Foreword The modern concept of heritage may lend itself to reflecting on the achievements of humankind over the last century but the relationship between humanity and heritage will always be inextricably linked. Heritage is created by people over time and they derive benefits from heritage during their lifetime. Heritage gives form to human values enabling them to transcend time and space. Concepts of heritage continue to expand resulting in increasingly diversified heritage categories which in turn bring both new opportunities and challenges. Traditional Chinese Villages Bulletin (International Edition) may be able to provide appropriate solutions to this situation. The journal focuses on geographic, climatic, and environmental conditions specific to Chinese villages as well as living traditions, extant building techniques and craftsmanship in China. Studies on the interrelationship of these various elements are casting new light on the long history of Chinese civilization. Ancient philosophy and wisdom has nurtured wonderful art and culture that makes everyone born on the land proud of their home. Villages are also a form of “living heritage� which passes intangible cultural traditions of the local community from generation to generation, even when there are changes to the physical elements of heritage villages. Traditional Chinese Villages Bulletin is the first magazine of its kind to present to audiences world-wide the policies and leading practices on the conservation, rehabilitation and revival of traditional Chinese villages from a dynamic perspective. With the adoption of the World Heritage Convention in the 1970s, heritage values across different nations can be shared based on common principles and the application of theory and methodology that has resulted in a more coordinated effort in heritage conservation. This global network enables people of all the member states to express their pride and confidence in their own culture. It also fosters creativity, cultural exchange and increases understanding between different cultures. Such exchanges and improvements in mutual understanding can contribute to the creation of a strong foundation on which to build peace and prosperity for all humanity. I hope the Bulletin will truly become an international magazine with a global readership and will increase understanding and respect among different peoples through its simple message that heritage villages are an indispensable component of world heritage. Guo Zhan Vice President and Co-Secretary General, ICOMOS China Former Vice President, International Council, Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Photo provided by Zhang Shengjin .
CATALOGUE
PREFACE Traditional Chinese Villages have a long history, are numerous and are highly diverse. They are the medium through which Chinese civilization and culture has been carried on ever since the advent of agriculture in China. These villages are an expression of the Chinese traditional values and philosophy of “Man-Deity and Unity” that reflect harmony between people and their environment in spiritual, ecological and visual terms. They also reflect the enormous diversity of cultural landscapes, vernacular dwellings, social customs and habits as manifested in different natural and geographic conditions along with their historic origins and religions. Historic villages are an important part of Chinese cultural and intangible heritage. Some of these historic villages are already designated or have the potential to be designated as World Cultural Heritage Sites. Along with cities and towns, villages, including ones with historic value, form an important component in the formation of human settlement in China. It is “villages” that even to this very day still support agriculture production, accommodate almost half the Chinese population and are the true homeland of 250 million itinerant workers currently dwelling in large cities and towns in China. The conservation and development of China’s historic villages has been seriously threatened and faced enormous challenges during the rapid economic development that has occurred in China over the past few decades. The expected increase in the ratio of urbanization from 53.7% in 2013 to 70% in 2030 means many villages, including some historic villages, face the prospect of being demolished. Other threats include the general problem of environmental degradation, under-development and the migration of young people from the rural areas to large cities. Most people have come to the conclusion that the revival and sustainable development of China’s historic villages is one of the key challenges facing China’s future. For decades scholars who have shown a keen interest in the preservation and development of Chinese historic villages in a manner that is sensitive to their historic values have mainly focused their research on the history, culture, social aspects and conservation practices undertaken in historic villages. In recent years they have made a concerted effort to attempt to revive historic villages. They have taken a two-pronged approach. They have worked together with government in terms of policy and fiscal support as well as devoting considerable time and effort at working with village residents getting them to actively participate in the rehabilitation and preservation planning and practice that would like to see undertaken in these villages. Since 2003 the Chinese government has designated 276 villages as “Chinese Historic and Cultural Villages”, and more than 2000 villages as “Traditional Chinese Villages”. These categories of villages are entitled to receive considerable government support through the implementation of new pro-conservation policies and financial funding from the central government. There is the formation of a small ground swell of people including architects, artists and even some farmers themselves who are using new and creative means of reinstating the historic elements of many villages. Traditional Chinese Villages Bulletin was first published in 2012 in Chinese. The Bulletin is a professional magazine that hopes to make its readership familiar with government policy relating to traditional villages, experimental practices in the conservation and rehabilitation of these villages and specific case studies where the policies of the reinstatement of historic villages has been put into practice. We have chosen a selection of what the editors believe are extremely informative articles from previous issues with a summary translation in English. It is hoped that with broader dissemination a far greater number people will become better informed on the issues relating to the conservation of traditional villages and this will in turn facilitate greater communication amongst those who have a keen interest in seeing these villages preserved. It is hoped that armed with a greater knowledge of the subject more of our readership will strive hard to work as one united force in the promotion of the revival, reinstatement and sustainable development of Chinese traditional villages.
