临夏位于大西北甘肃南部夏河之畔,地处东西交通要冲,是回、汉、藏等民族贸易集散之地。自古以来商业发达,手工业制作技艺精湛(铜器、木器等),经济繁荣,促使当地建筑业发展。在封建社会里,对王公百官和庶民的宅第有严格的规定,《明史·舆服志》记载,“庶民庐舍……不许用拱斗、饰彩色”。在这封建制度下,使一般地主商家,纵有万贯资财,在民间宅院建筑上不敢妄用汉白玉、琉璃等材料。因此,富而不贵的商人只得在砖刻上大下功夫。由于封建宗族思想与乡土观念的影响,经商致富的人们把大量积蓄营建寺院、园林、住宅等建 Linxia is located in the northwest of Gansu in the north of the Xiahe River, located in the east-west traffic hub, is back to the Han, Tibetan and other ethnic trading hub. Since ancient times, commercial development, handicraft production superb (bronze, wood, etc.), economic prosperity, prompting the local construction industry. In the feudal society, there were strict regulations on the lords of the princes and the common people and the records of “History of Ming and Yu Dynasties,” “common people’s cottages ... are not permitted to use colored arches and ornaments.” In this feudal system, so that the general landlord of the merchant, despite the long-term capital, building dwelling in civilian dare not resort to white marble, glass and other materials. Therefore, the rich businessman had to work hard on the brick. Due to the influence of feudal clan ideas and local ideas, people who make money by doing business built large amounts of money to build monasteries, gardens, houses, etc.