Typo-Morphological Approaches for Maintaining the Sustainability of Local Traditional Culture: A Case Study of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Historical Area in Guangzhou

Abstract

This paper studies the spatial forms and cultural sustainability of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan historical area, the only area that reflects the development of the assembled-clan hall culture in Guangzhou. In the face of modernization and reconstruction, traditional culture plays an increasingly crucial role in modern cities, determining the expression of architectural uniqueness and continuous development that adapts to social needs. Therefore, preserving cultural characteristics is more relevant than ever. This study combines historical literature research with typo-morphological analysis to establish analytical strategies that link cultural sustainability with spatial evolution from the perspective of sustainable development. The analytical framework consists of three parts: First of all, through historical literature research, a thorough analysis is conducted on the cultural and social influencing factors from the Dynasties of Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing and the Republic of China to the reform and opening up period. Secondly, feature elements of the location are extracted, and a typo-morphological approach is used to analyze the sustained changes in spatial forms. Finally, the relationship between changes in block form and building types and the inheritance and development of traditional culture are demonstrated. The analytical results indicate that the continuity of cultural characteristics is embodied in the continuity of the block and architectural spatial characteristics, while cultural transformation and man-made social factors affect the changes in spatial forms. This paper combines the perspective of cultural sustainability analysis with the traditional typo-morphological approaches of urban spatial analysis, supplementing the existing typo-morphological methodology. In addition, guiding the development of urban morphology from the perspective of cultural sustainability is of prominent practical significance.

1. Introduction

In the tide of urbanization and globalization, Chinese cities face serious risks of losing cultural identity, either losing their cultural characteristics due to continuous modernization impacts, or disorderly management, inappropriate layout, and traditional culture being ignored. In the process of urban development and changes, traditional architecture has changed its functions and spatial forms to meet the social needs of specific periods. Then, how should the form of traditional architecture be preserved and adapted to future needs? The typo-morphology theory constantly strives to solve these problems.

The development of urban morphology is based on three schools: the British School of Morphology (the Conzen School), the Italian School of Typology (the Caniggian School), and the French Versailles School. The Conzen School introduced the historico-geographical approach to urban historical landscapes, the Caniggian School created the process-typological approach, and the French Versailles School further developed typology. As important approaches of typo-morphology, the historico-geographical and process-typological approaches play important supporting roles in analyzing the conservation of traditional forms and spaces of historical cities [1]. The historico-geographical approach focuses on analyzing spatial forms, and the process-typological approach focuses on defining the process of types and typology. These theories are important tools for defining the spatial characteristics and distinctiveness of old and new physical forms based on spatial forms. The British morphologist Karl Kropf, ref. [2], proposed to combine typology with morphology, and researchers such as Fei Chen and Kevin Thwaites (2013) further extended its roles in revealing cultural significance [3]. They emphasized that typo-morphology can identify the social and cultural significance of specific urban forms, adapt to local planning frameworks, and guide the development of urban forms. Duygu Gokce et al. presented a conceptual model for evaluating the sense of place on the scale of buildings, streets and neighborhoods through case studies in Türkiye and other places [4], indicating the importance of traditional types to the development of urban morphology. Based on the above research, typo-morphology continues to play a vital role in urban planning, as exemplified by Ivor Samuelin’s application of it in The Plan for St Gervais [5]. Theoretical studies and practical applications of typo-morphology constantly reveal the significance of traditional forms and their impact on urban planning.

The research on typology and morphology in China is also unceasingly thorough. Since the 1980s and 1990s, the theoretical ideas of typology and morphology have been introduced into China [6]. Many studies have concentrated on topics such as residential transformation [7], spatial changes [3] and urban morphology research in historic cities like Nanjing [8]. The transformation of types and forms is a time-based process. In order to achieve cultural sustainability in the development of historical blocks, scholars have gradually explored the establishment of a typological framework to analyze the specific changes in types. For example, Chen et al. analyzed the historical process of the transformation of urban blocks, plots, and architectural textures in Suzhou, China from the 10th century to the present [9], and Kai Gu et al. analyzed the evolution process of residential building types in Guangzhou, China [10]. Chen and Thwaites conducted a comprehensive study on the urban form of Nanjing and described the changes related to the urban form and design process [3] However, the above studies focus more on the analysis of urban spatial forms and specific types of architectural heritage, but no research focuses on which spatial features can support sustainable cultural development, and the sustained cultural elements reflected by the sustainability of spatial features, especially in the context of Guangzhou, China. The research of this paper aims to fill this gap.