03 The Global Significance of Chinese Vernacular Architecture
09 2013 Annual Report on the Conservation And Development of Traditional Villages
13 Not the Fish But the Rod (A Vernacular Reconstruction of Ma’anqiao Villag)
23 Renovation of the Chen Family Historic Residence In Baoping Village, Sanya
29 The Last of An Ancestral People, An Observation of The Dulong Village In Yunnan
37 The Rural District of Nigou– An Example of Teochew Rural Life style
Dr. Ing. HUO Xiaowei Director of RCHCC, THUPDI SPURS Fellow of MIT
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The Global Significance of Chinese 1 Vernacular Architecture
II . Background During the 1990s Tsinghua University undertook research on approaches to conserve the integrity of entire villages as well as drawing up conservation master plans. Notable examples include the villages of Zhuge and Yuyuan in Zhejiang Province, Liukeng in Jiangxi, Fubaochang in Sichuan, and Guoyu and Xiwenxing in Shanxi. Vernacular architecture is an important category of heritage in the Third National Survey and Inventory on Heritage Architecture commissioned by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage in 2007. Vernacular architecture is an essential component of China’s cultural heritage and bears witness to two thousand years of
A singing creeks runs through the heart of Shaodong Village in Guizhou. In the background of end-less mountain ranges, a fleet of vernacular structure is stationed in an emerald sea.
I . The Principle The 1999 Charter on Built Vernacular Heritage adopted in Mexico begins with the following paragraph: “The built vernacular heritage occupies a central place in the affection and pride of all peoples…It is a focus of contemporary life and at the same time a record of the history of society. Although it is the work of humankind it is also the creation of time. It would be unworthy of the heritage of humankind if care were
III. Unique Characteristics Residential vernacular architecture and structures used for agricultural production in the rural areas of Europe and China are quite distinctive. However in many respects there are close similarities. The patriotic clan system, imperial examination system and pantheism have had a profound impact on rural life in China. The system has contributed to the diversity of vernacular architecture and greatly influenced the design of most public buildings in villages. Ethnic minorities also developed their own distinctive architectural designs and features which reflect their own traditional institutions and customs.
not taken to conserve these traditional harmonies which constitute the core of humankind's own existence.” The preservation of a village’s integrity is fundamental to the conservation of vernacular architecture.
1 This is an edited article in the Selected Works on the Conservation of Built Heritage, by CHEN Zhihua, published by Jiangxi Education Publishing House in December 2008.
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agricultural civilization in China making it a fundamental textbook on rural China.
Tangyue Village in Anhui is best known for its stone Memorial Archways dedicated to the Chinese virtues. These unique structures testify to the local bureaucrat-merchant culture.
Photographs are provided by the authors.
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The best example of Weilong House is found in Qiaoxiang Village in Guangdong. Such building complex serves as a living museum of Hakka architecture, art and customs.
IV . Cultural and Architecture Public structures include ancestral shrines, structures used for cultural functions, infrastructure and various types of temples. The patriotic clan system, the imperial examination system and pantheism have influenced the architectural design of villagers’ homes which account for the majority of buildings in villages. The patriotic
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clan system influenced building layouts and reflects strict social hierarchy in terms of age and gender. The imperial examination system has influenced the motifs and styles of components of traditional houses such as decorative door architraves, horizontal inscribed boards, plaques and couplets hanging from column pillars, honour columns as well as dedicated rooms such as studies and sitting rooms. Pantheism influenced the internal layout of the temples dedicated
to the local village gods, the Guardian God of Gates and various patron gods, as well as the belief in fengshui.
V. Diversity
Buddhist temples take on distinctly different forms throughout Tibetan and Bai ethnicity regions as well as Mongolian and Han regions.
There are over 50 ethnic minorities in China and their distinctive cultures are reflected in structures such as Diaolou watch-towers, drum towers and the highly ornamental Fengyu bridges. These structures are diverse in architectural form, technique and artistic style.
The Global Significance of Chinese Vernacular Architecture
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VI. Conclusion Each village has its own distinctive character and building systems that reflect the structure’s social hierarchy and function in daily life. Every structure is an integral part of this system with a specific function. No historic structure should be demolished simply based on a simple determination of quality or appearance. All structures should be subject to an assessment of significance and their conservation based on a thorough understanding of its value within the overall village system. Even structures that do not serve a modern purpose may also be assessed as having significance through the preservation of common memories and their loss would negatively impact on the integrity of the village. China shoulders an important responsibility to protect the diversity of built vernacular heritage and by doing so is making a contribution to the conservation of World Cultural Heritage.
Professor CHEN Zhihua He studied in the Department of Sociology in Tsinghua University in 1947. Two years later, he moved to the School of Architecture and graduated in 1952. Since then he was lecturing on Western Architectural History and Conservation before his retirement in 1994. As a co-founder of the Division of Vernacular Architecture in the School in 1989, he was known as a groundbreaking advocate of the Comprehensive Research and Conservation of Vernacular Built Heritage, and continued to work on both field investigation and desktop studies today.
