Life of Plenty in a Century-old House

By CHEN XIAOBO

Binada lives in a 100-year-old house in Jiantang, a Tibetan settlement in Yunnan Province. Binada married and moved to Jiantang 40 years ago, and this century-old house bears witness to the vicissitudes of her life. The Tibetan wooden structure is simple, tall and spacious, and though it has stood there for decades, it remains the most imposing building in town. The house consists of two stories, and in the middle of the upper story is a large hall where family members sit around a fire, have meals and receive guests. Clustered around this hall are six smaller rooms, where Binada and her family live.

Because Binada paid so much attention to her children's education in their youth, today the three generations are living a life of plenty; the family owns three vehicles, three televisions, a motorcycle and numerous household appliances. Her oldest daughter, Songliqung, runs a boutique in the urban district, selling Tibetan everyday use articles and handicrafts, and both of Binada's two sons-in-law are self-employed. Her son Songwanbao works as both driver and guide ferrying foreign visitors to the Tiger Leaping Gorge. He and his newly wed wife Qilinyangzom live in a brightly decorated bridal chamber whose cheerful decor contrasts sharply with the solid and austere look of the main hall.

Binada's house wall is taller and stronger than others, and is reinforced with a mud and grass mixture each year. The view from the house encompasses the vast and smooth Deqen Plateau. In late autumn, when the sun sets in the west, the various colors reflected in the plateau disappear, and the grassy meadow is a plain golden yellow. The Tibetan style cottages distributed over the meadow give the whole scene the look of an impressionist painting.

Binada married and moved to Jiantang forty years ago, this century-old house bearing witness to the vicissitudes of her life.	Perseverant and industrious Binada is a good family housekeeper.
The third generation Qamba and Gyamchu, do their homework with the help of their aunt.
The house's large main hall is the usual setting for large family gatherings.	The family lives a life of plenty in a century-old house.