Siheyuan: Silly Pillar is Kind

As the Siheyuan tourism industry has flourished due to the promotion of film and television works, residents have begun to think about how to further enhance the cultural and educational functions of Siheyuan so that more people, especially young people, can deeply understand the historical, artistic and humanistic values ​​contained in Siheyuan culture. Therefore, Siheyuan cooperated with the local education department and planned to carry out the "Siheyuan Cultural Study Tour" activity. At the event preparation meeting, the staff of the education department said to the residents: "We hope that through this study tour, students can step out of the classroom and experience the charm of traditional culture firsthand. As a fresh cultural teaching material, the Siheyuan can provide rich learning resources. For example, students can study the architectural structure of the Siheyuan and understand the ancient architectural mechanics and aesthetic principles; they can also explore the family culture and traditional etiquette in the Siheyuan, and learn the ancient people's moral norms and interpersonal communication methods." Xiao Ming asked: "Then how can we organize these students to conduct effective study tours?" The staff replied: "We will divide the students into groups and arrange professional tutors to lead them. First, in the architectural exploration session, the tutors will guide the students to measure the dimensions of each building in the Siheyuan, analyze the characteristics of the building materials, and compare the functions and layouts of different rooms. In the cultural experience session, students can participate in the simulation of traditional festival celebrations in the Siheyuan, learn traditional handicrafts such as paper cutting and weaving, and communicate with the residents of the Siheyuan and listen to their stories about the past." In the first study tour, a tutor led the students to the courtyard of the Siheyuan, pointed to the beam and said: "Students, look at the structure of this beam, it uses the mortise and tenon technique, which does not require nails to firmly splice wood together, reflecting the superb skills of ancient Chinese craftsmen. You can carefully observe the structure of the mortise and tenon, and then try to make a simple mortise and tenon model yourself." The students gathered around curiously to observe, and one student asked: "Teacher, why is this technique not commonly used now?" The tutor explained: "Although modern architecture has new materials and technologies, the mortise and tenon technique still has unique value. It is not only an architectural technique, but also an important part of Chinese traditional culture. Now there are also many people studying and inheriting this technique, hoping to apply it to modern architectural design and traditional furniture making." In the traditional handicraft production link, a resident who is good at paper cutting said to the students: "Paper cutting is a very interesting art. It can create a variety of patterns with simple paper and scissors. For example, for this butterfly, we first fold the paper in half, then cut out the outline of the butterfly, and then use scissors to cut some patterns on the wings..." The students followed the study carefully. One student said excitedly: "I cut it out. Although it is not perfect, I feel the fun of paper cutting." As the research and study activities are carried out in depth, Siheyuan has also established a special cultural and educational exhibition hall. The exhibition hall displays the architectural model of Siheyuan, historical relics, old photos and excellent works of students in research and study activities. When visiting the exhibition hall, a school principal said to Xiao Ming: "This exhibition hall is very meaningful. It not only shows the culture of Siheyuan, but also records the learning results of students. This is very helpful to inspire students' love for traditional culture and spirit of exploration." Xiao Ming replied: "We hope that through this exhibition hall, more people will see the role of Siheyuan culture in the field of education, and encourage more schools and students to participate in our research and study activities." In an international cultural exchange activity, Siheyuan's "Siheyuan Cultural Research and Study Tour" project attracted the attention of foreign educational institutions. A foreign education expert said to the representatives of Siheyuan: "Your research project is very unique. It combines traditional culture with modern education and provides a very good learning platform for students. We hope to cooperate with you to carry out international student exchange research activities so that students from our country can also come here to experience China's Siheyuan culture." The representatives of Siheyuan readily agreed: "This is a good opportunity for us to learn from each other and allow students from different countries to have cultural exchanges and collisions in Siheyuan and jointly explore the charm of traditional culture." During the preparation of the international student exchange research activities, the two sides had a detailed discussion on curriculum setting, cultural experience projects, etc. The staff of the foreign education institution said: "We hope to add some cross-cultural exchange links, such as allowing Chinese and foreign students to jointly explore the differences between Chinese and Western architectural cultures, or to work together to complete an art work that integrates Chinese and Western cultural elements." The residents of Siheyuan responded positively: "This is a good idea. This will allow students to better understand the characteristics of different cultures through comparison, and it will also promote cultural exchange and integration." After the international student exchange research activities were officially launched, the Siheyuan was filled with the sound of exchanges in different languages ​​and cultures. A Chinese student said to his foreign classmates, "In a Siheyuan, the elders' rooms are usually in the main house, which reflects the traditional Chinese concept of family order. Are there any special requirements for family living in your country?" The foreign classmate replied, "In our country, family living pays more attention to personal privacy, and the layout of the room will tend to meet personal needs. But through this activity, I found that Chinese family culture is very cohesive and makes people feel very warm." Through these study and research activities and international cultural exchanges, Siheyuan has become an important base for cultural education and exchange, constantly sowing the seeds of traditional culture in the hearts of young people at home and abroad, injecting a steady stream of power into cultural inheritance and innovation, continuing to write the glorious chapter of Siheyuan in the new era, and becoming a bridge connecting domestic and foreign cultural education, allowing Siheyuan culture to bloom with more splendid brilliance in the world's cultural forest.

