TWQQF: Courtyard, Explained.

This is a traditional Chinese structure of shiheyuan. Shi is four, and he is combined. So it's four sides of buildings with each family member occupying a different wing, and they meet and have activities in the center courtyard. This is a 3-layered shiheyuan.





Source: zhidao.baidu.com
English label done by me.

As they get fancies, more sections, I think of it as more rectangles, are being added to the structure. For example, this is a 5-section shiheyuan.



Source: blog.sina.com

I posted a few pictures here as well.