Recently, young faculty member Xiong Wei and her team from the College of Landscape Architecture at Sichuan Agricultural University published a research paper in "Heritage Science," scientifically revealing the authenticity and effectiveness of landscape architectural heritage values in traditional Tibetan-Qiang settlements in western Sichuan.
Ancient rural settlements bear witness to the development and evolution of related histories, cultures, politics, and economies, constituting an important part of cultural heritage. Exploring the heritage value of ancient settlements contributes to a deeper understanding and contemplation of the historical changes and resilient transformations of cultural landscapes in the processes of globalization and urbanization. However, due to its involvement in multiple fields such as history, culture, landscape, architecture, and archaeology, this important work is complex and systematic, making it a significant challenge in current global research on rural settlements.
Diaolou villages are a unique form of settlement among the Tibetan-Qiang ethnic group in western Sichuan. With their profound historical and cultural heritage, adaptive settlement forms, and ancient unique architectural styles, they are important cultural relics formed by adapting to the environment and transforming nature in turbulent social backgrounds. Researching the visual perception of architectural heritage in these villages can directly provide evidence for the authenticity of the heritage value of ethnic settlements in western Sichuan. It holds significant scientific and practical value for understanding the relationship between human activities and heritage, evaluating heritage functions, and visualizing heritage in the region. Due to the difficulty in obtaining direct evidence from village samples, previous studies have mainly relied on field surveys and historical literature analysis, leaving visual quantitative research on heritage functions nearly blank.
The team led by Xiong Wei has constructed a multi-dimensional spatial model of the Diaolou villages in western Sichuan using digital technology. From the perspective of landscape archaeology, they have reconstructed the visual relationships of the Diaolou villages, meticulously analyzing the spatial relationships between defense levels, ranges, pathways, and different landscape elements. This confirms that rural settlements utilize natural ecological advantages combined with rational settlement locations and Diaolou layouts, thereby constructing a visual defense system that is systematic, hierarchical, and effective. This integration of digital technology in practical exploration represents a pioneering effort in the quantitative empirical research field of Diaolou village defense systems in western Sichuan.
The strategy model, provided by Sichuan Agricultural University, not only offers crucial and scientifically grounded support for the preservation and development of rural settlement visual features but also serves as a vital pillar for the application for regional cultural landscape heritage. Furthermore, through the exploration of the functional value and historical significance of landscape heritage, it unveils the ecological wisdom of symbiosis between humans and the environment. This approach provides a fresh perspective for uncovering the cultural connotations of regional landscapes and rural architecture, thus facilitating the coordinated and sustainable development of rural heritage conservation and utilization.
For more information, refer to the related paper: Link
