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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Top-down rural heritage

deified for his role in resisting the Liao dynasty (916 levels of the imperial examinations (Jiang & Cheng,
– 1125), and the Family Values and Integrity Training 2014). Lanterns inscribed with the character “li xue”
Center, most of the historical buildings in Tangwei (理学; literally Neo-Confucianism) hang outside the Li
village, such as the Li Clan Ancestral Hall and other Clan Ancestral Hall, symbolizing the Confucian tradition
structures visited by the research team, can only be inherited by the Li family from the Neo-Confucian scholar
accessed with the assistance or unlocking by village Li Yong. This practice underscores the village’s cultural
tour guides. Even when accessible from a cultural and significance, especially within Dongguan, a city often
heritage tourism perspective, the historical village lacks regarded as lacking a strong traditional cultural identity
narratives, displays, or demonstrations that allow the (Figure 3).
public to understand its beliefs, customs, and lifestyle The above description of Tangwei village’s cultural
traditions. The Li Clan Ancestral Hall is an exception, as heritage and revitalization efforts provides a preliminary
it exhibits various village artifacts, such as farming tools, understanding of the relationship between its cultural
revitalization reports, old clothing, and festive items. assets and the government’s top-down rural revitalization
Although it may be difficult for tourists to fully strategy, under the influence of economic development
understand the daily lives of villagers during the Ming goals (Looney, 2015).
and Qing dynasties, the imagery of antiquity and cultural Reflecting on the methodological approach adopted in
depth throughout the village is unmistakable. Compared this study strengthens its credibility and transferability. The
to other villages in southern China, such as the Liu clan research methods employed include field observations,
in Fanling and the Tang clan in Ping Shan, Hong Kong interviews, and the analysis of visual and textual materials.
SAR, China, Tangwei village does not boast an impressive It is important to acknowledge the limitations and potential
number of individuals who achieved scholarly honors. biases inherent in these methods and to detail the strategies
However, village records or display boards prominently used to ensure the trustworthiness of the findings. By
highlight its literary prosperity, listing the achievements providing a transparent account of the research process,
of two juren, two gongsheng (贡生), and 42 xiucai (秀 the study demonstrates methodological rigor and lays the
才) – titles conferred on individuals who passed different groundwork for future research in this area.

Figure 2. The Tangwei village’s Family Values and Integrity Training Figure 3. A lantern with the characters “li xue.” Source: Photo by the
Center. Source: Photo by the authors (2024) authors (2024)

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2025) 5 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.5029