封建时代,门堂制度是礼制的重要组成部分.统治者对各种门堂的建制做出集体而严格的规定,使宅门从建筑的规模、形式、装修色彩、建筑材料的使用等各方面都划分出森严的等级,从而使宅门成了宅主人社会地位和经济地位的重要标志.这种观念渗透到社会生活领域又派生出门第、门阀、门派、门户等各种复杂的等级观念,深刻地影响着人们的生活.北京四合院宅门分为屋宇式门和墙垣式门、屋宇式门主要有广亮大门,金柱大门,蛮子门,如意门等.

In the feudal era the hierarchical system of gateways is an important representation of social etiquette. Governors have set strict rules and official standards for construction of various types of gateways. These rules clarify the hierarchical system by variables such as scale, form, ornamental color and materials. These concepts have spread into every domain of social life and have been further developed into a series of hierarchical ideas such as family status, clique, school and faction which have influnced people’s lives. The gateways in Beijing courtyard housing have two types—roof-gateway and wall-gateway. Guangliang Gate, Golden Column Gate, Manzi Gate and Ruyi Gate belong to the type called roof-gateway.