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Wangkou Village in Jiangxi, named after its jade river, is located within an idyllic landscape, which is an ideal interpretation of the Chinese philosophy of harmony between man and nature.
The Global Significance of Chinese Vernacular Architecture
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2013 Annual Report on the Conservation and Development of Traditional Villages Traditional Chinese culture has been heavily influenced by agriculture. The history of China is in a large part preserved in traditional villages. FENG Jicai, co-chair of UNESCO’s International Organization of Folk Art has made the comment that, For five millennia the Chinese people have created a marvellous agricultural civilization, with traditional villages being the source of our idyllic past. Today half the population still lives on the land of their ancestors, passing on to the next generations our cherished memories. Despite the development of grand cities and their elite culture, it is villages that preserve our nation’s spirit and character through traditional life styles.
til then had survived for thousands of years. Raising China’s rural living standards is an important task that is also an indispensable element in the conservation of traditional villages. In December 2013 President Xi Jinping showed the importance he attaches to these villages in a speech where he referred to ‘the conservation of historic rural landscapes’ and traditional villages being a collection of ‘memorable nostalgia’. When discussing improvements in rural living conditions, Premier Li Keqiang issued instructions requiring that farmers’ wishes should be respected and that the character of villages be preserved; traditional culture should be encouraged to flourish as part of the effort to create a better rural environment. The central government’s guidelines emphasise the importance of traditional villages and the unique opportunity this presents China for their conservation and development.
When China’s level of urbanization reached 51.27% in 2011, it seemed nothing could stop this change and that urbanization posed a grave threat to China’s traditional villages that unProfessor LUO Deyin He earned his PhD degree in the School of Architecture, Tsinghua University in 2003. As Associate Professor at the School today, he is devoted to the Research and Conservation of Vernacular Architecture and Traditional Village while lecturing on Architectural History. Since 2012, he was Vice Chairman of the Committee of the Conservation and Development of Traditional Village at the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. E-mail:luody@tsinghua.edu.cn
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Photographs are provided by the authors.
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I . Definition In April 2012 a joint inventory of traditional villages was undertaken by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MoHURD), the Ministry of Culture (MoC), the Ministry of Finance (MoC) and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH). A traditional village was defined as ‘a village with a long history and a rich tradition that is significant in terms of its history, culture, science, art, society and the economy and that is worthy of conservation.’ Villages that have only recently been established can also be listed as traditional villages provided they have maintained past traditions. The purpose of these guidelines is an attempt to include a greater number of villages in the inventory that have been determined to have cultural value.
II. Work On Traditional Village Compiling an extensive inventory on traditional villages commenced in April 2012 with the first group of 646 villages being listed in October 2012. In July 2013 a second group of 915 villages were listed making a total of 1,561 listed villages. Listed villages have the following characteristics: A. Geographically located throughout all of China. However most of the villages are found in China’s southwest with only a small number located in eastern China and the coastal areas. B. Poor state of conservation due to the failure to recognize the importance of traditional rural culture, massive migra-
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tion from rural areas to towns and cities, government policies protecting farmland that has resulted in the demolition of old housing and construction of new houses, as well as tourism and overdevelopment resulting in the loss of historic fabric. C. Lack of clear administrative boundaries between villages and towns. In order to better conserve traditional villages, the three above mentioned ministries now require the archiving of relevant documentation and the development and implementation of conservation and development master plans for all listed villages. Operational guidelines entitled China’s Traditional Village Documentation Standards and Traditional Village Conservation and Development Planning Standards (Trial Version) have been drawn up by MoHURD. These guidelines focus on comprehensive investigation and characterization of traditional villages as well as providing a rationale for future development. Plan outlines for the first group of listed villages have been submitted and reviewed under the guidance of MoHURD. Training programs have been organized across the country to enable authorities involved in the management and planning of traditional villages to better understand the significance, theory and methodology of the conservation of traditional villages.
III. Research And Media In June 2013 the China Traditional Village Conservation and Development Research Centre was established jointly by the China Society for the Study of Folk Literature and Art and Tianjin Uni-
versity. It was established to promote theoretical study and practice in the conservation of traditional villages. A Department of Traditional Villages was also established under the Committee for Historically and Culturally Famous Cities and the Chinese Society for Urban Studies. A China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) internet search of traditional villages shows increased academic interest in this field with 267 papers found in a search undertaken in 2013. Media coverage of traditional villages has also followed this trend. Statistics compiled by Tsinghua Tongheng Urban Planning and Design Institute (THUPDI) show that there were 73 media and internet articles on traditional villages in the fourth quarter of 2013 covering areas such as designation, assessment, conservation and articles written by heritage professionals.
group of traditional villages to be listed. The total number of officially designated traditional villages is expected to reach 2,500 and will be highly representative covering all regions, ethnic groups, trades and climates in China. MoHURD is choosing suitable counties to undertake pilot programs to establish dedicated areas for the conservation and development of traditional village ensembles. Data collected on village planning, architectural settings and intangible heritage will be digitized to build a comprehensive national database to assist with future research, the dissemination of culture and tourism development. A diverse range of promotional activities in 2014 will be undertaken, including the production and broadcasting of television series, documentaries, photo and blog contests, exhibitions and general publications.
