Architectural Details

Windows, Emblems of Culture

As symbolic meaning has played a significant role in culture, "visual puns" can be found in Octagonal House in every possible way. 

This antique window lattice is constructed of hand-carved wood with a flower and gourd-like design in the middle, which constitute into a large circle resembling an old Chinese cash coin (round with a square hole in the middle). Flowers generally represent wealth. Gourd is seen as a symbol for health in former times, doctors carried medicine inside it, so it has fabled healing properties. The Chinese cash coins are a potent symbol of wealth and prosperity. These are all popular good luck symbols. 

Windows, Culture of the Family

Whether in the shape of the frame or the pattern inside it, the culture of the family and their way of life are reflected in the windows. The windows are scroll-shaped like books. Bamboo is also viewed as a symbol of traditional Chinese values; its tall and straight stem represents honor; its hollow interior, modesty; and its clean and spartan exterior, chastity.

The threshold is carved with bats with wings extended, a witty hint of blessing since it shares an identical pronunciation with the word "luck" in Mandarin Chinese. 

"Queti," the parallel brackets under the beam, is a weight-bearing piece at the intersection between a beam and a column in traditional buildings. There are four brackets in Octagonal House which are carved with cranes bringing the four main academic and artistic accomplishments required of the ancient Chinese scholar-gentlemen: stringed instrument, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

The upper part of the 4-piece hand carved doors are 4 ancient stories (left to right):

Purple Qi from the east: In Laozi 's (571-471 BCE) old age, he grew weary of the moral decay in society, and decided to journey westward. On the way to Hangu Pass, a guardian of Hangu Pass noticed purple Qi was coming from the east, feeling that it was a good omen which indicated the approach of a sage. When Laozi arrived, the guardian begged him to provide some guidance, and Laozi wrote Dao De Jing, which later became a fundamental text of Daoism.

Seven sages of the bamboo grove: A group of scholars and poets of the mid-3rd century CE who banded together to escape from the corruption atmosphere of political world to a life of freedom of individual expression and independent thinking.

Visiting intelligent scholar in Weishui: King Wen (1112-1050 BEC) was in search of talented people. He found Jiang Ziya fishing in Weishui and discovered that this white-haired fisherman was actually an astute political thinker and appointed him prime minister.

Paying three visits to the thatched cottage: During China's Three Kingdoms period (220-265 CE), the king Liu Bei heard of the intelligence and knowledge of Zhuge Liang and decided to invite him to be his strategist. He invited him three times in the winter time and with patience. Zhuge Liang was impressed by his sincerity and agreed to help him rule the country.

The curved bricks used in the arched doorway requires higher brick burning techniques.

The second floor has one living room and four bedrooms. The corridor is full of wooden shutters which can be opened and closed by turning the strip in the middle to the left or right.

One of the two staircases in Octagonal House. The five circles built from clay in the window forms into an old Chinese cash coin.

16-petal chrysanthemums 

The two flowers carved in 16 petal chrysanthemums are the symbols of the national seal used by the emperor of Japan and members of the Imperial Family.

Feng Shui Money Toad 

Money Toad is a mythological creature with three legs that is said to attract abundance and prosperity. This is why you can often find a Money Toad on Chinese restaurant counters or other Chinese establishment. Could you tell where the Money Toads are in Octagonal House?

(They are on the roof painted in white)