Siheyuan: Silly Pillar is Kind

# Rebirth of Siheyuan: Brilliant Life (Continued 53) The "Siheyuan Cultural Deep Immersion Project" continues to advance in warmth and fulfillment. Every day that international friends spend in the Siheyuan is like opening a new door to the treasure house of ancient oriental culture. However, He Luo and Lin Yue have new thoughts. They hope to incorporate some modern elements into this project so that Siheyuan culture can be better integrated with modern society in the process of inheritance. At a project discussion meeting, He Luo proposed: "We can add a section on 'the integration of Siheyuan culture and modern technology' to the project. For example, using virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology, international friends can have a more vivid understanding of the historical changes of Siheyuan. We can also set up some smart device experience sessions to showcase the innovative applications of Siheyuan in modern life." Lin Yue's eyes lit up: "This is a great idea! We can cooperate with technology companies to develop specialized VR and AR content. For example, through VR, everyone can experience the architectural style and life scenes of Siheyuan in different historical periods, from the residences of ancient dignitaries to the Siheyuan life of ordinary people. For smart device experience, we can demonstrate the application of smart home systems in Siheyuan, which not only preserves the charm of Siheyuan, but also improves the comfort of life." So they began to negotiate cooperation with a technology company. He Luo told the person in charge of the technology company: "We hope to create high-quality VR and AR experience content, and accurately restore the historical details of the Siheyuan. In terms of smart devices, we need to design products that match the style of the Siheyuan." The person in charge of the technology company responded: "We have a professional team to be responsible for content development and design. For VR and AR experiences, we will collect a lot of historical materials and architectural data to ensure the authenticity of the scene. We will use some retro-style appearance designs for smart devices to blend with the Siheyuan environment." In the process of preparing VR and AR content, data collection and modeling work were carried out intensively. The staff encountered some problems when sorting out the historical materials of the Siheyuan. A staff member said to He Luo: "Teacher He, the information about some life scenes in ancient courtyards is relatively vague. For example, as for entertainment activities in ancient courtyards, we only know that there are chess and opera, but the specific scene layout and gameplay are not very clear." He Luo contacted a folk culture expert, who suggested: "We can refer to some ancient paintings and ancient books. For example, there are some folk entertainment scenes in "Along the River During the Qingming Festival", from which we can get inspiration. For chess, different dynasties have different types of chess, which can be determined according to the historical background of the courtyard." In preparation for the smart device experience session, the designer of the technology company showed Lin Yue the design plan: "Sister Lin, this is the smart lighting system we designed, which can automatically adjust the brightness and color according to different times and scenes. The appearance of the light is designed to imitate ancient lanterns, which can provide modern convenience and reflect the traditional cultural elements of the courtyard." Lin Yue proposed modification suggestions: "This design is very good, but the material can be closer to tradition, such as using some textured wood materials to make it look more simple and rustic." When the "Siheyuan Culture and Modern Technology Integration" section was officially added to the project, international friends were full of expectations and curiosity. At the VR experience site, an Indian friend put on the device and said excitedly: "Wow, I feel like I have traveled to the ancient Siheyuan. The buildings here are so exquisite with carved beams and painted rafters! I also saw people in ancient costumes walking around the courtyard, just like watching a historical movie." In the smart device experience area, a German friend was very interested in the smart curtain system. He asked the staff: "Can this curtain be controlled by mobile phone? How does it integrate with the Siheyuan style?" The staff replied: "Yes, you can control the opening and closing of the curtains and the degree of light transmission through the mobile phone APP. You see, the pattern of the curtain is a traditional Chinese pattern, and the material is also made of textured silk, which echoes the traditional atmosphere of the Siheyuan." As the project progressed, international friends began to think about the significance of the integration of Siheyuan culture and modern technology. At a discussion meeting, an American friend said: "This integration has allowed me to see the unlimited potential of traditional culture. Siheyuan