Page 46 - JCAU-7-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Top-down rural heritage

Table 1. List of the locations of artists’ studios
Name; Chinese name Origin/Identity Studio location; Chinese name Art form
Wang Huanlai; 王欢來 Tianjin Jingru Ancestral Hall; 敬如公祠 Calligraphy
Huang Zhentong (Huang Tong); 黃镇 Shipai, Dongguan Li Clan Sixth Ancestor House; 六世 Calligraphy
铜 (黃同) 祖祖屋
Yang Xiuzhu (Farmer); 杨秀筑(农夫) Guiyang, Guizhou Ye Yi Ancestral Hall; 叶一公祠 Poetry
Li Yiyu (Heitian); 李一宇 (黑天) Changde, Hunan Zhuoqing Family Shrine; 卓卿家垫 Poetry
Zhou Zurong; 周祖嵘 Zibo, Shandong Li Fengchi Residence; 李凤池民居 Intangible heritage craft (raindrop
glaze)
Sun Ruoxi (Zhou’s Wife); 孙若溪 Not mentioned Li Fengchi Residence; 李凤池民居 Thangka painting
Wang Zhirong; 王志荣 Shipai, Dongguan Liangde Study Room; 亮德书房 Photography
Miao Weiji; 苗炜基 Not mentioned Zicong Study Room; 子聪书房 Film and video production
Li Kangrong; 李康榮 Graduated from Guangdong Chaoyun Ancestral Hall; 巢云公祠 Trendy toy design (employee of
University of Finance and Li’ao Toy Company, Dongguan)
Economics
Zheng Zhuyao; 郑祝耀 Worked in Shanghai for a long Chaoyun Ancestral Hall Performance art (employee of Li’ao
time Toy Company, Dongguan)
Yang Guang; 杨光 Graduated from Central Lanyuan Ancestral Hall; 兰苑公祠 Film planner/director
Academy of Fine Arts
Jiang Xinyan; 蔣欣妍 Not mentioned Lanyuan Ancestral Hall Stage performing arts
Nie Hongfei; 聶宏飞 Zhaoqing, Guangdong Zicong Study Room Film Producer
Wang Chao; 王潮 Graduated from Shanghai Zicong Study Room Actor
Theatre Academy
Wu Xiaohao; 吴晓超 Shanwei, Guangdong Siwo Ancestral Hall; 思我公祠 Konghou (ancient Chinese harp)
Mo Yinru (Mo Mo); 莫茵茹 (莫莫) Yangjiang, Guangdong Li Clan Sixth Ancestor House Hanfu model

candidates expected to contribute to the village or actively Concrete examples illustrate the integration of
participate in its activities. However, interviews with artists into Tangwei village’s architectural revitalization
an artist provided more nuanced insights. He disclosed efforts. For instance, a calligrapher collected porcelain
that some artists had prior connections in Shenzhen and and transformed a collapsed house into a small garden,
friendly relationships with Tangwei village officials, which preserving much of its original appearance (Figure 8).
led to their invitations to take up residence. Once settled, Similarly, a ceramic artist repurposed a dilapidated house
the artists live rent-free but are expected to organize into a ceramic studio (Wei et al., 2024). These artistic
educational workshops and host cultural performances endeavors have contributed to Tangwei Village’s cultural
and exhibitions periodically. landscape, turning the integration of art and architecture
For example, a provincial-level intangible cultural into a tourism highlight.
heritage inheritor of raindrop glaze (雨点釉) from This research underscores significant policy implications.
Shandong province, who was among the early artists to The case of Tangwei village offers valuable lessons for
settle in Dongguan, initially operated studios in Shenzhen rural revitalization and heritage conservation in China.
(Qin, 2020). After being invited to Tangwei village, he Policymakers, local governments, and community
began experimenting with local materials. In an interview, stakeholders can draw lessons from this research to develop
he revealed that the residency contracts are signed for more balanced, community-centered approaches that respect
2-year terms, allowing rent-free accommodation in authentic cultural heritage and address rural communities’
exchange for conducting workshops and cultural events needs while pursuing sustainable economic growth.
to help the village committee build a local cultural
brand. During the research team’s visit, the artists were 5. Conclusion: The top-down “revitalization
also observed engaging with a student team from the and utilization” strategy
Guangdong University of Technology, participating in an
informal meeting – a further obligation of their residency As the research team prepared to depart, food stalls around
in the historical village. the historical village began to open, supporting the “stall

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2025) 9 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.5029