Dingzhuang Li Family Courtyard

　　The Dingzhuang Li Family Courtyard faces south and is divided into a north and south row by an east-west alleyway, with the south row comprising the foundation site of the east courtyard, Courtyard No. 1, Courtyard No. 2, Courtyard No. 3, Courtyard No. 4, and Courtyard No. 5; the alleyway features an entrance gate and three internal gates from east to west. The north row consists of Courtyard No. 6, Courtyard No. 7, the guard courtyard, Courtyard No. 8, Courtyard No. 9, and the west courtyard. The entire compound includes twelve independent quadrangle courtyards arranged in a rectangular layout, stretching 89.4 meters from east to west and 34.5 meters from north to south, covering a total area of 3,084 square meters. With its intact overall layout, this is one of the larger and better-preserved residential complexes among the existing folk houses in Jishan County. It reflects, from one aspect, the prosperity of Shanxi merchants’ mansions and serves as important physical material for studying the architectural art of these merchant residences.

　　The guard courtyard is located between Courtyard No. 7 and Courtyard No. 8, 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 brackets are flat-carved with a double-dragon round longevity motif, with a central plank door and drum-shaped column bases featuring line-engraved scroll patterns. On either side of the gate are one-bay wing rooms, two rafters deep, with a single-eave flush gable roof. Passing through the main gate, there is a secondary gate facing directly south, with a roof made of brick carvings mimicking wooden structures. The front eaves feature three sets of carved brick brackets, with a central arched brick doorway; above the door lintel is embedded a brick plaque inscribed with “Ning Rui Ju” (Residence of Gathered Auspiciousness).

　　According to the inscription on the beam ridge plaque, Courtyard No. 3 of Dingzhuang Li Family Courtyard was built in the 20th year of the Jiaqing reign during the Qing Dynasty by brothers Li Zhixiu and Li Shixiu. The courtyard faces north and follows a quadrangle layout, 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 south veranda, east and west wing rooms, and a south 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 west wing room’s northernmost bay serves as the main gate of the residence. The south veranda is one bay wide and two rafters deep, with a single-eave flush gable roof, with exposed beams under the eaves on the east, west, and south sides. The south room is the principal room, three bays wide and two rafters deep, with a single-eave flush gable roof. Inside, the roof structure is a three-rafter, no-corridor system, with the main beam extending forward without bracket decorations. The central and eastern bays have six-panel, six-leaf partition doors, while the western bay’s partition doors have been modified, with current window lattices built into the eaves wall. The central bay’s transom panel is inscribed in regular script with the characters “Wen Rou Dun Hou” (Gentle and Sincere), and the central bay’s column base is octagonal, with line engravings of round longevity and auspicious cloud motifs. An iron canopy is installed above the courtyard to enclose the entire inner yard.

　　According to the inscription on the beam ridge plaque, Courtyard No. 4 of Dingzhuang Li Family Courtyard was built in the 12th year of the Jiaqing reign (1807) by brothers Li Zhixiu and Li Shixiu. The courtyard faces north and has a quadrangle layout, 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 situated in the center of the north wall, one bay wide and two rafters deep, with a single-eave flush gable roof. The front eaves have two suspended flower columns, continuous brackets that are flat-carved with intertwined lotus designs, and a central pair of plank doors, flanked by a pair of stone lion door-pillow sculptures. Between the two central rear eaves columns is a six-panel, four-leaf partition door, with the transom panel inscribed in regular script with “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 has a plank door, with a cool door at the front and lattice windows in the side bays. The south room is the principal room, four bays wide and two rafters deep, with a single-eave hanging gable roof, covered with gray tubular tiles and decorated with chrysanthemum carvings on the roof ridge tube. Inside, the roof structure is a three-rafter, no-corridor system, with a wooden mezzanine installed overhead for storage, and the easternmost bay serving as a side entrance. An iron canopy is installed above the courtyard to enclose the entire inner yard.

　　According to the inscription on the beam ridge plaque, Courtyard No. 5 of Dingzhuang Li Family Courtyard was built in the 5th year of the Xianfeng reign (1855). The courtyard faces north and has a quadrangle layout, 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 south 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 feature brick carvings mimicking wooden structures, while the rear eaves use a wooden frame. There is a central plank door, with a stone plaque above the door lintel inscribed with “Dun Ben” (Uphold the Foundation); stone couplets are embedded on both sides of the door, with the upper line reading “Follow the elegant language of the East Lu, poetry and books uphold rites” and the lower line “Emulate the clear decrees of the Western Han, filial piety and diligence in tilling the fields.” Between the two rear eaves columns is a six-panel, four-leaf partition door, with the transom panel 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 south room is the principal room, five bays wide and two rafters deep, with a single-eave flush gable roof. The interior roof structure is a three-rafter, no-corridor system, with the main beam extending forward and three decorative brackets installed along the front eaves. The tops of the column capitals are beveled. The central bay has a plank door, the side bays have replaced lattice windows, and the two end bays serve as east and west side entrances.

　　Phone: 0359-5522446

　　Address: Jishan County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province