Siheyuan: Silly Pillar is Kind

"Siheyuan Storm" With the continued hot sales of Siheyuan cultural derivatives in the market, the community's cultural inheritance and development has ushered in a new opportunity - cooperating with professional art schools to open "Siheyuan Cultural and Art Inheritance Class". This initiative aims to cultivate a group of young talents who have a deep understanding of the essence of Siheyuan culture and have professional artistic creation capabilities, injecting continuous vitality into the long-term inheritance of Siheyuan culture. Dean Wang of the art school and the person in charge of the Siheyuan community had in-depth exchanges at the cooperation negotiation meeting. Dean Wang said: "We plan to set up a number of professional courses in the inheritance class, including Siheyuan architectural painting, traditional folk sculpture, Siheyuan cultural creative writing, etc. Taking Siheyuan architectural painting as an example, students will deeply study the architectural structure, proportion, color matching and other knowledge of Siheyuan, and master how to use brushes to accurately depict the unique charm of Siheyuan through on-site sketching, copying classic works and other methods. In the traditional folk sculpture course, students will be exposed to various traditional sculpture elements in Siheyuan, such as stone lions at the door and reliefs on the screen wall, learn their carving techniques and cultural implications, and carry out creative practice." The community's cultural consultant, Mr. Zhao, raised a question: "This sounds good, but how can we ensure that students not only learn the skills, but also truly understand the connotation of Siheyuan culture?" Dean Wang replied: "Mr. Zhao, this is one of the focuses of our teaching. We will invite old residents and cultural scholars of Siheyuan to give lectures to students regularly, telling them about the historical changes, family stories, neighborhood relationships and other cultural background knowledge of Siheyuan. In addition, in each creative task, we require students to dig deep into the cultural significance behind it, conduct cultural interpretation and creative elaboration. For example, when creating a Siheyuan-themed painting, students must not only show the beauty of the building's appearance, but also reflect the Siheyuan's life atmosphere and cultural heritage through elements such as characters and scenes in the picture." During the enrollment of the inheritance class, a student named Xiao Zhang who came for consultation asked: "Teacher, I like art very much, but I don't have much foundation. Can I sign up for this inheritance class?" The teacher in charge of enrollment replied: "Xiao Zhang, we welcome enthusiastic and potential students. Although having a certain foundation will help, in the inheritance class, we will start teaching from the basics and gradually improve students' artistic skills and cultural literacy. As long as you have a heart that loves Siheyuan culture and art and are willing to work hard to learn, you can sign up and try." After the inheritance class started, the classroom was filled with heated discussions and a positive creative atmosphere. In the Siheyuan Culture Creative Writing Class, the teacher said to the students: "You can use a corner in the Siheyuan, such as an old locust tree or an ancient well, as a starting point, use your imagination, and create a story or a poem. You must connect this element with the overall culture of the Siheyuan and the emotions of the residents." Student Xiao Li raised his hand and said: "Teacher, I wrote a poem about the ancient well in the Siheyuan. I compared the ancient well to the eyes of the Siheyuan, which has witnessed the changes of time. The laughter and family gossip of the residents by the well have become the material for the poem. But I'm not sure if my writing can well reflect the Siheyuan culture." The teacher encouraged: "Xiao Li, your entry point is very good. In terms of expression, you can add some descriptions of the specific role of the ancient well in the life of the Siheyuan, such as how it guarantees the water supply of residents during droughts, so that the cultural connotation can be enriched." In the practical teaching session, the students came to the Siheyuan for on-site creation. Xiao Wang, a student studying sculpture, said to Master Chen, a community resident: "Master Chen, I want to create a sculpture based on the doorpost of your house, but I'm not sure what the special meaning of the pattern on the doorpost is. Can you tell me about it?" Master Chen introduced enthusiastically: "The pattern on this doorpost is very particular. The carved bat symbolizes blessing, and the peach represents longevity. These patterns are passed down by our ancestors and express the yearning for a better life." As the first batch of students in the inheritance class gradually completed their studies, their works were exhibited in an exhibition called "New Rhythm of Siheyuan Culture." An art critic who came to visit said to Dean Wang after seeing the students' works: "These works are eye-opening. The students not only demonstrated solid artistic skills, but more importantly, they cleverly integrated Siheyuan culture with modern art creation concepts. For example, this modern oil painting based on the panoramic view of the Siheyuan is innovative in the use of color and composition, while clearly conveying the harmonious and tranquil cultural atmosphere of the Siheyuan." Dean Wang said with satisfaction: "This is exactly the purpose of our inheritance class. These young talents will become the new force in the inheritance and innovation of Siheyuan culture, and they will bring Siheyuan culture to a broader art stage." The successful operation of the "Siheyuan Culture and Art Inheritance Class" has cultivated professional art inheritance talents for Siheyuan culture, enabling Siheyuan culture to continue to expand and deepen in the field of artistic creation, continuing the glorious chapter of Siheyuan in the combination of cultural education and art inheritance, and becoming an excellent example for the cultivation of traditional cultural talents, inspiring more cultural heritage sites and educational institutions to work together to explore the path of sustainable development of cultural inheritance.

