The Architectural Style and Cultural Connotation of Lu Mansions in Kaiping of Guangdong

Abstract:

During late Qing and early Republican Periods, the Guangdong overseas Chinese people living in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Southeastern Asia came back to their hometown areas to invest and build homes for their families. Thousands of Lu mansions, dwellings for locals, were built during that period. There were three purposes for that construction boom, 1) to build a pleasant and home for their families remained home; 2) for the overseas Chinese themselves’ retirement, because they were not allowed to be naturalized as citizens in their adopted countries; 3) to build a place for their own pleasant retirement, as they believed “fallen leaves should return to their roonts”. Given these reasons, Lu mansions were constructed in a different way from local tradition vernacular architecture, in terms of floor plan, facade, techniques, decoration, and even the most sacred worshipping shrine as well. Taking the Lu mansions in Kaiping as case study, the authors attempt to analyze how the socio-cultural aspects affected local people’s living tradition through building village houses for their families.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 598)
• Pages: 12-21
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.598.12
• Online since: November 2012
• Authors: Jin Hua Tan Selia, De Hua Zheng
• Keywords: Architectural Phenomenon, Lu Mansion, Overseas Chinese, Vernacular Architecture

References

[1] 2] Research Institutes of Language Department of Dictionary, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. (1983). Contemporary Chinese Dictionary. Beijing: Commercial Press, p.821.

[3] Author's note: three-bay two-corridor layout is the traditional building style in Kaiping, as well as in the Lingnan area of Guangdong Province, China.

[4] Wu, Zaimin. (ed.) Kaiping County Gazette, Vol. 5 of 1933 edition, in "Land and dwellings".

[5] Xie Yueyou's letter to his family, dated 25 March 1931. Collection of the Kaiping Overseas Chinese Museum.

[6] Xie Yueyou's letter to Xie Weiwen, dated 12 March 1931. Collection of the Kaiping Overseas Chinese Museum.

[7] Greater Shanghai Plan launched by the Republican government was passed in the 123th meeting of Shanghai Municipal Council in July 1929.

[8] Adapted from an interview conducted by the author. Interviewee: Mrs. Fang Ruijingago, aged 60, Zili Village, Tanglou Township, 14 September 2010.

[9] Adapted from an interview conducted by the author. Interviewee: Xie Rongyuan, aged 84. Cangdong Village, Tangkou Township, 15 December 2010.