Abstract
Salar people are Turkic-speaking Islamic people and an ethnic group with a small population in China. Wattled-wall house of Salar people is a type of traditional house threatened by extinction. In 2008, the wattled-wall house construction skills were selected for the national intangible cultural heritage list. It is mainly distributed in Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province of China. So far, Salar people′s traditional wattled-wall house knowledge has been poorly documented. Therefore, a study supporting cultural preservation efforts is needed, including preserving plants used in its construction. This study mainly applied ethnobotanical methods based on data collection through observation, interviews, and documentation. Additionally, ArcGIS data analysis is also used to supplement the evaluation of the traditional wattled-wall house. This study aimed to (1) document traditional knowledge about the wattled-wall house construction, (2) and evaluate the current status of the wattled-wall house from different angles like the environmental adaptability and internal advantages and disadvantages. The result showed that the local people still apply the knowledge about the wattled-wall house from generation to generation. However, due to some practical reasons, the wattled-wall house is on the verge of extinction. There are 11 plant taxa used as construction materials in wattled-wall house. Conservation efforts for species involved in the wattled-wall house are needed, especially the ones with limited availability. Re-use of wattled-wall house is needed in order to maximize the economic benefits and to safeguard its historical and architectural values. It is recommended that the conservation of this cultural heritage needs more attention and effort from the local government or the society.
Highlights
Traditional houses are one of the most important artifacts of a society’s historical life [1].variation in the design and construction of houses depends on the available construction material and the prevailing environmental conditions [2,3]
Variation in the design and construction of houses depends on the available construction material and the prevailing environmental conditions [2,3]
In a traditional agricultural society, limited by the level of construction industry and the transportation capacity, local materials for traditional buildings have always been utilized according to their natural properties
Summary
Variation in the design and construction of houses depends on the available construction material and the prevailing environmental conditions [2,3]. In a traditional agricultural society, limited by the level of construction industry and the transportation capacity, local materials for traditional buildings have always been utilized according to their natural properties. Other factors such as geographical locations, climate, natural environment, and other social factors to satisfy basic functional requirements are considered during construction [4,5]. Traditional houses are proven to be coherent and sustainable to the environment and the people [6,7].
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