Page 18 - JCAU-7-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Visualizing research on Huizhou houses

products remain in mechanized, low-cost, imitative, and These carvings enhance spatial expression and experience,
repetitive production modes. This approach emphasizes linking space with stories, memories, and identities (Fang
decoration at the expense of creativity and cultural et al., 2024). Huizhou wood carvings thus have the potential
depth, ignoring the uniqueness and social significance of to enrich contemporary design practice by embodying
Huizhou’s traditional culture. Consequently, this practice creativity and expressiveness, offering a novel perspective
often leads to esthetic fatigue and cultural alienation (Ren, for industrialization research. However, due to the different
2021). Therefore, identifying more effective ways to apply historical backgrounds of spatial production theory and
and inherit Huizhou culture is crucial at this stage and Confucianism, and the inherent complexity of Huizhou’s
in the future (Peng et al., 2021). The keyword “narrative” traditional residential architecture, understanding spatial,
reflects scholars’ new perspectives in their research. cultural, and social relationships across various theoretical
Scholars emphasize four key approaches to narrative in frameworks presents challenges. This complexity lies in
contemporary design: narrative context, narrative method, finding common ground at a deeper level between these
narrative content, and narrative carrier, all of which play theories (He, 2018), thereby revealing the socioeconomic
significant roles in fostering cultural confidence (Chen, structures underlying Huizhou’s traditional architecture
2022). Lu et al. (2021) examined the cultural imagery and and elucidating the complex interactions between space,
decorative motifs in Huizhou traditional houses, analyzing culture, and ethics. This multidimensional integration of
interior layouts, decorative sequences, and narrative logic. theories presents new challenges for advancing the depth
They concluded that traditional Huizhou houses form of research on traditional Huizhou houses.
an architectural cultural system that combines ritual
and secular elements. Li et al. (2022) explored the visual 5. Conclusion
elements, rhetorical techniques, and narrative value of Based on data from studies on traditional Huizhou houses
Huizhou woodcarving, revealing how images, patterns, published in CNKI from 2000 to 2023, utilizing information
and text serve narrative functions within these carvings. visualization software CiteSpace as a research tool, this
In 2023, the Anhui provincial government introduced study systematically reviews the research hotspots and
the Implementation Plan for Strengthening the Protection trends in this field, arriving at the following conclusions:
and Inheritance of Historical Culture in Urban and (i) From 2000 to 2010, research on traditional Huizhou
Rural Construction, prioritizing the promotion of the houses gradually gained momentum, with an annual
Huizhou historical building industry as a key initiative. increase in publications. Between 2011 and 2020,
Therefore, “industrial development” has emerged as an publication rates fluctuated, notably declining in 2011
important keyword at this stage. The spatial narrative but subsequently recovering in the following years,
of traditional Huizhou houses is closely related to this peaking in 2016 after a substantial increase in 2015.
industrial development. According to Lefebvre’s theory of Despite a notable drop in 2018, the overall publication
the production of space, the creation, transformation, and volume remained high, closely linked to national policies
reproduction of social space are shaped by social forces, and social influences. From 2021 to 2023, publication
which in turn influence social structures and individual numbers showed fluctuations and an overall decline,
behaviors (Fang, 2023). The wealth accumulation of Huizhou suggesting an increased demand for fresh research
merchants and their construction of houses exemplify trends, methods, and innovation in the future.
material production within the cultural and architectural (ii) Analysis of author collaboration networks reveals a
fields; in other words, the space of traditional Huizhou relatively dispersed field, with several core authors
houses represents a cultural construction within social establishing strong academic collaborations that form
practice, where the production of meaning accompanies a foundation for research on traditional Huizhou
material production (Cheng, 2022). In crafting the “home” houses. However, some early researchers did not
as a living space, traditional Huizhou houses deliberately continue with follow-up studies, and ongoing research
construct a meaningful space imbued with deep cultural requires greater depth and impact.
connotations and moral values. This deliberate cultural (iii) Research institutions are primarily concentrated in
construction is achieved through visual narratives that universities within the Anhui region, benefitting
reveal the endogenous spatial logic of Huizhou houses, from regional proximity. However, collaboration
influencing how people perceive and interact with them. across institutions remains limited, creating a loosely
For example, Huizhou wood carvings serve a role beyond connected network. It is necessary to accelerate the
mere decoration, constructing esthetic narratives and integration of academic resources and establish a
shaping narrative contexts and events through rhetorical cohesive, interdisciplinary research system spanning
techniques such as hyperbole, couplets, and metaphors. institutions, regions, and disciplines.

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2025) 12 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4473