IV. The Future In a press conference in October 2013 the director of the Department of Village and Township Development, MoHURD commented on work on the conservation and development of traditional villages, stating that the focus should be on: a) constantly improving documentation; b) the development of national medium and long-term planning guidelines; c) improvement in management organizations; d) support for conservation and development planning and pilot rescue projects for endangered traditional villages; and e) the creation of a public communications platform and network3. 2014 will see the release of the third
2013 Annual Report on the Conservation and Development of Traditional Villages
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Not the Fish But the Rod A Vernacular Reconstruction of Ma’anqiao Village MU Jun,WAN Li,MA Jie,YANG Hua,ZHOU Tiegang,WU Enrong
Abstract The 2008 Sichuan earthquake brought about severe challenge to the reconstruction of underdeveloped villages. Ma’anqiao village was chosen as the Pilot Reconstruction Project for an attempt of adaptive and sustainable reconstruction, where Hong Kong and mainland university faculty and student volunteers contributed to a success that was later recognized by UNESCO.
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Photographs are provided by the authors.
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III . Improvement and Standardization Our team examined existing case studies and experimented with local materials to find an optimal rammed earth structure and construction technique to improve structural integrity. Measures included: A. Optimal Structural Frame. Building dimensions and rammed earth wall tectonics were improved for better seismic resistance. B. Standardized Construction and Tools. Laboratory and field experimentation tested the feasibility of improved material composition along with developing better traditional ramming instruments and more standardized ramming procedures.
A single log is all that connects Ma’anqiao with the outside world for a season.
I . Challenges Ma’anqiao is surrounded by a winding river that separates it from the outside world. Over thousands of years village residents have shared their courtyards of rammed earth buildings with their livestock. Economical constraints have made it impractical to rebuild with conventional materials such as terracotta brick and concrete despite the central government providing generous subsidies and loans. Traditional earthen architecture has proven to be an ideal solution. When questioned, most villagers believed there should definitely be a better building material than earthen brick.
II . Methodology
Demonstration building as in situ training for villagers.
We found that efficient reconstruction requires the full reuse of materials and natural resources damaged during the earthquake. To restore the villagers’ faith in traditional vernacular architecture that had been extremely popular prior to the earthquake but questioned
An easy to read manual which references practical building techniques suited to local materials and conditions has been written for the villagers to assist them to continue building their new dwellings.
Rammed earth houses destroyed in the earthquake.
after so much destruction as a result of the earthquake, the following approaches were used: A. Improvement in traditional rammed earth construction; B. “Not the Fish But the Rod” hands-on training sessions to motivate villagers to rebuild on their own; C. “Low-Tech” approach to the development of economically feasible techniques that would enable villagers with little formal education learn, master and pass on skills to others. Typical local rammed earth courtyard housingshared by humans and livestock.
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Not the Fish But the Rod
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IV . Living Space and Environment Design Courtyard housing shared by both humans and livestock can result in poor sanitation. Rammed earth wall statics limit window and door openings resulting in a badly ventilated interior. 12 standard designs were developed from which villagers could choose. Features include: A. Functionally optimized spatial layout for better winter sunlight and summer ventilation; separate spaces for humans and livestock; B. Redesign of the dwelling’s structure and ramming procedures to facilitate better interior ventilation; C. Redesigned layout for ventilation ducts for the upper storey to improve insulation against summer heat.
Optimization plan of the courtyard house according to specific household conditions.
V. Training and Implementation The illiteracy rate at Ma’anqiao is as high as 50% and was a great challenge in training the villagers to rebuild their homes using the newly developed techniques. One house was therefore chosen for demonstration and combined with hands-on training that familiarized everyone with the new techniques. With technical support from volunteers all the 33 households rebuilt their homes by themselves in three months with surprising creativity and dexterity. The villagers’ confidence was restored in rammed earth construction.
New houses built with assistance from neighbours.
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Not the Fish But the Rod
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VI. Civic Centre Will traditional rammed earth construction continue to be the villagers’ choice after reconstruction? To answer this question our team organized the construction of a self-built civic centre with a clinic, library, shop and day care facilities. Modern architectural elements were used including curved walls, a usable roof, and ceramic tiles to demonstrate the potential of combining traditional building techniques with newly introduced materials that in the past were rarely seen on a building constructed with rammed earth. A 66-meter pedestrian bridge was built over the river by volunteers and villagers without machinery, the first ever bridge in Ma’anqiao. The Illustrated Seismic Resistant Rural House Construction Handbook, was produced for the villagers and professional build-
Civic Centre built by villagers and volunteers.
ers alike which is to be disseminated throughout the rural southwest.
