Do you know why the threshold of an ancient house was as high as a knee, and why Feng Shui said that the threshold should not be broken or deformed?
As a part of traditional Chinese architectural culture, the threshold carries profound cultural significance and practical functions. The detrimental effects that may result from the breakage or deformation of the threshold you mentioned are mainly due to the traditional Chinese Feng Shui doctrine.
The threshold originally referred to the horizontal log under the door, and there must be a threshold at the entrance of a traditional Chinese house, which residents need to cross when entering and exiting the gate. This design is designed to cushion the pace of walking while preventing the intrusion of external forces. In the past, the threshold of the ancients was about the height of the knee, but today the threshold is not that high, about an inch or so. The materials used to make the thresholds are no longer limited to wood, and some use narrower, elongated stone strips to fasten them to the ground between the iron gate and the gate.
In Feng Shui, the threshold is considered to be the "air outlet" of the home, which is related to whether the "qi" of the house can enter and flow smoothly. If there is a problem with the threshold, such as a break, it will affect the flow of "qi" in the home, which will bring adverse fortune effects. The broken threshold is believed to symbolize the broken pillars and beams in the home, which is considered unlucky in feng shui and can lead to family discord and decreased fortune.
Therefore, maintaining the integrity and stability of the threshold is regarded as an important part of maintaining family harmony and fortune in traditional Chinese culture. Of course, in modern society, people may think more about the maintenance and replacement of thresholds from a practical and aesthetic point of view.
In general, the threshold is maintained not only to follow traditional customs and feng shui doctrines, but also to guarantee the functionality and aesthetics of the residence. If the threshold is worn, damaged or deformed, it can not only affect the appearance and structural stability of the building, but also pose a safety hazard due to inaccessibility. Therefore, whether from the perspective of practicality, aesthetics or traditional culture maintenance, attention should be paid to the maintenance and timely replacement of the threshold.
