Among the traditional Chinese dwellings, the earth kiln can be said to be unique, in the north of Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province, north of the loess plateau and the plain junction, there is a peculiar kind of cave kiln, the local people call the earth kiln, also known as the patio courtyard.
The underground kiln is a square plank excavated downward on a flat piece of land as a patio, and then excavated along the pit wall on three sides to form a cave, and the other side opens a slope to the ground, thus forming an underground courtyard. Supposedly; The earth kiln has a history of more than 2,000 years, warm in winter and cool in summer, resistant to storing food and grounded gas. At the time of its prosperity, there were more than 50,000 courtyard kilns distributed in the area of more than 100 kilometers north of Xianyang City from east to west, and more than 200,000 people lived in the kilns. To go to the kiln to interview, you must be led by locals, because when you enter the village, you can see the trees and don't see the house, you can't see people when you hear the sound, and if you don't pay attention, it is easy to fall. With the development of the economy, the masses living in the kiln have successively moved into new houses and new villages, but there are still some elderly people in the grade who are reluctant to leave, and the kiln is their eternal memory.
Anzi Xin lao Kou has lived in the kiln for more than 50 years, and although he has built a new house, he is still willing to live in the kiln in the summer In 2018, he took a photo in Yongshou Yong'an Village
When my aunt heard that someone was coming to collect the eggs, she prepared it early. Photographed in Anyuan Village, Chunhua County in 2011
The ground kiln is cool and humid in winter and summer, and the quilt should be dried frequently in Chunhua Dongzhuang Village in July 2018
Some people in the kiln are married, and the whole village comes to see the liveliness in Changcun, Chunhua County, 2005
The kiln is resistant to storing food, eating noodles that are hand-ground by hand In 2016, it was taken in The Jiangjiashan Village in Chunhua
Gao Laohan is a five-guarantee household, more than eighty years old to carry water on the kiln surface, taken in 2007 in Chunhua County Chewu Village
Chickens are the companion and hope of the elderly, and eggs can be exchanged for some pockets. Photographed in 2008 in Qiaoshang Village, Xunyi County
The old man used his own field to tie a broom in a kiln, and was photographed in 2000 in Chewu Village, Chunhua County
Ma Laohan had only recently fixed the kiln with bricks, and his mood was very comfortable riding on the kiln surface. Photographed in 2011 in Beishe Village, Mihara County
On busy days, the family is beating wheat on the kiln surface and shouting when they eat. Photographed in Anyuan Village, Chunhua County in 2012
Niu Cuicui married from southern Shaanxi in the sixties to live in the kiln, and the children want to see her today, and the old man looks out. Taken in 2012 in Caojiazui Village, Chunhua County.
The sun shines in the kiln for only three or four hours a day. Taken in 2010 in Qiaoshang Village, Chunhua County.
Wang Jun and Xue Xiulan have been living in the kiln since they got married, and when they saw that everyone else had moved into a new house, the two old men could only look at the kiln and sigh. Zhangzhai Village, Chunhua County, 2012 (2)
The three sons and daughters of the elderly Wang Zhiying have built new houses, but the two old people have to return to the kiln for a few days in 2016 in Chunhua Qiwunan Village
Wu Da Niang's kiln is next to Qianling, and the handicraft work she does is famous in Liuchi Village, Qianxian County in 2011
Kiln head post couplet hopes to have a good hope for the coming year In 2012, it was taken in Chunhua County
Drying corn in a kiln in 2010 in Qinli Village, Chunhua County
The two old men have been married for more than 50 years and are still taking a group photo for the first time. Photographed in 2002 in Shiliyuan Village, Chunhua County
This reel has been used for more than 60 years or made in the hands of his father in 2012 in Dayang Village, Liquan County
This is a kiln courtyard composed of 9 hole kilns, and it was also counted as a large household in the village at that time. Photographed in Anyuan, Chunhua County, in 2010
Zhang Xiping
He is a member of the China Photographers Association and the chairman of the Xianyang Photographers Association.
Engaged in photography creation for more than 30 years, mainly documentary photography and news photography, long-term attention to shooting people's livelihood and humanistic folklore themes, more than 100 photographic works have won awards in international and domestic influential photography competitions.
Recent Achievements:
Won the 13th National Photography Stars Award
The 2nd Shaanxi Provincial Photography Creation Award
Xianyang City has an expert award for outstanding contributions