Page 33 - JCAU-7-1

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Spatial syntax of temple heritage

and external interaction and communication. Therefore, settlements in the western Sichuan plateau. By utilizing data
it is essential to preserve and enhance the road network, and graphical representations, it explores the relationship
particularly the main connecting roads. Retaining roads between the inherent characteristics of space and its social
with high integration degrees and improving traffic flow attributes from a more scientific and accurate perspective.
is essential, while dead-end roads in the village should Compared to traditional methods, spatial syntax exhibits
be reorganized and optimized. Dilapidated streets and certain superiorities and complements qualitative research,
alleys should be repaired to create comfortable spaces offering a more comprehensive understanding.
while maintaining the traditional street and alley patterns.
Enhancing the accessibility and usability of streets and 6.3. Limitations and prospects
alleys will ensure that both residents and tourists can easily The present study focuses on traditional settlement spatial
enter and navigate the settlement. forms and the relationship between spatial configurations
Second, temple settlements are repositories of rich and human behavior. However, further exploration is
historical resources. In addition to numerous buildings needed to understand the impact of political, economic,
or structures that are cultural relics, they are also home and natural factors on these forms, as additional theoretical
to a wealth of traditional culture. However, due to natural grounding is necessary.
factors, economic constraints, or people’s lack of awareness,
the protection of these villages and their buildings has It is important to acknowledge that research on spatial
been inadequate, affecting the inheritance of intangible syntax in traditional villages is still in its infancy, with the
culture. The protection and revitalization of temple and primary emphasis placed on spatial relationships. However,
monastery spaces should be integrated with the cultural this approach has inherent limitations as a standalone
context, maintaining traditional social and cultural order, research method. In addition, due to software constraints,
meeting villagers’ living needs, enhancing their quality of the line segment model often relies on manual drawings,
life, and satisfying tourists’ experiences. This approach will which can introduce potential errors when dealing with
help drive the protection and development of the village. large sample sizes. These discrepancies may significantly
affect the accuracy and reliability of research outcomes.
Finally, the protection of settlements requires
comprehensive consideration of cultural, historical, and Acknowledgments
environmental factors. The temple settlements in the
western Sichuan plateau carry deep religious beliefs and None.
historical legacies, while also being influenced by the natural
environment. To ensure the integrity and sustainability of Funding
this cultural heritage, a balance must be struck between these None.
diverse factors during protection and development efforts.
Conflict of interest
In summary, settlement protection is a complex yet vital
task that necessitates a thorough consideration of multiple The author declares he/she has no competing interests.
factors. Through spatial syntax analysis, we can better
understand the spatial characteristics of these settlements Author contributions
and provide robust support for their preservation and Conceptualization: All authors
sustainable development. In future efforts to protect Investigation: All authors
settlements, further research should be pursued to develop Writing - original draft: All authors
more specific protection measures that will ensure the long- Writing - review & editing: All authors.
term preservation and inheritance of cultural heritage.

Despite this study’s comprehensive exploration of spatial Ethics approval and consent to participate
syntax theory and its innovative application to traditional Not applicable.
settlement spatial morphology, several shortcomings
remain and warrant further exploration. Consent for publication
6.2. Innovation Not applicable.

Compared with traditional research methods, spatial Availability of data
syntax offers the advantages of objectivity, scientific
rigor, and quantification. This study introduces spatial The datasets generated and analyzed during the current
syntax to the analysis of the spatial morphology of temple study are available upon reasonable request.

Volume 7 Issue 1 (2025) 12 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.2504