Resulting of pedigree and topology of centripetal spatial schema in Chinese traditional cities

Abstract

Chinese Traditional Maps and Local Chronicles serve as significant sources for investigating the urban history of ancient Chinese cities. These documents prioritize the abstract representation of topological relationships over precise numerical values and geometric shapes. This is consistent with the traditional Chinese city image and spatial schema emphasizing “harmony between man and nature”. Most Chinese Traditional Maps reflect a centripetal spatial schema, wherein the core area is located at the center, and other locations are positioned hierarchically about the center. Based on this data, this research aims to categorize and examine the development and evolution of the centripetal spatial schema in ancient Chinese cities by constructing a pedigree of types. The authors identify three types and summarize their causes, calculate the topological features, and reveal their correlations with the type of pedigree. This study reveals that cities with different centripetal forms exhibit regular differences in the accessibility, centrality, and functional attributes of central nodes, as well as the proportion of nodes with different attributes in the city. Overall, the conclusion aims to deepen people’s understanding of traditional Chinese spatial concepts at the macro-urban level, particularly in the context of China’s current urban renewal wave. Additionally, it provides practical references for inheriting and applying Chinese traditional construction wisdom.

Keywords

Traditional cities / Ancient map / Centripetal / Pedigree of types / Topological characteristic

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