is no longer an ancient relic. With the help of modern technology, it can be revitalized and attract more young people's attention and love." A Japanese friend also shared: "Through the experience of smart devices, I realized that traditional culture and modern life are not contradictory, but can promote each other. Siheyuan culture can provide unique design inspiration for modern technology products, and modern technology can better inherit and develop Siheyuan culture." In the final stage of the project, He Luo and Lin Yue organized an international seminar on "Siheyuan Culture and Modern Social Development". Experts from various countries and international friends participating in the project gathered together to discuss new paths for Siheyuan culture in the context of modern technology and social development. An international architectural expert proposed at the seminar: "The spatial layout and community culture of the Siheyuan can provide reference for community construction in modern urban planning. Combined with modern technology, it can create a new type of community with more humanistic care and cultural heritage." He Luo concluded: "This seminar has made us more clear about the development direction of Siheyuan culture. We must continue to explore the integration of Siheyuan culture with modern technology and society, so that Siheyuan culture can show greater vitality on the international stage." This "Siheyuan Culture Deep Immersion Project" was successfully concluded in innovation and integration, injecting new vitality into the international dissemination and development of Siheyuan culture, and providing more ideas and possibilities for future international cultural exchange activities.

# Rebirth of Siheyuan: Brilliant Life (Continued 54) After the "Siheyuan Culture Deep Immersion Project" and related seminars, the international influence of Siheyuan culture has further fermented. He Luo and Lin Yue decided to seize this favorable opportunity to launch a new long-term plan - "Siheyuan Culture International Heritage Envoy Training Program". At the project launch conference, He Luo introduced to the media and international friends present: "We hope that through this plan, we can select and train a group of international people who have a deep understanding and love of Siheyuan culture. They will become the backbone of the global dissemination of Siheyuan culture and carry out promotion activities related to Siheyuan culture in their respective countries and regions." Lin Yue continued: "This plan lasts for one year. We will provide participants with systematic Siheyuan cultural training courses, including knowledge of Siheyuan architecture, folklore, history, art, etc., as well as practical activities, such as participating in Siheyuan protection projects and cultural activities. Finally, through assessment, excellent inheritance envoys will be selected." As soon as the news was released, many international cultural enthusiasts signed up. During the selection interview, an archaeology student from Egypt said: "I have always been interested in the architectural culture of ancient civilizations, and the Siheyuan culture has a unique charm. Through this plan, I hope to compare the Siheyuan culture with the Egyptian culture, find the common points of cultural inheritance, and then promote the Siheyuan culture in Egypt." He Luo asked: "Then what possible connections do you think there are between the Siheyuan culture and the Egyptian architectural culture in terms of cultural inheritance?" The Egyptian student replied: "In my opinion, both of them reflect the concept of family. There are also spatial layouts similar to the Siheyuan in traditional Egyptian architecture where large families live together. Although the forms are different, they all carry the meaning of family inheritance. I want to have a deeper understanding of the Siheyuan culture and better explore these similarities to promote cultural dissemination." Another art teacher from Brazil also came to participate in the selection: "I love art, and I am fascinated by the artistic elements of the Siheyuan, such as wood carvings, brick carvings, and paintings. I want to incorporate these elements into my teaching, so that Brazilian students can understand the beauty of the Siheyuan culture, and I also hope to learn more ways to protect and inherit these arts." With the official launch of the training program, the training courses are rich and colorful. In the Siheyuan architecture course, an architectural expert explained on site at the Siheyuan: "You see, the design of the gate of the Siheyuan is strictly particular, and different families have different forms and decorations of the gate. This wide and bright gate is generally used by officials and their families. Its height, width and carvings on it all show the status of the owner." An Italian student asked: "Have these architectural features been inherited or borrowed in modern architecture?" The expert replied: "Yes, modern architectural design also considers the design of the entrance to reflect the function of the