Research on the Conservation Paradigm for Cultural Landscapes of Traditional Villages based on Isomorphic Feature Analysis

ZHANG Yawei; SHU Yang; LI Jun

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-0232.2025.09.009

Abstract：Current approaches to conserving the cultural landscape in traditional villages replace"mechanism regeneration"with"morphological reproduction"and prioritize"element preservation"over"relationship continuity".Such approaches overemphasize the presentation and restoration of physical forms.They neglect the maintenance and revitalization of the relational logic and generative mechanisms of the cultural landscape.In response,this study viewed"isomorphism"as a core theoretical tool for analyzing the generative mechanisms of cultural landscapes from a relational perspective.It also systematically identified the isomorphic characteristics of cultural landscapes in traditional villages and reconstructed their value framework accordingly.In this way,the study aimed to provide theoretical support and practical guidance for a paradigm shift in conservation approaches. This study built an analytical framework based on the mathematical principle of isomorphism.The framework consists of"synchronic mapping"and"diachronic iteration"for the cultural landscape in traditional villages.The synchronic isomorphism revealed mapping relationships between intangible and tangible elements and extracted three typical mechanisms.These are"production-living-ecological space mutual construction"(reflecting the coupling of production,living,and ecological spaces);"society-space correspondence"(demonstrating the correspondence between social organizational structures and spatial configuration);and"spiritual-space interpretation"(highlighting the symbolic construction of spiritual beliefs projected onto physical spaces).Diachronic isomorphism focuses on the intergenerational stratification and dynamic interactions of landscape elements.It identifies three core features:the continuity of landscape genes,the stratification of history and culture,and the living nature of heritage values. After identifying isomorphic characteristics,this study reconstructed the value cognition framework of cultural landscapes in traditional villages centered on"relational value".It established a three-dimensional structure consisting of"spiritual value,spatial value,and temporal value".These three dimensions intertwine in synchronic and diachronic relationships,jointly forming an"isomorphic field"of cultural landscapes in traditional villages.On this basis,three strategic approaches for the paradigm shift of cultural landscape conservation in traditional villages are proposed:(1)"Sustaining Local Nostalgia":a socially-oriented conservation strategy that emphasizes the continuity of people-oriented social relationships and vernacular culture;(2)"Integrated Spatial Experience":a scene-based conservation approach that highlights the isomorphic relationship between tangible and intangible elements;(3)"Past-Present Continuity":a dynamic conservation strategy that focuses on the evolution and continuity of cultural landscapes,driven by contemporary living needs to activate their historically stratified values. The study investigated how the conservation paradigm transformed based on isomorphic features according to the logical framework of"isomorphic mechanism-value reconstruction-paradigm shift".It reconstructed a cognitive framework of cultural landscape value in traditional villages centered on"relational value".A pathway for conservation oriented to mechanism continuity was proposed to promote the shift of the cultural landscape conservation concept from"element preservation"to"relationship continuity".This pathway not only expands the theoretical toolkit for cultural landscape conservation in traditional villages but also offers practical and adaptable strategies for their dynamic conservation.