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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism The making of the Chinese urban landscape

cooperation regarded as the key principle guiding human encompassing these three perspectives is expected
life, and the way in which people realized the values of life to provide robust theoretical and practical bases for
through practice (Han, 2006). Chinese urban landscape strengthening the study and practice of the Chinese urban
history reflects this crossover between Confucianism and landscape (Figure 1).
Daoism. To some extent, therefore, Confucianism and
Daoism complement each other in interpreting the idea of 3.1. Structural-correlative analysis
urban landscape in China. Taking both the Western and Chinese perspectives into
Chinese philosophers view all natural and cultural consideration, at the core of urban landscape research lies
landscape elements as part of an orderly and harmonious the identification and interpretation of changing urban-form
system. This unique cosmological view does not normally types and the configuration of the physical form of cities over
interpret research concepts on a linear conception of cause time. The Western perspective views the creation of the city
and effect. From the Chinese philosophical perspective, in terms of dynamic growth with periodic characteristics that
the world consists of constantly multi-dimensional, can be mapped as morphological regions or characteristic
overlapping hierarchies, in which all elements are part areas, while the Chinese perspective offers explanations of
of a complicated “whole” interaction. Therefore, there is the relationships between the landscape elements and areas
no clear-cut definition across disciplines and approaches as denoting deep-seated cultural influences.
in the traditional epistemological system of the Chinese The structural-correlative approach captures the
landscape. The landscape itself is not merely a research significant waves of developments throughout urban
object but rather an image or part of a metaphor frequently history. Each wave represents a segment of development
referenced in most cultural activities, such as painting, history that creates distinctive material forms in the
poetry, literature, and architectural design. historical-geographical dynamics of the city. The structural
From the Chinese cultural perspective, the perspective posits a straightforward pattern recognition
interpretation of landscape depends on one’s understanding and characterization to reveal the spatial structure of
of the relationship between nature and humans. To a large the landscape. Meanwhile, delineating the geographical
extent, this knowledge is transferable to the study of the boundaries of the spatial structure of the urban landscape
urban landscape. Together, these two elements constitute is not limited to the recognition of physical features but
the theoretical basis for the distinctive, traditional Chinese also relies on inputs from an in-depth understanding of the
urban landscape. Historical cities also reflect their creators’ local socioeconomic circumstances and cultural imagery
appreciation of landscape as a concept embodying the beyond the physical forms.
ideal relationship between natural and built environments, The strength of structural-correlative analysis lies in
providing yet another example of the transferability of its versatility for studying built forms at different scales.
knowledge between landscape, arts, and urban planning. On the one hand, a structural-correlative analysis can
To a certain extent, Western and Chinese landscape ideas establish the growth of the urban area in each period and
have developed rather independently, sustained by different describe the corresponding urban landscape features. On the
cultural contexts and driven by different social traditions. other hand, it is able to delineate the structural characteristics
However, when deconstructing landscape ideas, there are, of the urban landscape in the morphological succession
at least as implied, similarities and complementary features based on an understanding of correlative factors over the
in the epistemological dimensions that can be recognized long urban history. An integrated structural-correlative
between Western and Chinese traditions. Such similarities analysis provides a cross-referencing approach that outlines
and complementary features allow us to reshape a new the physical appearance of the landscape structure, further
framework for deciphering the urban landscape in China explains the interrelationships between natural and built
through a trinity of structural-correlative, morphogenetic- landscape elements with changes over time, and links such
generative, and integrated perspectives. changes to wider cultural driving factors.
A structural-correlative analysis thus emphasizes both
3. Toward a new conceptual framework for structural and correlative dimensions of changes to the
the urban landscape in China urban landscape. Its focus is on identifying and mapping
Despite the differences in the landscape traditions of morphological regions with distinguishable landscape
the West and China, the triad of structural-correlative, characteristics developed in different morphological periods
morphogenetic-generative, and integrated perspectives of the city’s long history. From the correlative perspective, it
reflects both distinct and overlapping spirits in their denotes the ways in which urban development corresponds
landscape interpretations. A new analytical framework to historico? geographical dynamics.

Volume 6 Issue 3 (2024) 6 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.261