Dig the Ground to Make a Stove

Village Distribution and Clan Settlement

The Mulao people (仫佬族) tend to live in villages formed by clans with close blood ties. Residents of different surnames or ethnic groups can only be found in relatively large stockaded villages and towns.

General Features of Traditional Houses

Most local dwellings are single-storey buildings with brick walls and tiled roofs. Houses mainly constructed with cogongrass, bamboo and wood are rarely seen. A small number of two-storey brick and tile buildings can be found in well-off villages.

A standard traditional residence consists of a front hall, a rear hall and two side rooms on the left and right. One most distinctive feature of Mulao folk houses is the underground stove structure.

Introduction to Ground Stove

Origins and Structure

Concentrated Mulao settlements such as Siba, Dongmen and Huangjin are rich in coal resources. To make full use of this local resource, residents dig pits on the ground in kitchens or halls to build stoves, widely known as Ground Stove (地炉). Practical and rationally designed, it serves for heating, boiling water and cooking.

The ground stove is usually built on either side of the hall doorway. First, dig a large pit and lay bricks to form the stove base, then install a fire grate. Next, build the fire chamber, which is about 0.33 meters deep and 0.165 meters in diameter. A water jar is placed beside the stove, with its mouth level with the stove opening. An ash pit is dug in front of the stove and covered with a removable board.

Practical Functions All Year Round

Nearly every Mulao household is equipped with a ground stove, which is used all year long. People just add coal in the morning and evening to keep the fire burning around the clock. Heat permeates the surrounding soil and keeps the water in the jar warm, so hot water is always available.

The constant heat raises indoor temperatures and keeps the house warm in cold winters. In spring, it keeps the room dry and prevents food from spoiling. In summer, it is used to dry grains soaked by rain. In autumn, people roast sweet potatoes, radishes and other food on the stove surface.

Historical Records

The history of the ground stove dates back hundreds of years. In works written by Tian Rucheng during the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, there are records that the Mulao people "dug pits to build stoves and burned white charcoal". The so-called white charcoal refers to anthracite coal today. This traditional facility fully reflects the wisdom of Mulao ancestors in making good use of local natural resources.