Currently, the international perspective of sustainable development provides the authors with important guidance. From the perspective of sustainable development, the cultural dimension is not only an important power for social integration but also for environmental sustainability. In 2001, Australian scholar Jon Hawker took the lead in proposing four levels of sustainability: cultural activities (well-being, creativity, diversity and innovation), social equality (justice, participation, cohesion and welfare), environmental responsibility (ecological balance), and economic ability (material prosperity). He believes that a sustainable society depends on a sustainable culture. Culture, as the third pole in the triple framework of sustainability, must be a separate and “unique” reference point [11]. How culture affects urban space remains a vital question. This paper aims to combine the perspective of cultural sustainability with the morphological approaches of urban spatial planning types, and supplement them in terms of typological and morphological methodology and practice.

This study aims to explore the following questions: (1) How do traditional cultural elements and continuous development affect the traditional morphological characteristics of block space and architecture? (2) What is the correlation between the discontinuity and changes in physical spatial form and the transformation of traditional culture and social factors? This study aims to address these two questions.

This paper is divided into seven sections. The Section 2 is a literature review, which is followed by the research areas and approaches in the Section 3. The Section 4 analyzes the impact of cultural factors on the development of the five historical stages of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan historical area. The Section 5 analyzes the changes in block forms and architectural spatial characteristics in the five historical stages. The Section 6 analyzes the continuous changes in traditional spatial characteristics under the influence of cultural factors. Finally, the Section 7 is the conclusion of this paper.

2. Literature Review

2.1. The Typo-Morphological Approach for the Conservation of Historic Towns

The typo-morphological approach for the conservation of historic towns is an important method for protecting and managing urban historical landscapes. It originated from the field of urban morphology in the late 19th century and was applied to urban planning and design. Scholars have identified the following main research approaches:

• The historico-geographical approach

Applied to the conservation of historic towns, the historico-geographical approach was created by the Conzen School, whose representatives are M. R. G. Conzen and J. W. R. Whitehand. This approach focuses on the formation and transformation process of urban forms and can identify, delimit, and manage historical urban landscapes [2]. Alnwick, Northumberland—a study in town-plan analysis [12] by Conzen stands as one of the most important books on urban morphology published so far (see Monteiro 2017, for a synthesis of the process of the book’s production). In the book, the tripartite division of the urban landscape (or townscape) into town plan, building fabric and land, and building utilization is introduced [13]. To disaggregate an urban landscape into its component parts, a tripartite division of form—a ground plan comprising street, plot, and block plans of buildings; land and building utilization; and building fabric—was put forward by Conzen as ‘form complexes’ [1]. Integration of the maps of the three form complexes yields a multi-tier hierarchy of morphological regions (landscape units) which are areas of homogenous urban form in terms of plan type, building type and land use [14]. This approach has also demonstrated its value in the conservation of urban morphological features in China. Taking Beijing’s Zhishanmen historic urban area as an example, this approach provides guidance for the future development of each morphological area (landscape unit) [15,16].

• The process-typological approach

Applied to the conservation of historic towns, the process-typological approach [17] was created by the Caniggian School, whose representatives are Muratori and Caniggia [18]. This approach is mainly applied to the architectural and urban design as well as the development and control of historic towns. The key concepts and methods are manifested in the book Composizione architettonica e tipologia edilizia written by Caniggia and Maffei, which starts at the scale of the building and develops through aggregations of buildings as urban tissues to entire settlements [1]. Kropf suggested that the process-typological approach is effective in informing form-based zoning in planning at building, plot and district scales. A range of types that is a product of a distinct social, historical and cultural process is identified [19,20]. This approach can be applied to individual buildings or towns and is widely used in local land use planning in France, providing an important method for the design and architectural guidance of future development in the region (including building layout, building type, street size, etc.) [1].

