The Study of Space Organization and Characteristic on Chinese Traditional Courtyard in Pingyao Ancient City

The courtyard life style ever existed as the major traditional living form in wide north China areas. The research made case study and specific analysis on the space organization, constitution and order of the courtyard living, as well as the dwelling accessory manners and transfer space patterns both inside and outside of the courtyard. Pingyao ancient city as the research sample (object), its courtyard composition, classification and characteristic are studied profoundly to explore local traditional cultural traits. On upon the analysis, the research is concluded that the civil courtyard in the ancient Pingyao city bears the feature of in a continuous changing process, which represented as 'from confined to opening', 'from narrow to wide', 'from public to private'. Despite of the courtyard dwelling location and direction, all accessories architectural items on the main room roof were influenced by the geomantic omen culture. As of the inside wall body, entrance and side wall of the courtyard, the woodcraft, stone carving, brick carving on above not only could functioned in architecture artistic, but also express the traditional education spiritual feature.