Fujian Tulou, A Jewel of Eastern Civilization

福建土楼, 东方文明的一颗明珠

Fujian Tulou, A Jewel of Eastern Civilization/

by Read01 (壹讀)

福建土楼是东方文明的一颗明珠。它以历史悠久、种类繁多、规模宏大、结构奇巧、功能齐全、内涵丰富著称，具有极高的历史、艺术和科学价值，被誉为“东方古城堡”、“世界建筑奇葩”。表现了中国古代汉族劳动人民的聪明智慧和能工巧匠的精巧的设计和技能，也是中国古代高超的建筑工程技术和建筑艺术成就的例证。

Fujian tulou (福建土楼: lit. “Fujian earth buildings”) are a jewel of Eastern civilization. Renowned for their long history, diverse variety, grand scale, structural ingenuity, functional completeness and cultural relevance, these dwellings are high in historic, artistic and scientific value, and have been acclaimed as “oriental ancient castles” and “miracles of world architecture.” They embody the wisdom, exquisite design and skillful craftsmanship of the Han Chinese ethnic group, and also exemplify the excellent construction technologies and artistic accomplishments of the ancient Chinese people.

作为泉州地区至今保存完好的圆形土楼——辉斗楼就是其中比较有代表性的一座。辉斗楼坐落在泉州安溪的龙涓乡宝都村，建于清道光甲申年，即1824年。历经近190年的风雨，土楼依旧挺拔屹立。

Of all the well-preserved circular earth buildings in the Qianzhou area, the Huidou Building (辉斗楼) is a model of its kind. This tulou, located in Baodu Village, Longjuan Township, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, was constructed during the Qing Dynasty (1644~1912), in 1824, the Jia-Shen Year of Daoguang’s reign. After having endured nearly two centuries of wind and rain, it still stands erect even to this day.

辉斗楼建在900多米高的“和尚顶”山腰部，左右矮山夹峙，楼前山谷视野开阔，可见当时建造者在建楼选址和设计上都花费了大量的心血。

The Huidou Building was constructed halfway up Heshangding Mountain at a height of over 900 meters. It’s surrounded by low hills on both sides and has open views of the valley below. The builders clearly devoted a lot of time and careful consideration to site selection and structural design.

辉斗楼辉煌时曾住过300多人，数十年来，土楼后裔陆续迁出，如今只有82岁高龄的杨三春老人和妻子与土楼相伴。老人见有客人来，总是很高兴，他喜欢带客人到处走走，介绍这座祖传老宅。

During the tulou’s glory years, it once housed over 300 people, but over the decades its descendants kept moving out. These days only 82-year-old Yang Sanchun and his wife stay together in the building. They’re an old couple who’s always happy to see visitors. They enjoy escorting guests around and introducing them to this ancient, multi-generational residence.

我们随着老杨登上二楼，木质楼梯“噔噔”作响，让人仿佛回到数百年以前的村居生活。土楼房间全用木头建成，内沿设窗棂，光线极好。这座土楼最独特之处在于二楼半圆形处又加了一层，变成前面两层、后面三层。前低后高，顺应山势，错落有致。从第三层往下看，可以瞧见整个土楼，也可望见村庄的田野，视野开阔。相关记载表明，这种形式的土楼在福建圆楼中仅此一例。

We accompanied Mr. Yang to the second floor. The “thumping” sounds you hear coming from the wooden stairs make you feel as if you’ve retuned to village-life hundreds of years ago. The rooms in the building are made entirely of wood and have window lattices on the inner edges that allow for excellent light. Its most unique feature is the semi-circular shaped addition to the second floor, changing it from two floors in the front to three in the back. The front is low; the back is high; it conforms to the mountain terrain and is well-proportioned. Looking down off the third floor, you’re able to see the entire tulou, the fields of the village, and enjoy an expansive view. Based on related records, it’s the only example, of all the Fujian circular earth buildings, of a tulou shaped in such a way.

