A spatial syntactic analysis of temple cultural heritage settlements on the western Sichuan plateau of China

Abstract

The protection and development of the cultural heritage of temple settlements, the utilization of cultural resources, and the inheritance of settlement characteristics are pressing issues that require urgent attention. To address these challenges, this study employs the spatial syntax research method to delve into the spatial form of the cultural heritage of temple settlements on the western Sichuan plateau. Specifically, the study focuses on four distinct settlement types in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, China: Baiyu Temple, Ganzi Temple, Dongga Temple, and Gesang Temple. Using Depthmap software, the study quantifies settlement parameter values and analyzes connection value, integration degree, and comprehensibility, to reveal their syntactic structural characteristics. Our findings indicate that these four temple settlements present an organic whole in terms of spatial form. However, there are distinct differences in their syntactic structures, which are closely linked to factors such as settlement scale, historical inheritance, and other contextual influences. Based on our spatial syntax analysis, the study proposes a series of protective measures and development strategies. First, emphasis should be placed on preserving the overall spatial layout and organic integrity of temple settlements to prevent overdevelopment and the disruption of original patterns. Second, planners must strengthen the protection and management of internal spatial elements to maintain their interrelationships. Finally, planners should formulate differentiated protection and development plans tailored to the unique characteristics and values of each temple settlement type. While the study focuses on traditional settlement spatial forms and their relationship with human behavior, further exploration is needed to investigate the impact of political, economic, and environmental factors on these forms.