Xinlian Dafudi (Ox Horn House)

Xinlian Dafudi (Ox Horn House)

Xinlian Dafudi (Ox Horn House) is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

The Ox Horn House is located in Xianhua Village, Baiwu, Xiyang Town, approximately 3 kilometers from Baiwu Market. Also known as the Qiu Family Dafudi, this house was built by brothers Qiu Kailin and Qiu Xianglin. Construction began in the first year of the Guangxu reign and was completed in the tenth year (1884). According to experts, this ox-horn-shaped walled dragon house is unique in the world.

From the front, this house doesn’t look much different from typical Hakka walled houses. It faces south with a northern orientation, features black tiles and white walls, and has a structure of three halls, four wings, and one enclosed wall. Inside, it follows the classic layout of a walled dragon house—with orderly arranged halls, sturdy beams and roof corners, and exquisitely carved beams and painted rafters. The entire residence contains 89 rooms. Despite enduring over a century of weathering, it remains intact.

Walking out through the back door of the inner house, you’ll find a round water well about 60 centimeters in diameter on each side in front of the flower head ridge at the back. Unlike ordinary wells, these have no well curbs, maintain a relatively high water level year-round, and can be easily accessed by reaching down—making water usage very convenient. Most walled dragon houses have just one well, usually located at the front, but the Ox Horn House has two wells situated inside the house, resembling two ox eyes, round and prominent. This is one of its unique features.

Walking up from the left, the walled dragon section abruptly stops halfway, with a small one-entry, two-wing house built at the end, almost like a separate building. Viewed from above from the outside, it strikingly resembles an ox horn—hence the name Ox Horn House. Why it was built this way puzzles outsiders, sparking many guesses, most assuming the owner couldn’t afford to complete the entire structure. But that’s incorrect. According to the elderly lady who owns the house, it was designed for feng shui purposes.

Hakka walled dragon houses have always emphasized feng shui. At the other end of the Ox Horn House’s walled dragon is a mountain ridge, which together with this side of the walled dragon forms a perfect semicircle. It’s said to be a rare feng shui treasure land, so there was no need to build the rest of the walled dragon, resulting in its ox-horn shape. The two “ox eyes” are the finishing touch. The small house at the end is also a unique feature. There’s a saying among common folk that “wealth rarely lasts beyond three generations.” The orientation of the small house differs from that of the main house. According to feng shui beliefs, if the main house’s feng shui declines, the small house compensates, ensuring generational prosperity and continuity. This shows the wisdom of the Hakka people.

This house also differs from typical walled dragon houses in other ways: there is no pond in front of the gate, no screen wall, nor any fighting gate. Five large doors open directly outward, and since the walled dragon isn’t gathered together, the entire residence appears as an open house. This reflects the simplicity and honesty of the local people and the good public security.

It’s said that the house owner valued feng shui, but placed even greater emphasis on entrepreneurship, diligence in managing the household, respect for culture and education—all of which led to the family’s flourishing, branching out, and descendants spreading across the country and around the world, including Southeast Asia and Canada, achieving much success.

Xinlian Village: Xinlian Village…… More details about Xinlian Village++

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units

· Second Batch of Meizhou Municipal Cultural Relic Protection Units