Brief History of Siheyuan
Siheyuan (Quadrangles), in Chinese, literally means four-side enclosed courtyards
with houses. Throughout Chinese history, Siheyuan composition was the basic pattern
used for residences, temples, palaces, monasteries and families. Records show even
during the Shang Dynasty (17~h century--10d6 BC) homes were built around courtyards,
Houses may look very different depending on different designs and different climate in
various areas, however they were all built around a courtyard. According to some
historical records, such residences were first built in the Hart Dynasty (206 B. C,-
220). They have a long history of about 2, 000 years in Beijing, They were improved
during tile Yuan, Ming. and Qing Dynasties, and became one of the representative
residences in China.