, measuring 17.6 meters from north to south and 13.7 meters from east to west, covering an area of 241 square meters. It consists of a main gate, east and west wing rooms, and a southern room, and is generally well preserved. The main gate is located in the center of the north wall, one bay wide and two rafters deep, with a single-eave flush gable roof. The front eaves are constructed with brick carvings imitating wooden structures, while the rear eaves are of wooden construction. The central part has a panel door, with a stone plaque above the door inscribed with “Dun Ben” (Uphold the Foundation). Stone couplets are embedded on both sides of the panel door. The upper line reads: “Follow the refined language of the East Lu, uphold poetry and books, and practice rites,” and the lower line: “Emulate the edicts of the Western Han, emphasize filial piety and brotherly affection, and work the fields.” Between the two rear golden columns, there are six-panel partition doors. The horizontal plaque is engraved in relief with the characters “Qing You Yu” (Abundance and Surplus). The east and west wing rooms are each four bays wide and one rafter deep, with a single-slope flush gable roof. The southern room is the main house, five bays wide and two rafters deep, with a single-eave flush gable roof. The interior roof structure is a three-rafter, no-corridor style, with the main beam extending beyond the front and three decorative brackets installed under the front eaves. The tops of the column capitals are all beveled. The central bay has a panel door, the side bays have latticed windows, and the two end bays are used as side doors on the east and west.

Phone: 0359-5522446

Address: Jishan County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province