building or the identity of the user. The design concept of the Siheyuan gate, such as conveying information through decoration, has a certain inspiration for modern architecture. The gate design of some commercial buildings has a similar shadow." In the folklore course, a folklorist talked about the traditional festival customs of the Siheyuan: "The Spring Festival is the most solemn festival in the Siheyuan. Starting from the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, there are various customs. People have to sweep the dust and worship the kitchen god. On New Year's Eve, the whole family reunites, pastes Spring Festival couplets, and stays up all night. These customs contain beautiful expectations for the new year and are a reflection of family cohesion." A Spanish student asked curiously: "Are there any similarities between the Spring Festival customs in Siheyuan and the traditional festival customs in Spain? For example, the emphasis on family reunion." The folklorist replied: "Yes, family reunion is the core of many traditional festivals. Christmas and other festivals in Spain also emphasize family celebrations, but the specific ways of celebration vary from culture to culture. The Spring Festival in Siheyuan has unique Chinese cultural elements, such as the etiquette of New Year greetings and lucky money." In practical activities, the trainees participated in the renovation of Siheyuan. When helping to repair the wall of the Siheyuan, a trainee from South Korea said to the craftsman: "Master, this wall-laying technique is very special, which is different from the wall-laying method of our traditional Korean buildings." The master smiled and said: "Yes, the wall-laying of Siheyuan pays attention to solidity and beauty. The blue bricks we use must be laid flat one by one, with uniform gaps, and there are special laying methods in some key parts, which can ensure the stability of the wall and also have decorative effects." As time goes by, the trainees continue to grow in training. In the mid-term assessment, they need to demonstrate their understanding of Siheyuan culture and their communication plans. A student from Canada presented a cultural handbook he designed with Siheyuan as the theme: "In the handbook, I introduced the basic overview and cultural connotation of Siheyuan, as well as my experience of living and studying here. I hope that this handbook can be circulated in schools and communities in Canada so that more people can understand Siheyuan culture." A student from Australia proposed a plan to use social media to promote Siheyuan culture online: "I plan to make interesting short videos about Siheyuan culture and publish them on international social platforms to attract the attention of young people. For example, I will film the production process of traditional Siheyuan handicrafts with vivid explanations." After a year of training and assessment, a group of outstanding "international inheritance ambassadors of Siheyuan culture" finally stood out. At the graduation ceremony, He Luo said to them: "You are the hope of the spread of Siheyuan culture. I hope you will bring the knowledge and love you have learned here back to your own country and let Siheyuan culture shine all over the world." These inheritance ambassadors returned to their respective countries with their missions, and the inheritance and development of Siheyuan culture around the world has also opened a new chapter.

# Rebirth of Siheyuan: Brilliant Life (Continued 55) After the graduation ceremony of the "Siheyuan Culture International Heritage Envoy Training Program", these envoys from all over the world returned to their own countries with their love for Siheyuan culture and the mission of inheritance. They are like seeds of culture, taking root and sprouting in different lands. In Egypt, the envoy Amir, who majored in archaeology, took action immediately after returning to his country. He contacted local museums and cultural institutions, hoping to hold a special lecture on Siheyuan culture. When communicating with the director of a museum, Amir said: "Director, Siheyuan culture and our Egyptian culture have many things worth comparing and learning from each other. In this lecture, I want to introduce to you the unique architectural art and cultural connotation of Siheyuan. I believe this will bring new perspectives to our Egyptian cultural research and inheritance." The director was very interested: "This is a very novel topic. You can talk in detail about the uniqueness of Siheyuan culture in architecture and folklore, as well as its connection with Egyptian culture, and we will help you promote this lecture." On the day of the lecture, many Egyptian cultural enthusiasts and scholars came. Amir stood on the podium and began to introduce: "As a traditional Chinese architecture, the layout of the Siheyuan embodies strict hierarchy and family order, just like the layout of the temple in our Egyptian architecture also reflects religious and social hierarchy. For example, the main room of the Siheyuan is usually inhabited by the elders, which is similar