"Siheyuan Storm" As the "Siheyuan Cultural and Art Inheritance Class" has achieved remarkable results, the Siheyuan community has set its sights on a broader international cultural exchange stage - participating in the "World Traditional Folk House Cultural Festival". This cultural festival brings together representatives of unique traditional folk house culture from all over the world. As an outstanding example of traditional Chinese folk houses, Siheyuan naturally shoulders the important task of displaying the charm of Chinese culture and promoting cross-cultural exchanges and mutual learning. The Siheyuan community selected a delegation composed of cultural experts, folk artists and outstanding students of the inheritance class to go to the venue of the cultural festival. In the exhibition area of ​​the cultural festival, the Siheyuan delegation carefully arranged the display area, and used various forms such as physical models, pictures and images, and on-site handicraft demonstrations to fully display the style and cultural connotation of the Siheyuan. Professor Li, a cultural expert of the delegation, introduced to visitors from all over the world: "Siheyuan is not only a kind of residential building, but also a material carrier of traditional Chinese family concepts, ethics and social order. Look at this Siheyuan model. Its layout follows the strict principle of symmetry. The main house is usually occupied by the elders, reflecting the order of seniority; the wing rooms are used by the younger generations, and the courtyard is a public space for family activities and neighborhood interactions. This layout reflects the importance that ancient Chinese society attached to family harmony and family unity." A foreign visitor asked curiously: "In modern society, can the traditional family living model of Siheyuan continue? How can it adapt to the fast pace and diversified needs of modern life?" Professor Li smiled and replied: "This is a very good question. In modern times, Siheyuan is also constantly innovating and transforming. Many Siheyuan communities have introduced modern living facilities, such as water and electricity transformation, network communications, etc., on the basis of retaining the original architectural structure and cultural characteristics, to meet the modern life needs of residents. At the same time, Siheyuan culture is also integrating into modern society in new forms, such as through cultural and creative industries, tourism development and community cultural activities, so that Siheyuan culture can be revitalized in the new era." In the folk handicraft demonstration area, Grandma Zhang, who is good at paper cutting, was skillfully cutting the colored paper in her hands. After a while, a beautiful Siheyuan-themed paper cutting work was presented to everyone. A foreign tourist exclaimed: "This is amazing! I have never seen such beautiful handmade paper cutting. How did you do it?" Grandma Zhang replied through an interpreter: "This paper cutting is our traditional Chinese folk art. Every cut and every cut contains our good wishes for life. For this Siheyuan paper cutting, I cut the outline of the Siheyuan building, the flowers, plants and trees in the courtyard, just to let everyone see the appearance of the Siheyuan more intuitively and feel our culture." Xiao Wang, an outstanding student in the inheritance class, showed his Siheyuan architectural painting works on the side. A student from an art school in Europe said to him: "Your paintings are very contagious, and they blend traditional and modern painting styles very well. I am very interested in Siheyuan architecture. Can you tell me how you capture the soul of the Siheyuan during the creative process?" Xiao Wang said modestly: "Thank you for the compliment. When creating, I not only focus on depicting the external architectural form of the Siheyuan, but also try to express the historical culture it carries and the emotions of the residents. I will observe the Siheyuan for a long time, watching the changes in light and shadow of the sun shining on the roof tiles, and watching the interaction between neighbors in the courtyard. These details have become elements in my paintings, giving the Siheyuan vitality in the picture." During the exchange and discussion session of the cultural festival, the Siheyuan delegation had an in-depth dialogue with representatives of traditional folk houses from other countries. A representative of the Gassho-style house from Japan said: "Our Japanese Gassho-style house, like the Chinese Siheyuan, has a long history and unique cultural value. The architectural structure of the Gassho-style house adapts to the local snowy climate, and the family lifestyle inside it also reflects the traditional cultural characteristics of Japan. We hope to carry out more exchanges and cooperation with the Siheyuan community, such as sending residents to experience traditional folk life, or jointly holding traditional handicraft exhibitions." Zhao, head of the Siheyuan delegation, responded: "This is a very good proposal. Although Siheyuan and Gassho-style house are different in architectural style and cultural background, they both contain awe of nature, emphasis on family and inheritance of traditional skills. Through exchanges and cooperation, we can learn from each other and jointly explore the path of protection and development of traditional folk house culture in modern society." With the successful conclusion of the "World Traditional Folk House Culture Festival", the international reputation and influence of Siheyuan have been further enhanced. Many international cultural institutions and tourism organizations have extended olive branches to the Siheyuan community, hoping to carry out more cooperation projects. The Siheyuan community once again stands at the forefront of international cultural exchange, continuing to write a glorious chapter, becoming an important promoter of cultural exchange and cooperation among the world's traditional folk houses, contributing unique strength to the prosperity and development of global cultural diversity, and opening up a broader path for Chinese traditional culture to go global.