VII. Post-occupancy Evaluation Three years of follow-up monitoring and collection of statistics on Ma’anqiao has proven the advantages of self-built houses over brick and -concrete ones. Thermal performance is better, while energy consumption and environmental
Combined project team of villagers and volunteers.
impact is minimised. The improved and simplified construction techniques enable villagers to now build their own dwellings without external assistance Over 90% of the construction material can be locally sourced. This has greatly reduced the construction cost of the new buildings to 150 rmb/sqm (USD$24.4), and is fully covered by the central government’s subsidies and financial support from our team. The project has generally been accepted as a success by most villagers and has once again returned Ma’anqiao to a peaceful and tranquil village.
VIII. Conclusionn
model has been adopted in rural areas of Gansu, Hebei and Jiangxi provinces, promoting sustainable development in underdeveloped rural areas in China. Vernacular construction is highly regarded as a source of knowledge on local climate and resources for thousands of years and is the most economical and ecological solution to housing issues. Ma’anqiao and its successful outcomes, based on using local resources and vernacular traditions, have proved the feasibility and effectiveness of adopting the approach of “ Low-tech” and “Not the Fish But the Rod”.
The reconstruction project at Ma’anqiao was awarded the UNESCO 2011 Innovation in Heritage Award. Many successful programs have followed and the Typical local rammed earth courtyard housingshared by humans and livestock.
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Not the Fish But the Rod
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About the Project 1. Management and Coordination: Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Wuzhiqiao (Bridge to China) Charitable Foundation (Hong Kong); 2. Financial Support: Lee Hysan Foundation, Hong Kong Girl Guides Association; 3. Reconstruction Statistics: 1 house for demonstration, and 33 guided reconstructions, built area totalling 5,500 sqm; 4. Volunteers: Chinese University of Hong Kong, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Chongqing University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and etc.;
YANG Hua He is master graduate in Structural Engineering from Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, and now working at Shenzhen General Institute of Architectural Design and Research. E-mail:yanghua3079@163.com
ZHOU Tiegang He is PhD in Engineering, Professor in XAUAT, Director of Rural Construction Research Centre in the Department of Village and Township Construction, MoHURD. E-mail:zhoutiegang@126.com
WU Enrong As architect and Yao Ling Sun Professor of Architecture in the School of Architecture of CUHK, he is also the Director of the Master of Science of Sustainable and Environmental Design Programme. E-mail:edwardng@gmail.com
5. Team Members: MU Jun,WAN L i , M A J i e , YA N G H u a , Z H O U Tiegang,WU Enrong MU Jun Dr. Mu Jun is architect, director of Laboratory of Earth Architecture, Ministry of Housing and Urbanrural Development (MOHURD), and member of UNESCO Earthen Architecture, Building Culture and Sustainability Development Chair. E-mail:mujunmail@163.com
WAN Li She received her Bachelor and Master Degrees in Architecture from Chongqing University, and PhD Degree from Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). She is now TA at Faculty of Architecture, CUHK. E-mail:wanli@gmail.com
MA Jie He is Bachelor in Architecture from Chongqing University, now working at Architectural Design Research Institute of Guizhou. E-mail:majie610@gmail.com
Peace has been restored at Ma’anqiao today.
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Not the Fish But the Rod
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Renovation of the Chen Family Historic Residence in Baoping Village, Sanya HUO Xiaowei, ZHANG Jie, ZHANG Jingjing Beijing Tsinghua Tongheng Urban Planning and Design Institute
an effort to prevent further deforestation around Baoping. The villagers had no choice but to pay high prices for imported lumber in order to undertake home repairs or construct new structures thus significantly increasing building costs. People also looked for alternative building materials that may prove more durable in the local climate with brick and reinforced concrete gradually taking the place of timber as the primary building materials. The introduction of Baoping Village located in Sanya Municipality Hainan Province was officially listed as an Historic Village in 2010. The village has clusters of vernacular built heritage that are regarded as one of the best-preserved Ming （ 13681644）-Qing(1644-1911) historic building complexes and villages in China. The Chen family residence is located in the heart of the village and stands out from the other residences due to its neat courtyard and two-story traditional Qing buildings. In 2011 the residence was reinstated under the 11th Five Year National Key Technology Research and
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Development Program. This project was part of larger research project entitled “Research on the Key Techniques for Reinstating Extant Rural Residences” and received special funding from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MoHURD).
I . Threats and Challenges •Vanishing Traditional Building Materials and Craftmenship The mountains surrounding the village used to be covered by vast forests that provided abundant timber for building purposes. Up until the 1980s there was approximately 120,000 ha of forest in Sanya, accounting for68% of land coverage that provided a plentiful source of raw timber for the village’s use. In the 1980s the government introduced a new policy of ‘Ecological Public Forests’in
Director Dr. HuoXiaowei was talking about heritage conservation and techniques with historic property owners while gaining an understanding of their needs.
