Abstract
Abstract. With more and more farmers flowing into cities from rural area of Sanmenxia, Henan Province because of economic development and rapid pace of urbanisation in China, the sunken cave dwellings in that area are being either abandoned or replaced by brick-andmortar houses built on the ground. These underground houses, unique because of their invisibility, together with the inhabitants and their life closely related to these caves, are gradually diminishing from below the horizon. This research, based upon relevant studies, typological and anthropological theories, is designed to find the links between architectural vernacularism and the physical features of the place and cultural influences by closely examining 11 sunken cave dwellings. The study focuses on both unification and variations of the dwellers, some common techniques and practice in digging, strengthening and embellishing of these structures. Besides, oral history documentation conducted for this research provides clues to the understanding of the history of the area. The findings of the research are that the vernacular architecture in the area under study are the results of the combined influences of both unique physical features of the place, the economic development, and the values and creativity of the dwellers there.
Highlights
AND MOTIVATIONIn the wide hilly expanse of north and northwest China there exist clusters and clusters of invisible houses with a very unique architectural style for inhabitation
Di Keng Yuan, an underground rectangular courtyard is usually made up of more than 8 caves for a family, large or small, as well as livestock the family possesses to inhabit. This kind of residential dwelling is popular in various provinces in China such as Gansu Province, the Autonomous Region of Inner Mongolia, Qinghai Province, Shanxi Province, Shaanxi Province, Hebei Province, and Henan Province, covering an area of approximately 636,000 km2 and sheltering around 40,000,000 people according to an assessment done in 1981 (ASC, 1981)
Propelled by the current academic ecology in this domain, this paper is an attempt to gain a broader and deeper insight into the cultural landscapes in this region for the purpose of which 11 sunken cave dwellings in Yangjiayao Village and Mazhuang Village, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, China are chosen as the specimen
Summary
In the wide hilly expanse of north and northwest China there exist clusters and clusters of invisible houses with a very unique architectural style for inhabitation. Since there is still a large number of people living in cave houses despite the fact that many farmers have left the countryside as a result of the rapid urbanisation in China, it is architecturally and economically meaningful and instructive to find out the various subtle and intricate propelling forces behind the special way of habitation, the techniques involved in the construction and even the methods to protect these ancientstyled houses It is philosophically and anthropologically significant to find out the typical Chinese interpretation of the relationships between man and nature and the relationships among men. Propelled by the current academic ecology in this domain, this paper is an attempt to gain a broader and deeper insight into the cultural landscapes in this region for the purpose of which 11 sunken cave dwellings in Yangjiayao Village and Mazhuang Village, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, China are chosen as the specimen
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