In 1993, Kropf began to combine morphological theory with typological theory [21], and Caniggia and Maffei began to explore the connection between tradition and modernity based on urban planning and design [20]. Hwang et al. (1994) [22] further studied the combination of typology and morphological theory. Fei Chen and Romice, Kevin Thwaites [9], Ivor Samuels [5] and other scholars further extended their research and practice in Türkiye, China and other places. Fei Chen and Ombretta Romice proposed that a ‘typological process’ is the progressive transformation of a series of related synchronic types on a particular scale in the same cultural context over time, and outlines the continuity and inter-relation between types [9]. In order to expand the application of typo-morphology in Chinese cities, scholars have continuously expanded and conducted in-depth research, creating new approaches for the evaluation of landscape units and the development of management proposals, such as the spatial analytical approach and integrated morphological approach [1]. However, compared with other countries in the world, the changes in urban morphology in China have shown different characteristics, complexity, and diversity from the driving mechanism to the cultural environment. Chinese cities are facing a crisis of severe loss of cultural characteristics. The basic principle of typo-morphology is to follow traditional changes and discover their coherence and gradient. Therefore, as a powerful tool, typo-morphology should be more based on the perspectives of urban culture, social attributes and development, thereby defining and analyzing the process of typology within the framework of cultural iterative development.

2.2. The Developing Vision for Cultural Sustainability

With continuous practical exploration of sustainable urban development, the cultural factors of urban development are increasingly emphasized. In the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in 2015, culture was mentioned for the first time as one of the millennium development goals [23]. Hawkes proposed that culture should be considered as the fourth pillar of sustainable development [11]. The indicators of cultural sustainability proposed by Robert et al. are as follows: cultural vitality, diversity and conviviality; social capital; cultural landscape; cultural heritage; and cultural access, participation and consumption [24].

Soini and Birkeland identified seven storylines characterizing the concept, including “heritage, vitality, economic viability, diversity, locality, eco-cultural resilience, and eco-cultural civilization” [25,26]. They laid stress on the influence of heritage and cultural life on social cohesion and place identification. When the sustainability of development is called into question, besides the aspects of economy and society, it is crucial to take the importance of culture into consideration [26].

Through the discussion and comparison of dimensions (definition of culture, culture and development, value of culture, culture and society, culture and nature, policy sectors, modes of governance, and research approach), the relationship between culture and sustainability is analyzed, and three explanations for cultural sustainability are proposed, which are culture in sustainable development, culture for sustainable development, culture as sustainable development [27].

Culture is a concept that affects various aspects of social life and is a multidisciplinary concept. The role of culture is to support sustainability, as culture is its creator [28]. It is crucial to deeply understand its value and influence. If this value and influence cannot be sustained, cultural sustainability will be undermined by commercial and other factors [29]. Chiu (2004) pointed out that culture is not static: it evolves over time, with particular characteristics. Therefore, cultural sustainability should not be equated with maintaining a static state, but should promote diversity and adapt to the development of social needs [26,30].

In conclusion, historic urban areas are one of the most diverse and abundant representations of our collective cultural heritage. However, rapid development is gradually altering these areas and their surrounding environments, causing the destruction of their original urban forms and textures. Especially the core areas with high historical value are facing pressure of being replaced by modern urban forms and contemporary architecture [31]. In adapting to modern urban lifestyles and the economic and social development of towns, the preservation, continuity, and future development of local traditional culture face significant challenges. The application of existing typological approaches has been utilized in multiple disciplines such as urban geography, architecture, urban planning, urban history, and archaeology [30]. Despite the introduction of typological and morphological theories to China since the late 1980s, further research is still needed within the specific cultural context of Chinese historical urban landscapes [32]. While scientific discussions and research on cultural sustainability are still ongoing, the concept of cultural sustainable development has been proposed and become deeply ingrained in people’s consciousness for a long time. As an important medium for cultural sustainable development, historic urban areas possess significant urgency and significance for the future development of cities due to their unique cultural background “between modern and traditional cultures.” However, as a morphological approach for studying urban historical geography, the focus of recent research has not revealed much about cultural sustainability [10]. Although valuable contributions have been made by current research to the development of historic cities and the regeneration of building heritage types, there has been a lack of emphasis on researching which spatial features can meet future demands and be applied to future development for enhancing cultural sustainability. Based on the aforementioned discussion, this paper develops an analytical framework that links cultural sustainability with spatial evolution from the perspective of sustainable development. It aims to interpret the changes in spatial and architectural features, identify elements of continuity and development for the plot, explore how to maintain the spatial and architectural features of the block, and examine ways to adapt to current social development while preserving cultural sustainability.

