A Study of Ornamental Craftsmanship in Doors and Windows of Hui-Style Architecture: The Huizhou Three Carvings (Brick, Stone, and Wood Carvings)

Abstract

The ornamental craftsmanship of the doors and windows of Hui-style architecture demonstrates the centuries-old, intangible culture of Huizhou, of which the Huizhou three carvings (brick, stone, and wood carvings) have received increasing attention from researchers in recent years. This study aims to identify the characteristics of the Huizhou three carvings of doors and windows in Hui-style architecture in order to better preserve and develop this ornamental craftsmanship. To achieve this aim, an ethnographic design was used. The study found that the history, process, and location of Huizhou three carvings have obvious regional characteristics. This study can be useful for all stakeholders (scholars, architects, and craftsmen) in Hui-style architecture.

Architectural semiotics in the renovation of rural architecture

“…White Walls: In Huizhou architecture, white walls hold cultural and symbolic significance, representing a pursuit of spirituality and a particular life attitude. The exterior walls are typically coated with high-quality white lime and plaster to ensure their whiteness and smoothness [9]; 2. Black Tiles: Black tiles are a distinctive feature of Huizhou architecture, providing a striking contrast to the white walls with their deep black appearance, resulting in the classic black and white combination.…”

Relevance between Tourist Behavior and the Spatial Environment in Huizhou Traditional Villages—A Case Study of Pingshan Village, Yi County, China

“…(3) Architectural style: Huizhou architecture is widely known around the world for its black tiles, white walls, horse-head walls and other modeling features, brick carvings, wood carvings, stone carvings and other decorative features, and high-rise buildings, deep wells, halls, and other living features [66]. (4) Decoration: Huizhou architectural decoration occupies a pivotal position in the decorative art of the Chinese nation, mainly expressed in the form of wood carving, brick carving, stone carving, and color painting [67]. The patterns are rich in themes and varied in nature, which can be divided into plant patterns, animal patterns, landscape patterns, character story patterns, etc.…”

Regional Architecture Building Identity: The Mediating Role of Authentic Pride

“…Its overall layout is designed to be in harmony with the mountains and water, with a general color scheme of black, white, and grey. The ornamental art cleverly combines wood carving, stone carving, and brick carving, with the horse head wall being the most distinctive feature of the building structure [12,13]. The development of Hui-style architecture has been deeply influenced by the traditional Huizhou culture, which, along with Tibetan culture and Dunhuang culture, is one of the three major regional cultures in China [14].…”

“…Hui-style and Min-style architectures in ancient times were both products of clan settlements [21,23]. Although each Hui-style building has an independent layout, in the ancient Huizhou area, members of the same clan typically lived within the same village [12]. Each village would have a communal ancestral hall, and through activities such as jointly maintaining the hall and worshiping ancestors, clan cohesion was strengthened, simultaneously preserving and passing down Huizhou's unique culture and traditions [24].…”