辉斗楼直径约33米，面积约800平方米，四个楼梯将土楼分为四部分，共有42间房。土楼除了设内通廊之外，在后半部第三层及前半部第二层的外墙一侧加设“隐通廊”，两侧楼梯连通，据说是为了供防卫之用。

The Huidou Building has a diameter of about 33 meters, covers an area of approximately 800 square meters, is divided into four sections by four staircases, and has 42 rooms in total. In addition to all the inner corridors, “hidden corridors” were installed along the third floor’s outer wall as well as to the second floor’s front section, which connect the stairs on both sides and, reportedly, had been built for defense purposes.

辉斗楼的外墙用土夯成，墙基用石头砌成，高约2米，楼顶是瓦片，四周均有瞭望孔。大门用防火材料——桐木制成，厚约10厘米。门楣设有水槽，可从上面浇水灭火，另外还有两个枪眼。墙体厚1.5米，门洞使用的材料是花岗岩，异常坚固。

Its outer walls are rammed with soil. The foundation was laid with stone and is approximately 2 meters high. The roof is tiled. There are lookout holes all over. The door is made of flame resistant materials—processed Paulownia wood—around 10 cm thick. The door lintel contains a water trough, letting water pour down from above to put out fires, and also features two embrasures. The wall is 1.5 meters thick, and for the archways granite was used, which is exceptionally strong.

杨三春老人告诉记者，这座楼属蜂巢，院内不设水井。因为从地理风水来讲，这个蜂巢型，蜂巢、鸟巢这两个地方不能有水火，所以这个里院也没有厨房。楼后有一条水沟，水渠通过暗沟流进水沟，就可以随意取水。

Yang Sanchun explained to us that, since the building is considered a “beehive,” there’s no water well in the courtyard. This is because, in terms of “geographical fengshui,” beehive and birdsnest-like buildings may neither be equipped with water nor fire, hence the courtyard also has no kitchen. A ditch behind the building allows water to flow in through a canal so you can still fetch water whenever you want.

民国初年，一队土匪来到宝都村抢劫，全村400多名村民躲进土楼，土匪攻打了数天也打不下，只好撤离。

In the early years of the ROC, a group of bandits came to loot Baodu Village, forcing over 400 villagers to hide inside the tulou, yet after several days of unsuccessful attacks, the bandits had no choice but to withdraw.

老人介绍，在泉州市第三次文物普查时，考古人员认为，这是泉州现存唯一的圆形土楼，具有较高的文物价值。

According to the old man, during the third national survey on cultural relics, the archaeologists said the Huidou Building is the only existing circular earth building in Quanzhou, and that it has high cultural value.

一楼的北面存放着吹稻谷用的风车，犁耙、斗笠等农耕物件，见证了先辈们的慢生活；三楼的北厅堂窗边高悬的香炉，见证前辈们敬天畏地之心，也警i前来参观的后代要明因识果，敬畏自然；二楼的一间门板上贴着大红的春字，让土楼变得有些生机，生动许多。

The windmill for rice irrigation, ploughs and rakes, conical hats and other farming items on the north side of the first floor have all witnessed the slow life of our ancestors; the incense burner hanging beside the window on the third floor of the North Hall has seen the fear and respect previous generations had for heaven and earth, but also reminds future generations who visit the tulou to be cognizant of cause and effect and to revere nature; and, the bright red “spring” character stuck to one of the doors on the second floor gives the tulou some vitality and makes it more lively.

躺在土楼的院落，仰望天空，天蓝云白，一切是那么淡安。我们采访结束离开土楼时，天空飘来一块硕大云朵，如同一位巨人停留在土楼上空，默默俯视着土楼,。

If you lay in the courtyard and gaze up at the sky, the sky is blue, the clouds are white, and everything is just so serene. When we left at the end of our interview, a massive cloud floated by, and like a giant, paused in the sky above us, silently looking down over the tulou.

土楼辉煌时住过300多人，如今仅八旬夫妇相伴，历经近200年风雨，依旧挺拔屹立。

Over 300 people lived in the Huidou Building during its glory years, and now only the 80-year-old couple remain, but after nearly 200 years of wind and rain, it still stands tall and straight.

再次回望，祖宗的智慧让人肃然起敬。

Looking back, the wisdom of our ancestors really warrants deep admiration.

Translated & edited by ZhongwenTranslation

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