-
Wonders on the earth
倚山偎翠，方圆错落，似古堡巍峨
苍朴，如现代体育馆气势恢弘，像地下
冒出的
“
蘑菇
”
绚丽多彩，赛从天而降的
“
飞碟
”
壮观神奇，这就是永定客家
土楼
——
独一无二的世界民居。以生
土夯筑，却巧夺天工。安全坚固，防风抗震，冬
暖夏凉，阴阳调和，处处洋溢着客家人的
聪明才智。雕刻、楹联、书法、乡土气
息浓郁的民俗风情，土楼的每一幅画卷，都令人流
连驻足，生发无限遐思。
In
the
mountainous
areas
in
the
western
part
of
Fujian,
there
are
numbers
of
earth
buildings, either round or square. The
architectural structure, carvings, pillar couplets
of
these
dwelling
houses
reflect
the
wisdom
and
creativeness
of
the
Hakkas.
When
you visit the unique buildings of the
world, you can hardly tear yourself away from
them.
The Hakkas
were people who settled in Fujian from the Central
Plains of China. After
more
than
1,000
years
of
struggle
they
formed
their
original
folk
customs
in
their
residential buildings such as their
food, drink, dressing, education and religion.
These
are
the
main
components
of
Hakkas
culture,
of
which
the
most
unique
is
the
earth
buildings.
The earth buildings were built with the
combination of good points of various kinds of
Chinese residential buildings as well
as the wisdom and creativeness of the ancestors
of
the
Hakkas
settlers
in
Yongding.
They
are
like
brilliant
pearls
amongst
the
architectural
beauties
in
the
world.
According
to
the
early
settlers’
philosophy
of
heaven
and
earth,
which
held
that
the
heaven
was
round
and
the
earth
was
square,
earth buildings in Yongding include
varieties of square and round houses combined
together.
Thousands
of
these
buildings
were
built
in
the
Qing
Dynasty,
with
thick
walls,
ingenious
structures
and
various
functions
such
as
protection
against
high
winds,
earthquakes
and
hot
and
cold
weather.
They
also
served
as
a
guard
against
enemies. All these buildings were
furnished for living, storage and cooking and can
accommodate a clan of hundreds of
family members to live a happy life together.
Within the
buildings, there are several pillar couplets,
carvings, examples of ancient
calligraphy, and other cultural
treasures, which reflect the Hakkas spirit of hard
work,
thrift, creativeness and their
emphasis on education and deep patriotism.
Zhencheng
Building
—
the most
magnificent round building
振成楼
—
最富丽堂皇的圆楼