Pingchang Cai Family Courtyard

Pingchang Cai Family Courtyard

The Cai Family Courtyard, with a history of over 400 years, is a typical example of residential architecture from northeastern Sichuan and holds significant cultural preservation value. In 2014, Pingchang County repurposed the unused farmhouse buildings of the Cai Family Courtyard to establish the Bashan Farming Culture Exhibition Hall, integrating protection and display. The Cai Family Courtyard has thus been given new life.

It consists of two large quadrangle courtyards connected by a passageway. Ascend the three-step stone stairway over three meters long, pass through the corridor, and you’ll reach the upper courtyard. Quadrangle courtyards are relatively rare in Sichuan’s traditional residential architecture, with three-sided courtyards being more common. A complex featuring two large interconnected quadrangle courtyards like this one is especially uncommon. Featuring wooden pillars and beams joined using mortise-and-tenon joints, wooden doors and walls that enclose the space, all water drains to the central courtyard — paved with stone slabs and symbolizing the round sky and square earth — every detail reflects the wisdom of the ancients.

The entire courtyard is paved with stone slabs. In the center, three large stone slabs and seven small ones on each side are laid out to form a pathway. This pathway, which is sunken, holds a majestic presence. The stone slabs have been smoothed by years of wind and rain. The residents use the courtyard to dry grains or gather after meals, laying down a long wooden bench to share stories about the village. The courtyard is not only a functional space for daily life but also a venue for exchanging news and strengthening community bonds.

Ascending along the pathway, up three steps, you reach the main hall. In front of the hall stand two sturdy cypress pillars. Beneath each pillar sits a stone base, intricately carved with delicate patterns. The four corners of the bases feature hollowed-out circular columns as decoration, showcasing exquisite engravings and reflecting the masterful craftsmanship at every turn.

The threshold stone slab of the “ground eave” in front of the main hall is an exceptionally long, single piece of stone, over three meters in length. Its outer edge is semi-circular, wrapping downward from above, polished with fine detail and exceptional craftsmanship, epitomizing the ancient philosophy of balancing form and space. Looking up, you’ll see that the wooden pillars, beams, and lintels inside the hall are all made from single pieces of timber. Inside the hall stands a large shrine, a square structure neatly embedded into the central wall.