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When did Beijing's siheyuan begin to be constructed?
Siheyuanis the traditional courtyard-style residence of Beijing. It is called siheyuan because the house in it are constructed in such a way than zhengfang (the main house), xiangfang (the wing house) and daozuo (house facing the main house ) are connected with walls and that the whole complex creates an enclosed square courtyard. It has been served hundred years since this kind of architectural form took shape.
In the late years of the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234 A.D.), Zhongdu (then the capital) suffered from severe damages and became desolate. The new capital city Dadu of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 A.D.) was constructed to the northeast of Zhongdu and in the meantime siheyuan, a new style of residential house, shaped and developed. The great Italian traveller, Marco Polo, once praised the ingenious and elegant design of this highly original house style created by ancient Chinese people as beyond description of any language. (from A Hundred Questions on the Chinese Culture)
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