3. Study Area and Methodology

3.1. Study Area

Clan hall culture (“宗祠文化”) and academy culture (“书院文化”) are two highly representative cultural forms in the Lingnan region [33]. Ancestral halls (“祠堂”) are buildings where ancestral memorial tablets are enshrined and ancestral worship is conducted by clans or clan branches. They come in different forms, including main clan hall (“大宗祠”), branch clan hall (“房祠”), supporting clan hall (“支祠”), family temple (“家庙”), assembled-clan hall (“合族祠”), and private ancestral hall (“私伙厅”). Assembled-clan halls are the ancestral halls built by joint clans [34], and as a common traditional building type in Guangzhou, they hold high significance in terms of their architectural form, craftsmanship, artistry and usage. They possess important historical and cultural values and serve as significant carriers of local culture in the Guangzhou region. Therefore, the clan hall culture studied in this paper reflects this traditional architectural culture, which is different from clan culture. Academy culture (“书院文化”) is an outstanding representative of Guangdong’s traditional educational culture, with the academy’s architectural space primarily focused on lecturing and honoring ancestors. Currently, studies on the conservation and utilization of clan hall and academy architecture cultural heritage, both domestically and overseas, mostly focus on clan hall culture [35,36], academy culture [37], and architectural development [38,39], and some researchers have studied the influence of social and cultural factors on Lingnan traditional buildings [33,34,40].

Since the maturity of clans during the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the economic development of Guangzhou, assembled-clan halls rapidly developed and matured against this backdrop [41], becoming a unique architectural symbol of local traditional culture for a long period of history. However, since then (the Qing Dynasty), due to various factors such as politics, the economy, and society, both the clan hall culture and academy culture have undergone significant changes. The urban plots have experienced transformations, leading to changes in boundaries and architectural forms. The Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy cluster is a historical location in the urban core area that represents this important traditional culture and has witnessed important historical changes. These “academies” in the plot are not traditional academy buildings, but actually “assembled-clan halls” named after the academies [33]. Currently, the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan area contains the only cluster of assembled-clan academies preserved in the core area of the historical urban area of Guangzhou (Figure 1). Certainly, it has also withstood the baptisms of time and the threat of urbanization development.

Currently, the introduction to the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy cluster area is mostly included in the research literature and books related to ancient academies in Guangzhou, such as The Ancient Academies in Guangzhou Yuexiu District. However, it is different from traditional academies as it actually belongs to the category of clan academy. This point will be further explained in the following research. The conservation of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy cluster area was proposed in 1999. However, over the course of more than ten years, the area has experienced further deterioration, facing significant issues such as cultural decline, destruction of traditional spatial forms, and difficulties in balancing cultural display and commercial activity. Therefore, this section specifically introduces the research strategies and methods employed in order to identify and extract the cultural elements for sustainable development, and preserve the cultural value of this important area.

3.2. Data

The data collected for this research primarily consist of three parts: historical and cultural information data, historical geographic data, and data from field surveys and interviews.

