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Appreciating the Details



A moon-shaped door.


In ancient China, rich families and government officials liked to build their doors with elaborate decorations, following the social ladder. Among the six main gates of the manor, the gate to the West Zhonglai quadrangle is the most luxuriant one. At 5 meters high, 3 meters wide, the black doors were inscribed with a golden couplet featuring the family doctrine, "Carry on the family enterprise by farming and cultural cultivation; manage the family with diligence and thrift."

This is a drum-shaped door pier known as "mendun'r" that secures wooden doorframes to the walls. The motifs in stone have survived more than 80 years of erosion and still look vivid.


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