Protection and Development of Traditional Villages from the Perspective of Territorial Spatial Planning: Taking Baisi Village, Henan Province as an Example

Bo ZHOU, Shangzhe LI

College of City Construction, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China

Abstract In the process of historical development, the history and culture of villages are constantly changing, and they have become a powerful carrier of cultural heritage. Taking Baisi Village, Xun County, Henan Province as an example, the basic principles and development mode of traditional village protection were studied from aspects of traditional space renovation, architectural features and folk culture protection in this article, with a view to providing reference for the protection and development of other traditional villages.

Key words Traditional village, Protection and development, Homestay culture, Territorial spatial planning

1 Introduction

We have been called on to implement the strategy of rural revitalization and development, focus on improving the quality of village construction, shape the local style and features and improve the living environment, thereby realizing the people’s prosperity. In accordance with the principle of respecting the present situation, giving priority to ecology, being oriented by people and industrial development, traditional villages are developed. Village, as an organic organism, has both natural heritage and cultural heritage[1].

2 Overview of Baisi Village

Baisi village belongs to Baisi Township, which is located between the downtown areas of Xun County and Hebi City. Baisi Village is located in the east of Baisi Township (114°25′28″-114°28′ E, 35°39′41″-35°41′ 56" N). In the village, the scale of traditional buildings is large, the ecological and natural environment is beautiful, and the pattern is well preserved. So far, there are still traditional buildings. The site selection of the village is based on the principle of “near the mountain and by the river”. The mountains, water sources, land, buildings and transportation have been fully considered, forming a good living environment and a natural leisure base integrating nature and ecology.

2.1NaturalconditionsThe total land area of Baisi Village is 12.6 km2. Building stone is the dominant mineral resource of Baisi Village. The piebald stone produced in Tangkou area is used to build Huangji Hall of the Imperial Palace. Baisi Mountain is rich in ordinary bluestone, which provides good condition for the economic development of the village.

2.2HistoricalandculturalsituationAccording to theCommentaryontheWaterwaysClassic, the first emperor of Qin Dynasty made a pilgrimage to Xiyue in Baisi Mountain. In the village, there is the giant stele without words erected by the first emperor of Qin Dynasty, the Longxing Temple built in the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty, the Jade Emperor Temple, tombs of Han Dynasty at the top of the mountain, Zhao Xuanzi’s tomb in the north of the mountain, and piebald stone mining site. The natural remains of silicified wood have a history of 65 million years. According to theAnnalsofXunCounty, there were soldier hiding caves on the mountain during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty. The village is surrounded by the river of the Ming Dynasty and the village of the Qing Dynasty. Many ancient houses and artifacts of Ming and Qing dynasties in the village are well preserved, and the villagers still live and use them.

2.3FeaturesofexistingbuildingsNowadays, the relatively complete and still living ancient houses can be traced back to 1581, including 5 ancient houses in Ming Dynasty, more than 30 in Qing Dynasty and 55 in modern times of the Republic of China. The walls and local decoration of the old house are all carved by hand from local bluestones, which are exquisite in workmanship and high in fineness. The wood used in the buildings all uses ancient anti-corrosion and anti-insect technology, so it is intact, with high research value. The architectural features are "bluestone wall, hard mountain ash tile, slope top, wooden door, stone window or wooden window, supplemented by exquisite lintel, cornice, gate pier, windowsill, pediment, air window and horse binding stone". They create a strong architectural style and mellow local characteristics of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The overall appearance of the village, as a traditional village, is excellent.

3 Basic principles for protection of Baisi Village

The basic principles for protection of Baisi Village are to respect the present situation, give priority to ecology, be oriented by people and develop industries[2]. Respecting the status is to make reasonable use of the existing traditional buildings and natural resources in Baisi Village, and inherit the unique traditional culture of the village. Ecological priority is based on the premise that the ecological environment in traditional villages is not damaged, and to create a beautiful countryside with priority for ecological development. The people-oriented principle is that the villagers are the main carrier of the village and their wishes are fully considered. Industrial development focuses on the development of industries and economy. It is necessary to reasonably develop the industrial layout of villages and systematically protect the villages.

3.1RespectingthecurrentsituationTraditional villages are the development of different historical periods and the continuation of each period. The form, design materials, use function, historical and cultural objects of traditional villages are greatly affected. Therefore, the development of traditional villages should be based on the traditional development pattern and architectural style of the original historical development period, and for the material forms of traditional buildings and street patterns within the core scope, the strategies of protection and improvement, renovation and upgrading are put forward.

