The Wang Family Courtyard was built by the family in the Ming and Qing Dynasties and lasted for more than 300 years. Although it is not as famous as the Qiao Family Courtyard, the size and momentum of the Wang Family Courtyard are absolutely second to none in the Shanxi Merchants House. Anyone who has been to the Wang Family Courtyard will sigh that this is not a "courtyard", but a city.

The Wang Family Courtyard consists of five hutongs, five castles and five ancestral halls. Among them, the courtyard layout of the five ancient castles is compared to dragon, phoenix, turtle, forest and tiger respectively. At present, the Red Gate Fort (Dragon), Gaojiaya (Phoenix) and Wang Ancestral Hall, which are mainly open, add up to less than a quarter of the whole courtyard. Don't underestimate the sentence "The Wangs will not go to the hospital when they return". It takes two hours to walk around the block that is now open.

Characteristics of Wang Siheyuan

When I came to the Wang Family Courtyard, I first saw the pattern of residential buildings, followed by the art of "three sculptures" of wood, stone and brick. The buildings mainly look at Gaojiaya and Hongmenbao. As soon as the gate entered, it was Gaojiaya, which was built in full accordance with the feudal hierarchy. The majesty of the official family and the regularity of the patriarchal clan system can be seen.

Dunhou House and Ningruiju, the main courtyard, are three-way quadrangles. In addition to the ancestral temple and the embroidered buildings on both sides, each courtyard has its own kitchen and family school, as well as a shared academy, flower garden, long-term work courtyard and courtyard. Between the large and small courtyards, there are as many as 65 doors connected up and down. "There is a courtyard in the courtyard and a door in the door." Walking in it is like a maze.