"It is better to live in a house than to live in a room with bare elbows" is a common saying that is widely spread in rural areas of the mainland. It expresses the idea of a dwelling that prefers a slightly more spacious house than a cramped, cramped "open elbow house". So, what is the "elbow room"? and what is the reason behind this saying?
What is a "baring elbow room"?
An "open elbow room" is a house that is so small that it is difficult for the occupants to turn around in the room, and even need to move carefully so as not to touch the furniture or walls. This type of house is generally small in size and unreasonable in layout, causing the occupants to feel depressed and uncomfortable. In the past, due to the limited economic conditions, the housing conditions of many families were relatively difficult, so "open elbow houses" became a common phenomenon.
Why is it "better to live in an over-the-top house than in an open-elbow room"?
1. Comfort factor
It is human instinct for people to pursue a comfortable living environment. Too narrow a house space can cause people to feel depressed and affect their physical and mental health. A slightly more spacious house can provide a better living experience, make the occupants happy, and contribute to family harmony.
2. Factors of family demand
In traditional rural families, the phenomenon of three generations living in the same house and four generations living in the same house is more common. This requires that there is enough space in the family house to accommodate family members. Houses that are too narrow cannot meet the living needs of family members, leading to family conflicts. A spacious house can better meet the living needs of family members and is conducive to family harmony.
3. Feng Shui concept factor
In the rural areas of the mainland, the concept of feng shui is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Many people believe that the spaciousness of the house is closely related to the fortune of the family. A spacious house represents a prosperous family, while a narrow house means a declining family fortune. Therefore, in pursuit of family fortune, people prefer to choose spacious houses.
4. Social status factors
In rural societies in the past, housing conditions were often linked to the economic status and social status of the family. A spacious house means that the family is financially well-off and has a higher social status. Narrow houses, on the other hand, make people feel that the family is financially difficult and has a low social status. In order to maintain family and social status, people are more inclined to choose spacious houses.
"Open elbow room" in modern living environment
With the rapid economic development of the mainland, the housing conditions in rural areas have been greatly improved. However, in some urban areas, many young people still face housing problems due to the shortage of land resources and high housing prices. In order to save money, they had to choose to rent a cramped "open elbow room".
In this case, the proverb no longer seems to apply. However, this does not mean that there are no problems with "open elbow rooms" in modern living environments. In fact, too narrow a living space can still have a negative impact on the physical and mental health of the occupants. Therefore, how to improve the living environment and improve the living comfort under limited conditions has become a major challenge for modern urban residents.
The saying "I'd rather live in a house with too much head than in a room with my elbows exposed" reflects the people's pursuit and expectations for the living environment in the rural areas of the mainland. In modern society, although housing conditions have improved greatly, many people still face housing difficulties. This proverb reminds us that under limited conditions, how to improve the living environment and improve the comfort of living is a problem worthy of our consideration and attention. At the same time, we should also pay attention to the issue of urban housing, strive to provide better living conditions for the vast number of urban residents, and achieve the goal of having a place for all the people to live in.