Huo'er house is representative of the traditional dwellings in South China's Lingnan region. [Tuchong]

Huo'er house is representative of the traditional dwellings in South China's Lingnan region. Huo was a kind of large pot in ancient times. Er means ear in Chinese. The dwelling received its name "huo'er" because its gable is shaped like the ear of huo.

Lingnan region refers to the areas south of the five mountains, namely Yuecheng, Dupang, Mengzhu, Qitian and Dageng mountains. Huo'er house is constructed with flagstone and black bricks. Two rows of semicylindrical tiles are used to cover the top of the gables. Building the gables is the most important, and expensive part, of constructing the house.

The top of the gables and the ridge of the house are usually decorated with brick sculptures and colorful paintings, with various patterns, such as birds, flowers and legendary figures. 

The gables can deflect direct sunlight to reduce the heat inside the house. The gables can also prevent the spread of fire. Viewed from the front, the gable looks like two ears of a large pot. While viewed from the side, the gable, together with the outer wall, resembles the Chinese character 凸.

People in the Lingnan region also think the gable resembles the two sides of a type of official's hat worn during ancient times. Legend had it that building such gables would bless people, so they could have prosperous careers, enjoy good fortune and live well-off lives. 

During the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1616-1911) dynasties, villagers who became wealthy, or who became officials, would always build a huo'er house to highlight their wealth and status.

In some villages in the Haizhu and Panyu districts, in Guangzhou, and Shunde District, in Foshan, in South China's Guangdong Province, there are huo'er houses that have been built with oyster shells. 

A typical huo'er house includes three rooms (in a row), two covered corridors and one courtyard. One room in the middle is a living room. The other two rooms are bedrooms. A courtyard is typically in front of the three rooms. The two covered corridors, one on each side of the courtyard, are usually used as kitchens and/or gate houses.

(Women of China English Monthly October 2020 issue)