"Siheyuan Storm" Before the afterglow of the "World Traditional Folk House Cultural Festival" faded, the Siheyuan community received a special invitation from an international environmental protection organization. The organization heard that Siheyuan has many innovative practices in environmental protection and sustainable development in the process of integrating cultural heritage with modern life, and hoped that Siheyuan could participate in a global "Traditional Community Sustainable Development Summit" as a representative of Asian traditional residential culture, and share its valuable experience in resource utilization, ecological protection and harmonious coexistence of communities. The Siheyuan community quickly organized an elite team composed of environmental experts, community residents and scholars in related fields to go to the summit venue. At the summit, Dr. Chen, an environmental expert from the Siheyuan team, took the lead in giving a speech: "Siheyuan, as an ancient and wise form of residence, contains rich environmental protection concepts. In terms of its layout, the courtyard design of the Siheyuan cleverly utilizes natural lighting and ventilation, reducing the dependence on lighting equipment and air-conditioning systems. For example, through long-term monitoring data, we found that in summer, the ventilation effect of the courtyard can make the indoor temperature 3-5 degrees Celsius lower than the outdoor temperature, greatly reducing the cooling energy consumption." A community representative from Africa raised his hand and asked: "Dr. Chen, can this natural ventilation and lighting effect be achieved under different climatic conditions? The climate in some parts of Africa is hot and dry. Is the Siheyuan model applicable?" Dr. Chen calmly answered: "This is a very critical question. The architectural concept of the Siheyuan can be adaptively adjusted according to different climates. In hot and dry areas, the courtyard area can be appropriately expanded, water landscapes can be added, and the evaporation of water can be used to absorb heat to regulate the microclimate; at the same time, in the selection of building materials, more local materials with good thermal insulation properties can be used to enhance the thermal insulation effect of the building. In this way, the natural regulation advantages of the Siheyuan can be combined with the local climate characteristics to achieve sustainable optimization of the living environment." During the discussion on resource utilization, Mr. Zhang, a representative of the residents of the Siheyuan, shared: "We Siheyuan residents have always had a strong awareness of resource conservation. Take rainwater collection for example. After a simple modification of the Siheyuan's drainage system, rainwater can be collected into a special water storage tank. This rainwater can be used to water the flowers, plants and trees in the courtyard, wash the courtyard ground, and even after simple treatment, it can be used for non-drinking purposes such as household cleaning. In addition, we also pay attention to garbage classification and recycling. Recyclables such as paper, plastic, and metal are collected and sorted, and regularly handed over to recycling agencies. This not only reduces the pressure of landfill on the environment, but also creates certain economic value." A European environmental scholar asked curiously: "Uncle Zhang, did you encounter any difficulties in promoting these environmental protection measures among community residents? How did you overcome them?" Grandpa Zhang smiled and said: "At the beginning, some residents were not used to it and found it troublesome. But through community publicity activities, such as holding environmental protection knowledge lectures and organizing environmental protection volunteer demonstrations, we gradually made everyone realize the positive impact of these measures on our living environment and living costs. In addition, we have also established some reward mechanisms to commend and give small prizes to families with excellent environmental protection performance, and gradually everyone has actively participated." In terms of harmonious coexistence in the community, scholar Professor Li added: "The neighborhood relationship of the Siheyuan is an important support for its sustainable development. Residents help each other and share resources to form a close community. For example, in the maintenance of some public facilities, everyone will contribute money and effort together; in cultural inheritance activities, each family will contribute their own strength, whether it is the elderly telling traditional stories or young people participating in cultural and creative activities, so that the Siheyuan culture can be passed down from generation to generation. This model of harmonious coexistence not only enhances the cohesion of the community, but also enables resources to be more efficiently allocated and utilized within the community. "A community development expert from South America asked: "Professor Li, this model of neighborhood relations is often impacted in the process of modern urbanization. How does the Siheyuan maintain this traditional neighborhood relationship in modern society?" Professor Li replied: "We focus on community cultural construction and the use of public spaces. The courtyard of the Siheyuan is a natural public space, where we often hold various community activities, such as traditional festival celebrations, art performances, parent-child activities, etc. These activities give residents more opportunities to communicate with each other and enhance their feelings. At the same time, the community will actively coordinate the interests of residents, establish fair and just community rules, and let everyone live and develop together in a harmonious atmosphere. " Siheyuan's wonderful sharing at the "Traditional Community Sustainable Development Summit" won warm applause and high praise from the audience. Many international communities expressed their hope to establish long-term exchange and cooperation with Siheyuan communities and learn from their successful experience in sustainable development. This has made Siheyuan the focus of global attention again, continuing its glorious chapter of promoting the integration of tradition and modernity, and the advancement of culture and environmental protection on the international stage, providing a valuable example and inspiration for the sustainable development of traditional communities around the world, and leading more communities to a green, harmonious and sustainable future development path.