After volunteers actively participated in serving foreign tourists, the international cultural exchange of Siheyuan became smoother and deeper. However, residents began to think about how to further inherit and innovate Siheyuan culture, not just limited to the existing form and content. An expert who has made great achievements in the field of cultural innovation was invited to the Siheyuan. After a careful investigation, he said to the residents: "Siheyuan has a profound cultural heritage, but if it wants to continue to revitalize in modern society, it needs to explore some new cultural derivative products. For example, we can create a series of animation works or online novels based on the stories and elements of the Siheyuan, and attract more attention from young groups through modern popular cultural communication methods." Xiao Ming's eyes lit up: "Animation and online novels? This is a very novel idea. But where should we start?" The expert replied: "First, we must deeply explore the historical stories, legendary characters and unique folk customs of the Siheyuan. For example, based on a touching story of neighborhood mutual assistance that once happened in the Siheyuan, create an animation, create vivid characters, and show the kindness, diligence and wisdom of the people in the Siheyuan. In terms of online novels, you can fictionalize a mysterious adventure story centered on the Siheyuan, incorporate elements such as the Siheyuan's architectural features and cultural taboos, and increase the interest and appeal of the story." After hearing this, the residents expressed their agreement and began to collect materials. An elderly resident recalled: "I remember there was an old craftsman in our courtyard. His craftsmanship was superb and he had restored many old objects in the Siheyuan. His life was full of legends. If his story was written into a novel or made into an animation, it would definitely be very exciting." During the creation process, they invited a professional animation production team and online writers. The person in charge of the animation production team said: "We will use exquisite painting styles to delicately depict the architectural style of the Siheyuan, so that the audience will feel as if they are in it. At the same time, in character design, we will combine modern aesthetics and traditional clothing characteristics to make the characters have a sense of the times while retaining the ancient charm." The online writer also said: "I will set up some suspense and plot twists in the novel so that readers can constantly make new discoveries during the reading process. In addition, I will use vivid words to describe every blade of grass, every brick and every tile of the Siheyuan, so that readers can deeply feel the unique charm of the Siheyuan." When the first Siheyuan-themed short animation film was launched, it caused a warm response on the Internet. A young netizen left a message in the comment area: "It turns out that there are so many wonderful stories behind the Siheyuan! This animation has aroused my strong interest in Siheyuan culture. I want to go and see it in person." The online novel has also gained a large number of fans. A reader said in the novel exchange group: "This novel brings the Siheyuan to life. I feel like I have traveled to that Siheyuan full of mystery and warmth, and followed the protagonist to explore its secrets." With the success of animation and online novels, the cultural influence of Siheyuan has further expanded. Some film and television companies have taken the initiative to approach us, hoping to adapt these works into film and television works. The producer of the film and television company said to the residents: "These works have great potential for film and television adaptation. We can expand and deepen the stories in the animation to create an epic TV series. For online novels, we can extract the most exciting plots and adapt them into a movie to show the charm of Siheyuan culture on the big screen." While the residents were happy, they also put forward their own requirements: "If it is adapted into a film or television work, it must respect the cultural connotation of the original work and cannot distort the cultural image of Siheyuan in pursuit of commercial interests." The producer promised: "Don't worry, we will invite a professional team of screenwriters and directors who have a deep understanding and respect for traditional culture. During the filming process, we will also try our best to shoot on location in the Siheyuan, so that the film and television works can more realistically restore the style of the Siheyuan." In the process of preparing for film and television works, the screenwriter team went deep into the Siheyuan and had in-depth exchanges with the residents. The screenwriter said to a resident: "Can you tell me more about the details of the old craftsman's repair of the object? For example, the tools he used, the process steps, etc. These details can make the plot richer and more realistic." The resident described in detail: "He had a toolbox at that time, and the tools in it were all made and improved by himself. When repairing a wood carving, he would first use a small brush to carefully clean the dust, then use a special glue to glue the cracks, and then carve and repair the damaged parts bit by bit. I still remember his focused expression." With the advancement of film and television projects, Siheyuan has once again become the focus of everyone's attention. Through the power of modern cultural and creative industries, it combines ancient culture with modern entertainment methods, and has achieved new breakthroughs in cultural inheritance and innovation. In this process, residents have also actively participated in every link, becoming promoters and witnesses of the innovative development of Siheyuan culture, continuing to write the legendary chapter of Siheyuan in the cultural wave of the new era, so that Siheyuan culture can take root, sprout, blossom and bear fruit in a broader world.

