Page:Glimpses into Chinese homes.djvu/16

 A suggestion of tents has been remarked in the one story buildings that everywhere prevail in Chinese architecture; but in the habits of the people there are no nomadic tendencies. Successive generations of one family live in the same house and cultivate the inherited acres. Sons and sons' sons bring home their brides to these patriarchal estates, and an additional room makes another home. Thus several generations dwell together in the same court, though it can hardly be said they all live under the same roof.

Temples, palaces, and hovels are all similar in design. The general style of buildings is one story, with slightly concave roof, and overhanging eaves. Various reasons have been assigned for the simplicity and the uniformity of design. It is sometimes attributed