The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-11-05
CHINESE DWELLING HOUSES.

and the objects to be met with there. if he
takes the names applied to them by travel
lcrs or writers in the sense which those
terms bear in English or any of the western
languages. For instance, the Chinese words
hwangti, kwanfu, pan, pin, shu, have de-
finltion to Chinaman very different from
what the corresponding words of emperor,
magistrate, cannon, pencil, book convey to
Objects, institutions, and customs met with
in the Middle Kingdom differ so widely
from our own, and any we are acquainted
with, rs TO have no terms in common to
express them.
The architecture Of the Chinese is unique.
What we express by the word house, for cx.
ample, finds no corresponding term or idea
among them. From the palace to the hovel,
the tent type prevails; as well in temples as
in private dwellings. Dwelling houses are
generally Of one story, having neither Gel
lars nor easements, and for the most part
without dormer windows or attics. They
must not have ornaments appropriate to
palaces or temples or aspire to the height
of the former. The common materials
arc brick, but wooden houses arc not un-
known
The general arrangement Of the interior
OF a Chinese dwelling of the better sort is
that Of series of rooms of different dirncn-
s;ons separated and lighted by intervening
courts, accessible along covered corridor
communicating with each, or by side pas
sages leading through the courts. The Gus
tom Of cramping the feet, and thus disa.
bling the women in a degree from going up
and down stairs, may have had the effect
Of making buildings low, and causing an
expansion on level, in order to make the
necessary room required for large and
wealthy families. Door plates and numbers
are unknown; rs a substitute for which,
under the projecting caves, harg paper
lanterns, informing passers-by of the name
and title Of the household, which when
lighted at night, serve to illumino the
street and designate his habitation.
The enterancc into large mansions in the
country is by a triple door, leading through
lawn or garden up to the hall; but in
towns single door, usually elevatcs step
or two above the street, Introduces the yisi.
tor into porch or court. The intervening
space is occupied by the porter. Passing
behind the movable screen inside of the
doorway, paved open court, commonly
adorned with flowers or fancy fish pool, is
crossed upon entering the principal hail.
The floors arc made of square tiles of brick
or marble, or hard cement, and matted
wooden floors not being common on the
ground story. The rooms are dim even in
bright day, in the absence of carpets, and
fire places, and windows, to afford from it
a prospect abroad. The kitchen is a small
affair, for the universal use of portable
furnaces enables the inmates to cook wher.
ever the smoke will be least troublesome.
Warming the houses in tho southern part
of the kingdom is not frequent, but in the
latitude of Pckin it is done by closing the
crevices and constructing fues under the
rooms, which are heated by one fire.
The poor build a sort of brick fireplace,
which is used for cooking by day, and by
night for bed, where all the family sleep
on felt carpets placed on the warm bricks.
Fuel is scarce and dear. The houses ofthe
poor are dark, dirty, low, and narrow tene.
ments, with neither floor nor windows, and
but few apartments, wretched in extreme
The door is mat swinging from the Intel,
and the whole family sleep, eat and live in
n single apartment, and pigs, dogs, and
hens dispute the space with the children,
who arc apt to be numerous, and the furni.
ture.
The best furniture is made of dark, dura-
bic wood, resembling ebony; but the rooms
arc filed with ornamental articles, such rs
large porcelain jars and vases, copper tri
pods, stone screens, book shelves and stands,
rather than with chairs, couches and tables.
Though some Of them are not destitute of
elegance, there is want of what we call
comfort. The bedrooms are small, poorly
ventilated, and seldom visited, except at
night A rich beadstead is massive arti-
Gle, made of costly woods, elaborately
carved, and supporting tester, from which
hang silken curtains, with musquito nets
attached. Mattresses or feather beds arc
not used, and the pillow is a hard square
frame of rattan or bamboo. A wardrobe
and toilet usually complete the furniture of
this part Of the Chinese, who generally
care little for their apartment.
The grounds of the wealthy are laid ou,
in good style, and were not their tasteful
arrangement and diversified shrubbery
abandoned to neglect, sometimes to nasti-
ness and offals, they would please the mosi
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