Fujian Tulou Construction Techniques in Nanjing and Hua'an

Nanjing County, Fujian, is home to approximately 15,000 Tulou structures, including over 1,300 large square and circular buildings, earning it the title “Kingdom of Tulou.” It boasts the tallest, largest, smallest, most unusual, oldest, and most spectacular Tulous. Key examples include the Tianluokeng and Hekeng Tulou clusters, Huaiyuan Lou, and Hegui Lou. Thousands of these structures, resembling “UFOs from the sky” or “mushrooms from the earth,” dot the landscape, forming a unique and mythical architectural phenomenon praised as “anunparalleled rural building model in the world.”

Hua’an Tulous are sited and laid out according to traditional feng shui principles, balancing family prosperity and safety. Their designs are scientific, functional, and systematic, reflecting modern living concepts. Er Yi Lou in Dadì Village, Xiandu Town, is an outstanding example. It was the first Fujian Tulou listed as a Major National Historical Site and is treasured as a gem of global vernacular architecture.

Tulou construction skillfully uses mountainous terrain and local materials like raw earth, wood, and stone. These structures are cost-effective, robust, defensive, and aesthetically pleasing. They represent both technical innovation in earth-building methods and the essence of traditional Chinese culture, serving as a testament to communal clan-based living.

Earthen walls are built using traditional ramming tools such as formwork, rammers, and tamping boards. The process requires strict control over soil selection, mixing, moisture level, compaction, and repair. Carpenters design and build the wooden frames. Dividing circular buildings equally into rooms demands advanced skill to ensure structural integrity.

The ancient rammed-earth technique is the culmination of thousands of years of construction wisdom from Central China. It represents the highest achievement of rammed-earth civilization and is regarded as an architectural marvel.

However, modern construction methods and materials are pushing this ancient technique to the brink of extinction. This craft holds significant historical and research value and urgently requires preservation and transmission.