Photographs are provided by the authors.
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tures even more vulnerable to decay and deterioration. Constant maintenance, cleaning and refurbishment required considerable investment of money and labour. The desire of villagers to improve their living standards meant that improved ventilation, lighting and moisture control needed to be considered when undertaking alterations or refurbishment. The Chen family residence was no exception when it came to these issues.
II. Conservation and Utilization •Alternative Building Material and Integrated Construction
new modern building materials meant the skills of local traditional craftsmen were no longer required resulting in the potential loss of these traditional building techniques. •Spontaneous Reinstatement The reforms introduced in the late 1970s liberalized the labour market in China resulting in the movement of excess rural labour out of the countryside into towns and cities. Many of these migrant workers brought back to their villages simple modern construction
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methods that they had learnt in the cities which began to replace traditional building materials and techniques. This resulted in the construction of new modern reinforced concrete structures that were totally inconsistent with traditional townscapes. •Limited Lifespan of Traditional Buildings Traditional buildings in Baoping were basically timber structures that were not durability inthe humid climate of Sanya. Seasonal typhoons made these struc-
Traditional building timbers used in Sanya included vatica mangachapoi, podocarpus neriifolius, and ligusticumwallichii which are indigenous timbers. The villagers would slice back the bark and outer timberand use only the strongest part of the timber closer to the core. With local timbers no longer as abundantly available, a variety of timber known as “ZijinYingge” from Haikou City was chosen as an alternative due to its strength, durability and affordability. Subsidies were also provided to lessen the burden of the increased cost of transportation. Some traditional techniques such as lime and mortar preparation, kiln build-
ing and rendering were recovered through interviewing villagers. These techniques were all used during the reinstatement of the Chen family residence which brought life back to traditional craftsmanship as well as providing others with a valuable reference for similar work in the future. (Fig. 5-6) •Improved Layout and Functionality Government regulations allow for upgrading the interior of listed historic buildings to raise them to modern standards as long as external facades are maintained. A decision was made to use the Chen family residence as a temporary Office of Historic Village Conservation and Management Committee. The residence was upgraded with the addition of a modern lavatory and the storage spaces on the first floor were redesigned into an office. The east and west side-rooms were reconstructed in order to restore the historic integrity of the residence each with a distinctive function. •Reinforced Structures Walls and timber components were reinforced to improve durability and reduce maintenance costs. Eroded walls were partly removed and rebuilt with 30mm of M10 cement mortar on one side. This gave the wall enhanced resistance to shearing forces and earthquakes. 30mm double-side M10 reinforced cement mortar was used with a steel mesh of Φ4@200 to walls that had cracking issues. Decayed timber
Historic Renovation of Chen’s Residence in Baoping Village, Sanya
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components were either partially supported with some new components or totally replaced. Beams and rafters were bound together with lead wires. Fasteners were added to pull the gable against the purlin ends to prevent deformation. •Local Participation and Conversation Chen Chuanliang, the owner of the residence, played an active part in the reinstatement process and abundant advice and suggestions were provided by fellow villagers. The project team also disseminated conservation knowledge and techniques amongst historic property owners. It was generally felt that the pilot project had a positive influence on the villagers in terms of the use of traditional materials and techniques.
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III. Conclusion The reinstatement project at the Chen family residence has demonstrated that the conservation of vernacular heritage based on the principles of authenticity and integrity can also deliver improved living standards and functionality for local villagers. Most of the vernacular built heritage has been reinstated so as to continue the historic function of the buildings as a residence. Care was taken to preserve the unique value of these historic structures while improving the structure’s facilities and function and individual decisions were made on a case by case basis. Community participation is indispensible in the conservation of both heritage and modern construction. Community activity connects the tangible with intangible and living heritage with genius loci, an important element that keeps alive both the memories and vitality of a place.
Professor ZHANG Jie He was awarded PhD degree at University of York in 1991 and is now Professor at the School of Architecture and Vice Director at National Center for Heritage Conservation at Tsinghua University. Devoted to Urban Planning and Design as well as Housing and Community Studies, he has been instructing Tsinghua-Harvard University research projects and, as Class 1 Registered Architect, awarded for excellence in many planning and conservation projects. In addition to his position of Vice Director at Historic and Cultural City Committee of Urban Planning Society of China, he is also internationally recognized as executive member of ICOMOS-CIVVIH, international member of ASLA, and regional editor of the Journal of Architecture. E-mail:zjzhangjie@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn
Dr. Ing. HUO Xiaowei He gained PhD degree at University of Stuttgart, and researched as SPURS fellow in MIT.As Registered Urban Planner, he is now Director of Research Center for Historic and Cultural Cities, and Vice Secretary-general of the Historic and Cultural City Committee of Urban Planning Society of China. E-mail: huoxiaowei@thupdi.com
ZHANG Jingjing She received her Master Degree in urbanplanning from Beijing Forestry University. With an interest in settlement heritage conservation, she is working as a research fellow in Beijing Tsinghua Tongheng Urban Planning & Design Institute now, participating in the research of historic and cultural cities of national importance. E-mail:icesnow222@126.com
Historic Renovation of Chen’s Residence in Baoping Village, Sanya
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The Last of an Ancestral People, an Observation of
The Dulong Village in Yunnan Photographs are provided by WANG Xing
A good understanding the traditional village and setting of the Dulong in Yunnan Province also requires an appreciation of its unique geographic features, climatic conditions, means of production as well as the social customs and lifestyle of the Dulong.