• Historical and cultural information is mainly collected through local governments and units, local chronicles and compilations, and academic works. It primarily includes local government planning documents, including the Conservation Plan for the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy cluster in Guangzhou approved in 2004, the Conservation and Renewal Plan for the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy Cluster in Guangzhou, and the plot feasibility study report approved in 2013. The historical architectural information displayed in museums includes historical materials about the Lujiang Academy exhibited at the Guangzhou Monetary and Finance Museum, as well as historical materials about the Lianxi Academy at the San Yat-sen Library of Guangdong Province. The local chronicles include The Chronicles of City Lane in Guangzhou, the Compilation of Cultural Relics Survey in Guangzhou, and the academic works include Between Urban and Rural Areas—A Study of the Guangzhou Assembled-clan Halls Since the Qing Dynasty, and The Ancient Academies in Guangzhou Yuexiu District.
• The historical geographic sources mainly include historical maps and satellite images, such as the Boundary Map of the Republic of China, the Aerial Image Map of Guangzhou in 1955, the Aerial Image Map of Guangzhou in 1978, and current topographic maps. Historical maps are primarily derived from historical documents, including Illustrating the City’s Cultural Context—Past and Current Atlas of Guangzhou and other electronic maps from previous research.
• The data from field surveys and interviews include current photographs, architectural verification information, historical environmental information and relevant information collected through interviews to support the research. These surveys were spatial surveys. A total of 8 field surveys were conducted from May 2021 to September 2022, covering 71 buildings, roads, and other spatial features. After data sorting, a database for 71 buildings was compiled and included information such as the building address, number, age, conservation elements, conservation status, etc., as well as photos and aerial photos recording buildings and environmental information. The interview data in this study were collected during visits to local government organizations, including the Beijing Road Cultural Core Area Management Committee to obtain historical topographic maps, historical data of the assembled-clan halls, and historical information collected by descendants of the assembled-clan halls. The authors also visited the Housing Management Bureau and the management of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan area to obtain relevant map data on historical cadastral records and information on the construction dates and original spatial layouts of some buildings. Secondly, during the field survey period, the authors conducted brief interviews with homeowners to collect information about the construction dates and historical usage of the buildings. (This study does not involve questionnaire surveys on residents’ participation, needs, and satisfaction.)

3.3. Methodology

The research content of this paper mainly includes the following three parts:

Firstly, historical literature research was employed to analyze the context of traditional cultural development and the social and cultural influencing factors at each stage, from the larger scope of Guangzhou to the plot [42]. Historical literature research is one of the most commonly used research methods in the fields of history, philosophy, and sociology. It involves searching, collecting, identifying, organizing, and analyzing literature to form factual scientific knowledge [43]. The method of historical literature research afforded the authors the opportunity to review the historical development, assess the present status and reflect on the future [44]. The historical literature research in this paper mainly comprises data research and literature investigation, including the retrieval, collection, identification, organization, and analysis of literature materials. The recorded history of the research object began in the Song Dynasty and has gradually shaped the physical space of the area since then, so the time frame for this literature research is from the Song Dynasty to the present. To analyze the historical development context, we examine the cultural and social influencing factors of the Dynasties of Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing, and the Republic of China to the reform and opening up period. As an auxiliary means for historical literature analysis, the mapping method performs spatial translation on historical map information.

Secondly, morphology reflects the superimposed relationships of urban space. Moudon states that urban forms can be understood by investigating the layout and configuration of forms and spaces in order to clarify the processes of local change—how forms and spaces are locally built and why [45]. Through a typo-morphological approach, phased analysis is used for block forms and building types, including analyzing changes in plot layout, and the order, function, and changes in architectural space [46], thereby analyzing and identifying the continuous and changing processes of space and architectural features. Field surveys serve as a specific operational tool for analyzing changes in block forms and building types. In field surveys, detailed information is obtained by observing the buildings, environment, and surrounding features of the areas multiple times.

Finally, based on the above analysis of the correlation between social and cultural factors and changes in spatial form and architectural features, the relationship between changes in block form and architectural types and the inheritance and development of traditional culture is investigated. From the perspective of sustainable development, key points for traditional cultural sustainability are proposed to guide its future development in the area’s conservation focus, preservation of architectural features, and innovation orientations.

3.4. Study Framework

Based on the research of historical and cultural backgrounds, forms found at different levels are identified as types, which are conceived as cultural entities rooted in, and specific to the local process of cultural development [47]. The process-typological analysis of the typo-morphological approach can reveal the continuity, partial continuity, and mutation of specific spaces within a continuous advancing period [48]. The spatial changes in each stage are a spatial superposition that occurs when adapting to the changing cultural needs at that time, and the changes in space are precisely due to various factors such as culture, society, and the economy. Therefore, based on the spatial features of previous typo-morphological studies, combined with the current characteristics of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan area, feature elements that can reflect the development characteristics of the area are extracted (

Table 1. Spatial characteristics of typo-morphological studies.

