What is a door that divides indoor and outdoor space?

A partition is a door that separates indoor and outdoor space. Partition is a kind of door in ancient China, which was used to separate indoor and outdoor space. The partition door can not only connect the inside and outside, but also separate the space, and at the same time, it can transmit light and ventilate, so it has the functions of door, window and wall. The partition door appeared in the Tang Dynasty and was widely used after the Song Dynasty to separate the interior space of the house facing the inner courtyard.

For example, the partition fan in the Hall of Supreme Harmony is mainly composed of plastering head (crossbar), upper partition fan core and lower skirt. Among them, the partition core accounts for the largest proportion in the partition fan. The decorative pattern of the partition core is sparse, which provides a fulcrum for pasting paper and mounting silk, and also plays a role in ventilation and lighting. Because the partition core will take different decorative forms, this part is the part that can best reflect the artistic characteristics of the partition fan and is the focus of decoration.

The partition door of the Forbidden City

It should be noted that only the facade (south facade) of the important palaces of the ancient buildings of the Forbidden City has doors and windows, and the rear facade (north facade) is all closed walls except the middle partition, which belongs to the practice of "negative yin holding yang" in geography and environment. "Holding the sun with negative yin" means that the building faces south, taking the Hall of Supreme Harmony as an example.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony faces south, with partitions and sill windows in the south and basically closed in the north. There are geographical reasons: The Yellow River Basin in China is located in the most prominent subtropical monsoon climate zone in the northern hemisphere, and a high pressure forms in the northwest of the Asian continent in winter.

There has been a north wind for several months; In summer, the center of high pressure turns to the southeast Pacific Ocean, and the rainy season winds from the south make the temperature rise and the heat is pressing. Under this geographical condition, it is most suitable for buildings to sit facing south, with the north side closed to keep out the cold and the south side with windows, which can provide lighting and ventilation in summer.