3.2GivingprioritytoecologyThe production space, living space and ecological space of traditional villages promote each other and develop continuously in each historical development period, forming a unique overall spatial pattern and features, and gathering the historical memory of each period[3]. In the process of development, the overall pattern of villages emphasizes the priority for ecological development, to ensure the overall development layout of the villages.

3.3BeingorientedbypeopleThe main carrier of traditional villages is villagers, and villagers become the main element of traditional villages. The development of the historical period and the continuation of each period greatly influence the form, design materials, use function, history and culture of traditional villages. Villagers are the main existence of traditional villages. On the basis of soliciting villagers’ wishes, we should inherit the characteristics of villages and continue the traditional culture.

3.4DiversifiedlayoutofindustriesThe development of traditional villages is inseparable from the development of village economy. They complement each other and develop together. We should deeply explore the characteristic industries of villages, diversify the industrial layout, create the characteristic industrial layout mode of villages, and improve the industrial structure, to realize the rural development strategy of industrial prosperity, ecological livability, rural civilization, effective governance and rich life[4].

4 Development of Baisi Village

Taking Baisi Village as an example, considering the cultural characteristics, style and features protection and rural revitalization, the principles of sustainable development are summarized.

4.1PromotingthecoordinateddevelopmentofindustriesbasedontheexistingresourcesAccording to the location and current resources of Baisi Village, it is divided into six areas: efficient agricultural planting area, comprehensive service area, ecological conservation area, traditional village protection area, flower cultivation and planting area, and efficient agricultural planting area, to build into a traditional village with characteristics of culture and education, farming experience, recuperation and vacation, leisure and health preservation and picking and planting. We should tap effective resources with production, living, ecological and historical values. In combination with the development of tourism culture, the festival of cultural heritage will be held to promote the multi-element development of the region and the development of rural industry integration.

4.2ProtectingtheintegrityofthevillagestyleandpromotingtheliveculturalheritageIn terms of the comprehensive evaluation of the street pattern and architectural style of Baisi village, on the basis of classified protection, the traditional streets and alleys are reconstructed and renovated. Considering the landscape environment of streets and alleys, we should make full use of the idle space, apply the stone roller and other apparatus with local characteristics, plant suitable landscape trees and flowers, and show the living environment of the village.

4.3IntegratingtheidlepublicspaceandreasonablyallocatingtheinfrastructureAt present, Baisi Village mainly has public space such as village square, street and alley, idle space and so on. Fully considering the idle public space and combining the tourism development prospect of the village, basic public facilities are arranged reasonably to improve the sense of happiness of villagers and the experience of tourists. The public facilities are considered from two aspects. In terms of public infrastructure, commercial service facilities, bus stops, public toilets, sewage treatment plants, garbage collection stations and other environmental sanitation facilities are planned and constructed. They will not only play an industrial role, but also serve the upgrading of life. At the entrance of the village, as a densely populated place, it is planned to set up public tourism infrastructure such as ecological parking lots and tourist service centers, to meet the needs of village tourism development[5].

4.4ImprovingpublicparticipationanddevelopinggovernancemechanismThe protection and development of traditional villages should not only be coordinated by the government, but also consider the villagers’ wishes and adhere to the people-oriented principle. First, we should strengthen publicity and education among villagers. From the perspective of cultural heritage and cultural and artistic development, villagers are informed through radio and visits, to let them form correct values. Second, villagers are actively encouraged to participate. We should guide the villagers to exercise their right of participation, hold symposiums, villagers’ meetings,etc., so that villagers can participate in the work of village protection and development.

5 Conclusions

The focus of the protection and development of traditional villages is on the premise of existing cultural development. We should increase the excavation of local history and culture, and combine it with industrial economy and social culture according to local conditions. In this article, taking Baisi Village as an example, the historical characteristics and resource development characteristics of village are sorted out. According to its protection principles and development strategies, the following conclusions are made.

(i) The development and protection of traditional villages are based on the principles of respecting existing resources and tapping resources for sustainable development, building a systematic protection system with integrity, continuity and authenticity. (ii) The development of traditional villages should be based the overall spatial development and layout, and the combination with industrial development structure, to create a complementary industrial development mode of ecology and life, and promote the internal power of the villages.