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Mr. Wang Xing Alan has over 20 years of solid experience in urban planning and design across Singapore and China, working for AECOM and Atkins as Regional Urban Planning and Design Director. 4 years ago he began focusing on the property development in Kunming, Yunan Province, with a particularly interest in traditional settlement study. Email: akip9079@yahoo.com
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I . Natural Environment Yunnan Province covers an area of 394,000 square kilometers and is the eighth biggest province in China. 94% of landmass consists of mountain ranges that are connected to the Tibetan Plateau in the northwest, the Pacific Ocean in the southeast and the Indian Ocean in the southwest. These unique geographical features have created extremely diverse ecologies and ethnic cultures. Of the 26 ethnic minorities found in Yunnan Province, 15 are the descendants of three major ethnic groups: the Di-Qiang ethnic group from Gansu Province, the Baiyue ethnic group from the southeast coast or Southeast Asia and the Baipu ethnic group from the Ailao Mountains. The Dulong, also known as the Qiu, are descendants of the Di-Qiang ethnic group. Molecular anthropology research has revealed that their bloodline is closely related to the Han. With 7,000 residents who still speak the Dulong language, Dulong Village is one of the best examples of natural and cultural heritage in Yunnan Province.
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The Last of an Ancestral People, an Observation of The Dulong Village in Yunnan
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II . Pukawang Village As a tourist attraction, Pukawang Village with its 24 households sits quietly on the banks of the Dulong River. Facing eastwards and backed by a mountain, the village has no marked boundaries or entrance and appears to be a natural landscape of rolling fields and mountains. The village has no need for any form of defense with trodden fine earth that forms a natural pathway to the village the only reminder to outside visitors of its existence. Ethnic Dulong villages consist of 2030 households forming a large extended family cluster. Every house is located on high land next to that particular family member’s farmland. A beehive overlooking the village is used to collect honey produced by wild bees. A pole covered with snow cock feathers stands at the entrance to the forest behind the village to bestow blessings to every traveller who passes by.
IV . Location When a building lot has been chosen, four holes are dug at the four corners of the future building and a small amount of corn or other crops placed in these holes. If after three days the crop is still there the family will go ahead with the construction of the building. Such a simple and naturalistic method has been passed on from generation to generation.
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III . Dulong Architecture The traditional architecture of the Dulong comes in one common layout and is made from either timber or bamboo, depending on the altitude and climate. Typical Jinggan architecture, locally known as a Cha-Cha house, is built from timber logs stacked together to form the walls of the dwelling. Such a simple form and shape also has excellent earthquake resistance properties in earthquake prone Yunnan. A detached granary is usually found next to a house or a paddy-field with an elevated wooden floor one to two meters above ground.
The Last of an Ancestral People, an Observation of The Dulong Village in Yunnan
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V . Community and Culture Early forms of religion, Christianity and Tibetan Buddhism can all be found in the culture of the Dulong. However no formal public space or separate religious area has been created in the village. The ground hearth is the most important living space and serves as a semi-public space. This ethnic group’s culture is sustained through jointly undertaking construction and agricultural activities.
VII. Ground Hearth The ground hearth is considered as the heart of a building. Only village elders can choose its location. A hearth is usually 1-1.5 meters square and is located at the center of the building. The special black soil used to construct the hearth comes from surrounding mountains and will last for 10-20 years.
VIII. Conclusion Pukawang Village is our most cherished specimen that demonstrates the diversity of ecology, culture and rural life in Yunnan. However much its heritage value, there is no reason for the traditional village to be fossilized, but rather a people-based sustainable development should be encouraged, supported by scientific research and documentation. A new and vigorous approach can then be expected in the mainstream urbanization process that respects each unique culture.
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The Last of an Ancestral People, an Observation of The Dulong Village in Yunnan
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The Rural District of Nigou
An Example of Teochew Rural Lifestyle
ZHANG Shengjin Born inPuning in the 1980s, Zheng Shengjinbecame a freelance photographer documenting Teochew villagesin 2010. He has already completed the photographic documentation for over 300 traditional villages in and around Puning and published nearly 100 special reports on folk customs.His works have been disseminated broadly. Email:ajsy@vip.qq.com
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Photographs are provided by the authors.
