Board tile house and Tuzhang house of Yi Ethnic Group

The Yi ethnic group (彝族) predominantly lives in mountainous regions of southwestern China, including Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi. Most Yi villages are located on gentle slopes and typically consist of 20–30 households, forming tight-knit communities. Their traditional houses vary widely, including Chacha house, shack, Wooden Luoluo, Board Tile House (板瓦房), Thatched Cottage, and Tuzhang House (土掌房). Among these, Board Tile Houses and Tuzhang Houses are notable for their distinctive ethnic features.

Board Tile House: Symbol of Liangshan Yi Architecture

Board Tile Houses are most common in the Big and Small Liangshan Yi regions (大凉山/小凉山) in Sichuan.

Structure and Materials:

• The walls are built with soil or bamboo basketry.
• The roof is covered with wooden boards as tiles, with stones placed on top to secure them.
• The house is divided into three main sections:
  1. Haku (inner room, 哈库): Used as the private living space, storing valuables. Yi culture strongly restricts outsiders from entering this room, and touching personal items is considered disrespectful.
  2. Principal room: Center of family activities, eating, drinking, and entertaining guests. A fire pit burns year-round, serving as both heating and cooking stove, and stepping over it is forbidden.
  3. Gaba (outer room, 嘎巴): Storage space for daily tools and farming equipment, including water vats and stone mills.

Cultural Significance: The layout reflects Yi traditions of privacy, hospitality, and practicality, highlighting the wisdom and lifestyle of the Liangshan Yi.

Tuzhang House: Flat-Roof Heritage of Yunnan Yi

Tuzhang Houses (土掌房) are predominantly found in the mid-southern region of Yunnan (滇中南地区). These flat-roofed houses are built using a combination of wood and rammed earth, typically at the foot of hills.

Construction Details:

• Posts and walls: Wooden poles form the frame; walls are rammed with earth, slab stones, or adobe.
• Roof: Crossbeams and purlins support a base of boards, bamboo, or pine leaves, covered with mud mixed with lime for reinforcement.
• Eaves: Slab stones 2–3 cm thick protect the roof edges.

Functional Features:

• Temperature control: The house is warm in winter and cool in summer.
• Fire resistance: The thick earth roof offers protection against fire, earning it the nickname “fire banking house”.
• Roof use: The flat roof serves as a drying area for crops and a cool space during summer.

Multi-Storey and Courtyard Layouts

Some Yi homes are two-storey buildings, with:

• First floor: Living space for the family.
• Second floor: Storage for grain and goods.

Advanced houses are arranged as closed courtyards with “three principal rooms and two side rooms”:

• Principal room: Tall and spacious, used by parents and guests.
• Side rooms: Serve as kitchen and children’s rooms.

The careful design ensures hygiene, orderliness, and practicality, demonstrating the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the Yi people.

Cultural Experience for Travelers

Visiting Yi villages allows travelers to experience:

• The architectural diversity of traditional Yi homes.
• Board Tile Houses and Tuzhang Houses, which reflect ethnic culture, family hierarchy, and functional wisdom.
• A glimpse into mountainous village life, hearth-centered living, and rural heritage.

These traditional structures are living museums of Yi culture, offering an authentic cultural and visual experience for visitors exploring Liangshan and Yunnan Yi communities.