As a kind of residential building unique in Shanghai,Shikumen houses
have been in existence for about 140 years sincethey first came into
being in the middle of 19th century. Duringthat long period of time,
millions of citizens in Shanghai as well asimmigrants from others parts
of the country have been carryingout their daily lives in Shikumen, to
which they felt attached bothphysically and emotionally.
Table of Contents
Preface Foreword Features of Shikumen Houses Shikumen in the Past The Origin of the Name The Evolution of Shikumen Houses Early Shikumen Houses Late Shikumen Houses Shikumen Houses with Cantonese Style New Lane Houses The Evolution of Doorways The Evolution of Shikumen Doorways The Evolution of Doorway Features of Courtyards in Shikumen Features of the Decoration of Shikumen Houses Names of Lanes in Shikumen Landlords in Shikumen Second Landlords in Shikumen
Shikumen in Recent Days Meilanfang Shangxianfang Wanyifang
Prospects of Shikumen Commercial Model Private Conservation Model Government Conservation Model
The Living Habits of Residents in Shikumen Living Habits Having Meals Washing Clothes Dumping out the Chamber Pot Enjoying the Cool Air
Slang in Shanghai Dialect Practicing Daochang-Taoist or Buddhist Rites-in the Shell of a Snail Hatching in the Sunshine Opening a Dormer Window Opening the Dormer and Getting it Straight
Relationships Between Neighbors Appellations Used to Address Each Other within the Neighborhood Care for Each Other Courtesy on Both Sides The Custom of Sharing Borrowing from Each Other Helping Each Other Receive Guests Frugality in Household Management Shrewd Housewives Making New Clothes out of the Old
Vendors in Lanes in Shiknmen Cries in the Lanes Cries from Dawn till Dusk Dawn Early in the Morning Breakfast In the Evening Late at Night
Cries in Different Seasons Early Summer Midsummer Late Summer and Early Fall
Cries of Selling Snacks Specialties Sweet Porridge Gingko Rice Flour Balls with Sweet Fermented-Rice Gardenia Pear-Flavored Sugar
The Repairers' Cries Crying for "Buying" Brolly Maintenance Wooded Frame Coir Rope Mattress Maintenance Sharpening Knives and Polishing Scissors Chinaware Maintenance
Stalls and Shops in the Lanes Shoemaker's Stall Book Stand Barber Stand Popped Rice Tiger Stove
Children's Games in Shikumen Hide and Seek Leapcamel Rolling the iron Ring Playing Diabolo Knee Wrestling Spinning the "Wretch" Slapping Tofu-Like Paper Cards Police and Pirates Dropping the Handkerchief Rubber Band Jumping Kicking the Shuttlecock Hawk Catching Chicks Rope Skipping Pulling the Carrots Rock- Scissors - Paper Where Is My Friend? Marbles Slapping the Paper Cards The Cigarette Cards Playing with the Strings Fling the Little Beanbags Hopscotch
Humanities of Shikumen The Historical Sites of Shikumen The Site of the First National Congress of CPC: Shude Lane The Former Site of the Central Committee of China Communist Youth League: Yuyang Lane Activity Base of a New Culture: Mingde Lane Home of the Theatre Activists Sisters: Hehefang Favourite of the Foreign Heads: Bugao Lane Foundation of the Southern China Society: Huaihaifang Chinese Painting Masters: Yongyu Lane Romantic Encounter: Shangxianfang
Big Names out of Shikumen Lu Xun and Jingyun Lane Mao Dun and Jingyun Lane …… Folk Literature of Shikumen Appendix Tecent:Prize-Winning Compositions on Memories of Shikumen Bibliography Postscript