Qin Family Residence in Nansong Village, Changzhi, Shanxi

The Qin Family Residence is a Ming Dynasty standard Shanxi-style siheyuan (courtyard house) complex, with the existing central, east, and west courtyards interconnected. The three existing courtyards—central, east, and west—are spatially linked through corridors and gate towers. The architectural complex follows the traditional Shanxi siheyuan layout, with the central, east, and west courtyards interconnected. The building layout is compact and rational, emphasizing fire prevention and theft protection in its design. The roof uses a hard mountain style structure, with the main ridge decorated with peony-patterned brick carvings, and the ends of the eaves adorned with chiwen (mythical beast) heads. The complex highlights fire and theft prevention features, with the central, east, and west courtyards interconnected. The doors, windows, and wood, stone, and brick carvings have significant artistic value. Fire prevention measures include stone water jars stored within the courtyards and independent fire isolation passages. Doors and windows feature traditional lattice patterns such as swastika and ice crack designs, with door pins carved with the seal script characters for "double blessings of fortune and longevity." The screen wall preserves a brick carving of the "Deer and Crane Welcoming Spring" motif, created using high-relief techniques. The stone bases of the columns are carved with various patterns including lotus petals and cloud motifs, with the column bases in the main hall of the west courtyard being particularly artistically valuable. This site is a key cultural relic protection unit of Shanxi Province.