Spatial Characteristics	Key Authors
Plot and block layout, size and shapes	e.g., [2,12,13]
Road features	e.g., [1,2,14]
Building layout (architectural form, spatial sequence, orientation, gatehouse, etc.)	e.g., [2,15,16]
Architectural function	e.g., [10,49]
Roof form	e.g., [18]
Number of floors	e.g., [19]
Building materials	e.g., [18]
Building structures	e.g., [1]

).

By placing traditional culture in the perspective of sustainable development [20], the relationship between changes in block forms and architectural types and the inheritance and development of traditional culture is demonstrated. The spatial planning points for maintaining locality and diversity in the area are proposed, forming the study framework of this paper. The details are presented in Figure 2 below.

4. Analysis of the Development and Evolution of Traditional Culture in the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Area

4.1. Social and Cultural Development Context

The Damazhan and Xiaomazhan area are an important location in the core area of Guangzhou in history, and today it is still one of the most important areas in Guangzhou’s historic towns. The development process of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan area is closely related to the development of Guangzhou. Under the influence of the politics, economy, and culture of Guangzhou, it has continuously evolved to this day and has undergone several important stages during the Ming and Qing dynasties and in modern times, which have had significant impacts. Based on relevant historical literature, the area’s development process can be summarized into the stages shown in Figure 3.

Clan halls developed with the development of the clan system. In the Song Dynasty, the Pearl River Delta entered a peak of development. Since the Southern Song Dynasty, clan halls in Guangzhou began to take shape [34]. They flourished in the late Ming Dynasty and continued to develop in the Qing Dynasty. They entered a mature stage in the mid Qing Dynasty, reaching a peak of development, and entered a stage of decline during the Republic of China [50]. The assembled-clan halls are an important form of the development of clan halls, and their development and changes are closely related to the clan hall culture and the social and economic development at that time.

• The first stage of development: Song Dynasty to late Ming Dynasty (960–1644s).

In the Song Dynasty, the Pearl River Delta entered a climax of development and gradually became the center of population and economic development in the Lingnan area. Many areas had already formed villages, but at that time, a social form composed of clans had not yet become established. Although the clan halls in Guangzhou had begun to take shape since the Southern Song Dynasty and began to have clan consciousness, clan hall culture had not yet developed [34].

The history of many clans in Guangzhou began with the adoption of the household registration system in the Lingnan area in the early Ming Dynasty. With the cultivation of farmland and the household registration system, the clan gradually developed. Genealogy, clan fields, and clan halls are the three forms of maintaining clan cohesion. Genealogy is a record of lineages and family branches, and large clan halls are generally equipped with genealogical halls. Due to spatial and economic pressures, large clans redeveloped settlement lands, controlled sand and silt lands, cities, and temples, and improved their social status by participating in imperial examinations and contributing donations. In the fifteenth year of the Jiajing reign (1536), the Minister of Rites, Xia Yan, issued the “Order for Subjects to Honor Citizens’ Ancestors and Establish Family Temples”, which allowed the common people to build family temples. Therefore, clans and ancestral halls became popular from the middle of the Ming Dynasty, and a large number of clan halls were built among the people, which also promoted the development of clan villages. From that point, the clan system matured, and the clan hall culture gradually developed. Guangzhou clans built ancestral halls, established clan rules, built ancestral tombs and clan properties, compiled genealogies, and promoted clan schools. Clan halls provided multiple advantages in economic, cultural, and imperial examination competitions. The construction of clan halls became a form of cultural and social power, as well as one of the labels of social identity [34].

In the middle and late Ming Dynasty, with the development of agriculture, handicrafts, and overseas trade, population growth, and the acceleration of urbanization in Guangdong, population migration from rural areas to cities gradually began to emerge. With this population migration, “urban” clan construction gradually began to appear [51]. (In addition to the supporting clan halls built by the big clans in Guangzhou, assembled-clan halls were also an important form of clan halls.) This maintained the influence and strength of the clans and the relationship between the Pearl River Delta and the provincial capital, Guangzhou. Various regions were called for the worship of their ancestors and the relocation of their ancestors, and the establishment of clan temples in provincial, prefectural, and county towns also appeared roughly during this time. However, the number of assembled-clan halls in Guangzhou during the late Ming Dynasty was still very small. The earliest established assembled-clan hall in Guangzhou was the Xian Clan’s Hall built in 1622.

