Minnan traditional architecture

Author: Cao Chunping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: The Minnan region is located on the periphery and has long been in the marginal zone of central imperial power control. It also inherited the tradition of the Minyue people in boat-building and navigation, leading to significant development in marine-based socio-economy and culture. The ancestors of the Minnan region were a branch of the Baiyue people—the Minyue ethnic group. The Yue people were skilled in boat navigation and adept at naval warfare. Starting from the Qin and Han dynasties to the Jin and Tang dynasties, large numbers of Central Plains Han people migrated southward to the Minnan region, where they interacted and merged with the Minyue people, forming a unique Minnan culture. The Minnan people adopted agricultural culture while also inheriting and developing the marine culture of the Minyue people. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, Quanzhou became one of the world's major ports, with ships from various countries gathering there. Remnants of religious buildings from that era have been preserved to this day. From the mid-Ming Dynasty onwards, the port of Zhangzhou flourished and became a famous smuggling port in China. In the Qing Dynasty, the port of Xiamen gradually replaced Yue Port. The Minnan people's development toward the sea led to a large number of them migrating to sea islands and overseas regions, strengthening Minnan's connections with the outside world. As a result, Minnan culture not only embodies the characteristics of agricultural culture but also possesses the traits of marine culture. Minnan traditional architecture reflects both the symmetry, rigor, and enclosed nature of traditional Chinese architecture and the ornate, lively, exaggerated, and flamboyant features of Minnan style. Curved rooflines, high-raised swallowtail roofs, colorful and intricate paper-cutting, piled-up water wheel barriers, and multicolored mirror walls, all expressed the unique personality of Minnan architecture. White granite-accented bright red brickwork further highlights the distinctive character of Minnan buildings.