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History The rural district of Nigou is located in Puning Municipality Guangdong Province. This district is nestled in a rolling mountain range with a small stream running through a labyrinth of small pools. As early as the Song Dynasty(13th century), Cuifeng, the family head of a branch of the Zhang clan sought refuge from war in these mountains and gradually a village was created along these interlacing streams. It was finally given the name Nigou Village which means Muddy Valley Village in Chinese. More family members from over 30 other clans and their branches came here to settle and there are presently 20,000 residents, of whom 80% are descendants of the original Zhang family.
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The Rural District of Nigou– An Example of Teochew Rural Lifestyle
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Built Heritage The rural district comprises clusters of small family homes scattered across the district with the historic walled village at the center of each cluster. Residences are typically built in the Teochew architectural style with the occasional Western style villa built by merchants who returned from Southeast Asia and resettled here during the 19th century. Over 70 ancestral shrines and two 18th century archways built in the Qing dynasty(1644-1911) to celebrate the longevity of the district’s residences have witnessed the vicissitudes of the communities in this rural district.
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The Rural District of Nigou– An Example of Teochew Rural Lifestyle
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Education and Culture Nigou is well known for its celebration of education and culture with over 20 national and provincial examination candidates achieving the levels of Gongyuan and Juren in the Qing Dynasty(1644-1911). During the Republican period, eight primary schools were established along with a dozen private schools. It should not come at a surprise that a visitor once exclaimed, “There are more schools here than rice shops!” Such a cultural atmosphere also gave birth to many modern artists, writers and composers of riddles. The folk song entitled Yingge has already been listed as intangible cultural heritage at the national level. Other aspects of intangible cultural heritage such as traditional gong-and-drum theatre, lantern riddles, the competitions associated with the Deities Parade Festival that is organized during Chinese New Year and the celebration of Eating Porridge for Peace are still thriving.
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The Rural District of Nigou– An Example of Teochew Rural Lifestyle
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The Zhangs’ Ancestral Shrine The core of the rural district and the family clan is the shrine is dedicated to Cuifeng, the founder of Nigou. Originally built in the middle of the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644), it has undergone successive renovations and reconstructions over the centuries. The tectonics, structure and craftsmanship of the building have been done in traditional Teochew architecture style. The porcelain, stucco, stone, wood and lacquer decorations have all been created in traditional Puning architectural style. All Zhang’s descendants, whether living within China or abroad, will over the course of their lives strive to return to their homeland to honor their common ancestor on Chongyang Day(9th, Sep of traditional Chinese calendar), the festival when families traditionally pay their respects to their ancestors. Homage is paid at the ancestral tomb located in the hills behind the village clusters.
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The Rural District of Nigou– An Example of Teochew Rural Lifestyle
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Deities Parade Festival According to private records of the Qing Dynasty(1644-1911), on the second day of the Chinese New Year the ancestral shrines were graced by the presence of all the Taoist deities from surrounding temples at the command of the local village chief. Rituals and prayers for blessings were undertaken during this period. On the 10th day incense burners would be carried along the roads symbolizing peace. The deities would parade with lanterns at night on the 15th day of the first lunar month and there was a parade of Three Virtuous on the 21st day of the same month. The contemporary Parade Festival has been condensed and is only held on one day, the 21stday of the first lunar month, with performances of the Teochew opera and puppets.
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The Rural District of Nigou– An Example of Teochew Rural Lifestyle
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Puning Porcelain Decoration Puning porcelain decorations are one of the two aspects of intangible cultural heritage that can be found throughout the municipality. This unique decoration can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty（1368-1644） when talented craftsmen reused broken polychromatic porcelain fragments for decoration. People were so fascinated by these decorations that they gradually developed into a unique form of art applied to the ridges, eaves and screen walls of a variety of structures. Amazingly this recycled material has been transformed into colorful birds, animals, flowers as well as fairytale figures. It can be found on flat surfaces, in bas-relief or in threedimensional works. These decorative works can be seen everywhere in the Teochow areas.
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The Rural District of Nigou– An Example of Teochew Rural Lifestyle
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Map of Traditional Chinese Villages, 2014
By the end of 2014, A total of 2,555 Traditional Villages have been jointly designated by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ministry of Culture, State Administration of Cultural Heritage, And Ministry of Finance in three Lists since 2012. Traditional Village by definition is
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that with tangible and intangible cul-
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tural heritage of significant historic,
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cultural, scientific, artistic, social and economical values.
1.Ma’anqiao Village, Sichuan (P.13) 2.Baoping Village, Sanya (P.23) 3.Dulong Village, Yunan (P.29) 4.Nigou Village, Guangdong (P.37)
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2
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The editors welcome your feedback. Please contact : +86-10-82819000-9615; qixiaojin@thupdi.com; shangjin@thupdi.com .
Photo provided by Zhang Shengjin .