to the different functions of different areas in our Egyptian temples. They are all expressions of order culture." An Egyptian scholar asked: "What is the essential difference between the decorative art of the Siheyuan and the decoration of our Egyptian architecture?" Amir replied: "The decoration of the Siheyuan is mostly based on natural elements and auspicious meanings, such as the flower and bird patterns in wood carvings that symbolize beauty. Egyptian architectural decoration is more related to religious mythology, like the patterns of gods on the walls of temples. But both have emotional sustenance for a better life, but the forms of expression vary due to different cultural backgrounds." In Brazil, art teacher Maria incorporated Siheyuan cultural elements into her classroom teaching. When teaching her students, she said: "Children, today we are going to learn about an architectural culture from faraway China - the Siheyuan. Look at the wood carving art in these Siheyuans (showing pictures), they are created by craftsmen with superb skills, and each pattern has a meaning. We can try to incorporate this artistic style into our paintings and handicrafts." A student asked: "Teacher, how do we combine the wood carving patterns of the Siheyuan with our Brazilian characteristics?" Maria smiled and said: "This is a good question. We can combine the tropical plant patterns of Brazil with the delicate lines of the Siheyuan wood carvings to create a new art style. For example, use the Siheyuan wood carving techniques to carve Brazilian parrots and flowers." In Italy, Luca, a student participating in the program, actively cooperated with the local architecture school. He told the professors of the college: "The wisdom of space utilization in Siheyuan architecture is worthy of our study. It creates a comfortable, private and social environment in a limited space. We can add case analysis of Siheyuan to modern architecture courses to let students understand the architectural space concepts under different cultural backgrounds." The professor agreed: "Yes, this can broaden students' design ideas. You can prepare some detailed Siheyuan space analysis materials, such as how the courtyard design of the Siheyuan achieves lighting and ventilation, and how the relationship between different rooms is coordinated." After Luca prepared the materials, he explained to the students in class: "You see, the courtyard of the Siheyuan is the core of the entire space. It is not only the key to lighting and ventilation, but also the center of communication for family members. This way of organizing space around the central courtyard can be used as a reference in the design of some small community buildings to create a cohesive living environment." A student asked: "What enlightenment does the choice of building materials for Siheyuan have for the choice of modern building materials?" Luca replied: "The Siheyuan mainly uses natural materials such as wood and blue bricks, which are environmentally friendly, durable and beautiful. In modern architecture, we can also consider using more natural materials or developing new materials with similar properties, while paying attention to the coordination between the materials and the local environment." In South Korea, Kim Soo-hyun, the student who participated in the renovation of the Siheyuan, communicated with the local traditional building protection organization after returning to his country. He said: "In the process of repairing the Siheyuan, I learned a lot of ways to protect traditional buildings. For example, their principle of repairing and replacing ancient building materials is not to simply update, but to try to maintain the charm and function of the original materials. We can also learn from this concept in the protection of traditional Korean buildings." The organization members asked: "Then what are the specific restoration techniques of the Siheyuan that are worth learning from?" Kim Soo-hyun replied: "When repairing walls, roofs and other structures, the Siheyuan uses a combination of traditional craftsmanship and modern scientific testing. First, the degree of damage to the structure is detected by scientific means, and then traditional craftsmanship is used to repair it to ensure the authenticity of the building. We can introduce similar technologies in the restoration of traditional Korean buildings to improve the quality of restoration." As these international heritage ambassadors actively carry out Siheyuan cultural promotion activities in their respective countries, Siheyuan culture has formed a wider dissemination network internationally. More and more people are beginning to understand Siheyuan culture and have discovered new cultural values ​​in cultural comparison and integration. He Luo and Lin Yue closely follow these developments. They keep in touch with the envoys, constantly provide them with new support and information, and jointly promote the inheritance and development of Siheyuan culture around the world, making Siheyuan culture a cultural bond connecting different countries and nationalities.