Page 12 - JCAU-7-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Visualizing research on Huizhou houses

Figure 4. Author collaboration network map. Source: Network map by the authors

M ≈ 0.749 N max (I) reflecting significant differences in faculty strength and
research capacity among them.
Where N represents the publication count of the most In this study, data from the top 10 authors and institutions
max
prolific author, and M represents the minimum publication were analyzed (Tables 2 and 3). As shown in Table 2, Huang
count for core authors. According to CNKI data, the highest Kai ranks first with 25 publications and has led several
publication count was 25, yielding M≈ 3.745, rounded to research projects focused on the protection and inheritance
an integer value of 4. Therefore, authors with at least four of Huizhou architectural cultural heritage, positioning him as
publications were considered core authors. Results indicate a leading figure in this field. His research primarily examines
that 28 authors had a publication count of >4, collectively the decorative arts of traditional Huizhou houses, especially
producing 184 publications and accounting for 17% of the the application of traditional Huizhou woodcarving, brick
total literature. Generally, a core author group is identified carving, stone carving, and other crafts in architecture,
when publications by core authors constitute at least half along with their cultural symbolism (Huang & Zhu, 2009;
of the total literature (Zhang & Liu, 2023). Overall, no Li & Huang, 2020). Huang Kai combines qualitative and
core author group has been established. However, Figure 4 quantitative research methods, including theoretical
shows higher connectivity between Huang Kai and Zhu research, case studies, fieldwork, and statistical analysis.
Mina, as well as between Bi Zhongsong and Li Yunzhang, For example, his study of Huizhou woodcarvings explores
indicating small-scale team collaborations. not only esthetic aspects but also sociological and cultural
In the institutional collaboration network map perspectives, analyzing how these exquisite carvings reflect
(Figure 5), the number of nodes is 241, the number of Confucian values, family structures, and aspirations for a
edges is 33, and the density is 0.0011, indicating limited better life (Wei & Huang, 2023). He gathers primary data
collaboration among institutions. Using Price’s law through fieldwork and evaluates the contemporary design
(Equation I), we calculated the core research institutions. value of Huizhou’s cultural elements through quantitative
According to CNKI data, the highest publication count of analysis (Zhou & Huang, 2014). Beyond academia, Huang
a single institution was 47, resulting in M≈5.13, rounded Kai is active in teaching and design practice, incorporating his
to an integer value of 6. Institutions with at least six research findings into education and practical applications,
publications were thus considered core institutions. Results thus contributing to the inheritance, innovation, and design
showed that 18 institutions met this criterion, producing a education of Huizhou architectural culture.
total of 267 publications. The top five institutes accounted From a thematic perspective, most authors focus on
for 58.4% of the total publications from core institutions, the cultural connotations of traditional Huizhou houses

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2025) 6 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4473