砖雕寓意丰富
Rich meaning in the brick carvings
四合院建造很讲究砖雕，不论府第还是民宅，装饰砖雕的应用十分普遍，这些砖雕主要集中在门楼、墙面和屋脊之上，颇具观赏价值。精美的砖雕内容包括几何图形、动物、花草、树木等诸多题材。动物有龙、麒麟、狮子、牛、羊、马、猴、鹿、松鼠等；花木有梅、兰、竹、菊“四君子”；还有象征吉祥、长寿、多子多福的松、柏、寿桃、莲花、石榴、葡萄、牡丹、葫芦等；另有牡丹与凤凰组成的“富贵吉祥”、桃和蝙蝠组成的“多福多寿”、松树和仙鹤组成的“松鹤延年”等。四合院的大门是雕刻装饰的重点部位，雕刻内容丰富、题材广泛、大多为福禄寿喜，梅兰竹菊等。
Special attention was given to brick carving in the structures of Siheyuan, where the use of ornamental brick carvings was quite universal in both mansions and ordinary houses. These brick carvings found their way mainly on the gatehouses, the wall surfaces, and roofs, which had quite a high value of appreciation. The themes of these exquisite carvings included geometrical shapes, animals, flowers, plants, and etc. Carved in the bricks were animals such as the dragon, kylin, lion, bull, sheep, horse, monkey, deer, squirrel, and etc; plants such as the Four Gentlemen: the plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum; symbols of auspiciousness, longevity and a happy big family: the pine, cypress, longevity peach, lotus blossom, pomegranates, grapes, peony, hyacinth, and etc; patterns of "nobleness and auspiciousness" symbolized by the combination of peony and phoenix, "bliss and longevity" by peach and bat, and "longevity" by pine and crane, etc. The front gate of the Siheyuan was the key point for the carving with a large range of contents and themes, mostly expressing wishes for a happy life, good income, longevity, and happy events by symbols such as the plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum, and etc.
四合院的屋顶一般做成阴阳合瓦的屋面和清水脊，屋脊两端高高翘起两个尾，称“朝天笏”，俗称“蝎子尾”。在蝎子尾下方，点缀着以四季花、富贵花、松竹梅为雕饰题材的“花草砖”，取吉祥寓意。
高级宅院会在诸如什锦窗、门廊筒子、窗套等部位饰以精美的砖雕，以显示富贵高雅。戗檐雕刻题材尤其广泛，如鹤鹿同春、子孙万代、麒麟卧松、太师少师、博古炉瓶、鸳鸯荷花、玉棠富贵等。戗檐侧面的砖雕缝头上还常刻有万事如意、太极图等图案。
The roof was generally built with a roofing covered with tiles geared up and a water draining ridge, with both ends of the ridge tilted upward high into the air like tails called the "skyward tablets", popularly known as the "scorpion tails", dotted under which were "floral bricks" with seasonal flowers, rich and noble flowers, the pine, bamboo and plum blossom, and other symbols of auspiciousness.
High-class residential courtyards would have delicate brick carvings on the assorted window, porch tube, window cover and other parts to signify nobleness, affluence and elegance. The carvings on the canopy closure came with a large range of themes, such as the crane and deer blessed by spring, an endless line of descent, the kilin lying under a pine, the Grand Tutor Junior Tutor, Bogu furnace bottle, mandarin ducks amid lotus blossoms, and begonias signifying nobleness and prosperity, and etc. Also carved on the seam margin of the side of the canopy closure were patterns symbolizing good wishes, the Diagram of the Supreme Ultimate, and etc.