As the preparations for the film and television project were in full swing, Siheyuan welcomed a group of film and television industry professionals to come to scout locations and discuss scripts. In this process, heated discussions were sparked on how to present the unique cultural atmosphere and historical changes of Siheyuan in film and television dramas. After looking around the courtyard, the director said to the screenwriter and residents: "The spatial layout of the Siheyuan is very particular. We must make full use of these elements to construct the plot and create the atmosphere when shooting. For example, using the corridors of the Siheyuan to show the chase scenes between the characters, or shooting the family meeting scenes in the main room, can allow the audience to feel the family culture of the Siheyuan more intuitively." The screenwriter nodded in agreement: "That's right, and we must also focus on showing the changes in the Siheyuan in different historical periods. I want to reflect the mark of the times through some details, such as slogans on the wall and furnishings in the house. But in this regard, we still need the residents to provide us with more materials and suggestions." An old resident said: "I remember that during the Cultural Revolution, there were many slogans of Chairman Mao's quotations on the walls of our Siheyuan, and some rooms were temporarily converted into study rooms. The atmosphere at that time was completely different from now." After thinking for a moment, the director said: "These are all very precious materials. We can set up flashbacks in the play and show that period of history through the narration of the older generation. This will not only enrich the plot, but also let young audiences understand the changes in the times that the Siheyuan has experienced." In terms of casting, the producer also has his own considerations: "We want to select some actors who can interpret the simple emotions of the characters in the courtyard and have certain acting skills. In particular, some actors who play the older generation of residents must be able to show the tenacity and kindness of people in that era." A staff member in charge of casting said: "We have contacted some senior old actors, who are very interested in this type of role. At the same time, we are also exploring some young actors with potential to play the roles of the younger generation, forming a new and old combination to make the story more layered." When the actors came to the courtyard for an audition, a young actor said to Xiao Ming: "As soon as I walked into this courtyard, I felt as if I had traveled back in time. The atmosphere here really helps me get into the role." Xiao Ming smiled and replied: "Yes, the courtyard itself is like a silent actor. It carries too many stories and emotions. You have to feel everything here and interpret the soul of the courtyard." During the filming process, some technical difficulties were also encountered. For example, when shooting night scenes, how to arrange appropriate lighting equipment without destroying the original style of the courtyard. The lighting engineer said to the director: "The architectural structure of the Siheyuan is relatively complex, and the light is easily blocked or shadows are created. We need to use some special lighting techniques, such as using reflectors to fill in the light, or using low-power lights to create an atmosphere." The director instructed: "We must ensure that the lighting effect is natural, and the audience cannot see obvious artificial traces. We want the audience to feel as if they are in the Siheyuan of that era when watching." As the filming progressed, the filming of TV series and movies gradually entered a climax. Some wonderful clips were also exposed on the Internet in advance, attracting widespread attention and heated discussions from netizens. After seeing the exposed clips, a netizen left a message saying: "This picture is so textured! From the actors' performances to the scene layout of the Siheyuan, people can feel the dedication of the production team. I can't wait to watch the feature film." The residents of the Siheyuan also became special audiences at the shooting site. They watched the actors perform the stories of the past in the yard, and they were filled with emotion. Lao Zhang said to the residents next to him: "I didn't expect that the story of our Siheyuan could be seen by so many people through film and television. This is really great for the inheritance and promotion of our Siheyuan culture." Another resident responded: "Yes, I hope that this film and television work can make more people understand Siheyuan, fall in love with Siheyuan, and let our traditional culture be passed down forever." Finally, after months of shooting and post-production, the TV series and the movie were released one after another. After the release, it achieved great success, both in terms of box office and ratings. At the premiere of the movie, the director said to the audience: "This movie is a tribute to the Siheyuan culture by our entire team. We hope that through the big screen, more people will feel the charm of Siheyuan and the profound cultural heritage behind it." An audience member said excitedly: "This movie really gave me a new understanding of Siheyuan. I decided to visit Siheyuan in person and experience the cultural atmosphere there in person." The success of film and television works has made Siheyuan a cultural hotspot that attracts attention from all over the country and even the world. Tourists from all over the world have come here, and the tourism industry of Siheyuan has also ushered in unprecedented prosperity. Residents seized this opportunity to further improve the tourism facilities of Siheyuan and develop more cultural experience projects, such as traditional opera performances and hand-made courses. Xiao Ming said at the preparatory meeting for the tourism project: "We should take advantage of the popularity of film and television works to allow tourists to have a richer and deeper cultural experience in Siheyuan. Let them not only come to watch the excitement, but also to feel the connotation of Siheyuan culture." A tourism project planner said: "We can create some immersive experience areas based on the scenes in film and television works. For example, restore the family meeting room in the play, let tourists wear ancient costumes and participate in simulated family meeting activities." With the launch of these tourism projects, the satisfaction of tourists in Siheyuan continues to improve. Siheyuan is getting smoother and smoother on the multiple roads of cultural inheritance, film and television creation and tourism development, and continues to write its glorious chapter. It has become a successful model for the integrated development of cultural industries, allowing the ancient Siheyuan culture to glow with vitality in modern society and last forever.