Page 8 - JCAU-6-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Adaptive technology in traditional Chinese villages

In the second article, Bai et al. (2023) developed architecture in China. They embody rich regional culture
a comprehensive technical system for the green and ecological construction wisdom, holding significant
transformation of rural buildings, integrating them into regional historical, folk, and artistic value. Given the close
the regional culture. They approached this task from five relationship between traditional settlements, vernacular
key aspects: regional characteristic building, outdoor architecture, and the geographical environment, as well as
environment improvement, envelope performance natural and geographical conditions, substantial variations
optimization, indoor environmental quality improvement, exist among settlements and vernacular constructions
and renewable energy utilization. Grounded in the across different regions. In this Special Issue, the four
theoretical tools of cultural regionality, they explored papers aim to summarize the characteristics of rural
strategies to achieve green and sustainable development regional culture and the application of protection and
of rural buildings in the Guangfu area of Lingnan. To inheritance technologies in various regions of China. They
illustrate their approach, they examined the renovation of consider the geographical environment and locational
Nanping Village settlements in Conghua City, Guangzhou. conditions of the empirical objects. However, these four
The escalating demands brought about by rapid articles provide only a glimpse into the broader picture. We
urbanization and population growth are impacting the hope for further academic research to offer more detailed
built environment, quality of life, and energy consumption. insights into the preservation and inheritance of traditional
In the third article, Liu et al. (2023) examined the Chinese settlements and vernacular architecture – a task of
indoor solar and thermal environment, as well as energy utmost importance.
consumption, in traditional Miao dwellings within Xiangxi As China’s urban-rural development has gradually
Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan province, entered a transition period of focusing on stock
China. Through monitoring and simulation, they delve transformation and quality improvement, the role of
into the compatibility between Miao dwellings and culture has become increasingly prominent in the current
their surrounding environment. Their study reveals the phase of comprehensive and high-quality urbanization
efficacy of traditional Miao dwellings in adapting to local development. On September 3, 2021, China issued
climatic conditions and summarizes the advantages and the Opinions on Strengthening the Protection and
disadvantages of their indoor light and heat environment Inheritance of Historical and Cultural Heritage in Urban
in western Hunan province. Furthermore, they evaluated and Rural Construction. These opinions underscore the
the adaptability of local dwellings to regional geography necessity of establishing a system for the protection and
and climate. inheritance of urban and rural culture characterized by

“Grotto-Heavens and Blissful Lands” (Dongtianfudi, 洞 scientific classification, robust protection, and effective
天福地), originating from Daoist philosophy, originally management. They emphasize the need to coordinate
denoted sacred mountain retreats where deity resided. the protection and utilization of cultural heritage, aiming
Today, it symbolizes places of scenic beauty. In the for comprehensive spatial coverage and inclusivity of
fourth article, Wang et al. (2023) summarize the esthetic all elements. This indicates that cultural protection and
characteristics of Jingfu Mountain, drawing from three inheritance serve as an important orientation for China’s
dimensions rooted in the theory of culture and regional urban and rural construction in the New Era. Strengthening
character within landscape architecture esthetics. Taking historical cultural protection and inheritance has
Jingfu Mountain in the Lingnan region as an example, become an inevitable choice for China to achieve high-
they explore its regional and technical characteristics quality development, with far-reaching implications for
of adaptation to local conditions, as well as its social shaping a new urban and rural development pattern and
significance. Through this analysis, they highlight the promoting the high-quality development of China’s living
milieu of landscape architecture esthetics, emphasizing environment.
the pursuit of inner pleasure and the integration of diverse This initiative has injected a boost to the protection and
cultures. They also examine the artistic and human qualities utilization of rural cultural heritage, which was previously
exhibited by Jingfu Mountain, including clarity, quiescence, widely neglected. It calls for fully exploring scattered and
exquisiteness, elegance, morality, and righteousness. This remote rural historical cultural resources in a timely and
research provides valuable research support for the regional effective manner, clarifying protection requirements,
protection and living inheritance of the Daoist “Grotto- addressing the shortcomings of supporting infrastructure
Heavens and Blissful Lands” cultural landscape. and public service facilities, improving disaster prevention,
Chinese villages stand as the most widely distributed mitigation, and relief capabilities, enhancing the living
traditional settlements and repositories of vernacular environment, maximizing the value of rural cultural

Volume 6 Issue 2 (2024) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.3301