Class differences in housing in the Tang Dynasty: The living spaces of ministers, nobles, and commoners
2024-05-23 17:14:08 中文版

The Tang Dynasty was one of the most prosperous periods in Chinese history, with stable national politics, economic prosperity, and continuously improving people's living standards. However, even in this era of prosperity, there were significant class differences in housing. This article will introduce the differences in housing between ministers, nobles, and ordinary people in the Tang Dynasty.

Firstly, the basic layout of housing in the Tang Dynasty consisted of two main types: the quadrangle courtyard style and the corridor courtyard style. The quadrangle courtyard style centered on a courtyard surrounded by houses, with a spacious yard in the middle for residents to relax and entertain. The corridor courtyard style, on the other hand, had a long corridor as the central axis, with houses distributed on both sides, forming a narrow and elongated layout. Both of these housing forms were widely used in the Tang Dynasty, but due to class differences, there were significant differences in scale, decoration, and facilities between the housing of ministers, nobles, and ordinary people.

Secondly, the housing of ministers and nobles in the Tang Dynasty exhibited several distinct characteristics. Firstly, they were large in scale, with residences often occupying a large area and containing numerous houses, sometimes even reaching dozens of rooms. These residences often adopted the quadrangle courtyard layout, with spacious courtyards and beautifully constructed buildings. Secondly, the decoration of their houses was extravagant, with intricate carvings on the columns, doors, and windows, and various murals painted on the walls. In addition, they planted various flowers, trees, and shrubs in their courtyards to create a beautiful living environment. Thirdly, their houses were equipped with complete facilities, including not only basic furniture and utensils but also dedicated spaces for cultural and recreational activities such as study rooms, music rooms, and art studios. Moreover, they employed servants and attendants to handle the daily maintenance and management of their residences.

On the other hand, the housing of ordinary people in the Tang Dynasty differed significantly from that of ministers and nobles. Firstly, the scale of their houses was much smaller. Their residences usually consisted of only one or two houses with limited land area. These residences were mostly arranged in the corridor courtyard style, with closely spaced houses. Secondly, the decoration of their houses was relatively simple, with few carved patterns on the columns, doors, and windows, and rarely any murals painted on the walls. Nevertheless, they still planted some flowers, trees, and shrubs in their courtyards to add a touch of greenery to their lives. Thirdly, the facilities inside their houses were relatively basic, consisting mainly of essential furniture and utensils, with few dedicated spaces for cultural and recreational activities. Moreover, they had to take care of the daily maintenance and management of their residences themselves.

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