Mao'ao Stone Houses Introduction
The stone houses in Matsu's Miaoao are a perfect example of "using local materials." The stone is sourced from coastal sandstone, the framework is made from bamboo collected from the nearby mountains, and the roofs were historically thatched with wild grass. The stone houses in Miaoao can generally be classified into three different styles and construction methods. The first type is a dragon-shaped, random stone construction, which is the most common and economical method; the walls are built with naturally rounded pebbles or rough-hewn stones of similar sizes, showcasing a rugged beauty. The second type is a single-stretch, horizontal stacking method, where stones are chiseled into even-height slabs and stacked horizontally layer by layer, resulting in a neat and orderly wall surface. The third type is a triadic courtyard style building with a herringbone pattern, which requires higher skill, strength, and cost; the walls are made of processed stones of equal length, slanted at approximately 45 degrees to create a distinctive herringbone pattern with interwoven mortar joints.