• The second stage of development: the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912).

By the Qing Dynasty, Guangzhou had become one of the most prosperous cities, with a large number of immigrants from various regions of the country and surrounding villages settled in Guangzhou. The number of people who took part in the imperial examination and embarked on official careers were also increasing, and the scale of the Guangdong academies in the Qing Dynasty increased sharply [41]. Against this backdrop, Guangzhou assembled-clan halls in the Qing Dynasty became a stopover place and liaison office for rural people of the same surname in Guangzhou. These people, with different identities, resided in the assembled-clan halls to prepare for exams and litigation, or handle various matters such as receiving foods and making a living. The assembled-clan halls also had real estate properties, which were often used as academies or rented out as storefronts, stores, etc. [33]. Therefore, in order to facilitate imperial examinations, litigations, and other activities, as well as to contact its members, there were a large number of assembled-clan halls of all sizes in Guangzhou during the Qing Dynasty, which were clustered around the academic palaces and academies (Figure 4). At that time, a network of academies consisting of official schools, private schools, and academies (including clan academies) was formed, with the Guangzhou government as the center, covering an area of 3.2 square kilometers (Figure 1), which indicates how large scale the network had become during this period. Being close to official institutions also improved the social status of the assembled-clan halls [33].

In 1763, in the 28th year of the Qianlong reign, the banning and destruction of assembled-clan halls began. The assembled-clan halls in Guangzhou began to change their form and were renamed as academies and study rooms, which were used as examination residences, to gain legitimacy. In 1905, the abolition of the imperial examination system affected the assembled-clan halls and attempted to transform them into an “autonomous” form. With the development of municipal construction, many assembled-clan halls have been partially or completely renovated [33].

• The third stage of development: from the Republic of China to the founding of the People’s Republic of China (1912–1949).

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the construction of clan halls gradually stagnated, but some new forms of architecture emerged (such as the Yiyuan Hall and the Peixun Hall). The scope of activities of the academies expanded, and their original function as a contact point and stopover place for people of the same surname in Guangzhou began to weaken. The assembled-clan hall gradually became an organization controlled by residents of the same surname in Guangzhou, and “autonomy” became the legal form of the assembled-clan hall. In terms of management mode and form, it is similar to the management mode of modern associations and employs a board committee system. Their function has gradually shifted to being a place for education or business. Some assembled-clan halls are rented for education. Others provide their own education programs, and some are used for other types of business purposes. In 1919, Guangzhou began to widen its roads, and many of its assembled-clan halls were then partially or completely demolished. The completely demolished assembled-clan halls also sought opportunities to reconstruct. The rebuilt assembled-clan halls began to use new building materials according to the architectural characteristics of the time [33].

During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, many assembled-clan halls were destroyed, and some were dismantled for military use. The Kaoting Academy and Lianxi Academy were dismantled during this period. After victory in the war, most assembled-clan halls underwent reconstruction, which differed from traditional practices in terms of architectural design, funding and construction methods, resulting in assembled-clan halls with distinct modern characteristics.

• The fourth stage of development: from the founding of the People’s Republic of China to the reform and opening up (1950–1978).

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the municipal government transformed a large number of ancestral halls and academies into residential buildings, while also constructing new ones. During this stage, residential architecture gradually transitioned from brick and wood structures to brick and concrete structures and reinforced concrete frame structures. The number of stories in buildings increased from low-rise to multi-story. New and old residential buildings were equipped with improved facilities such as kitchens and bathrooms [52]. According to statistics from 1966, a total of 177 ancestral halls and academies were converted into residential buildings in Guangzhou, covering an area of 77,200 square meters and accommodating 4400 households with a population of 19,300. Each building accommodated more than 10 households, and in some cases even several dozens of households, resulting in cramped living conditions without independent sanitation facilities, proper ventilation, or good lighting [53]. As a result, during this stage, as for the existing buildings with traditional brick–wood structures, it was common to build extensions, and shared kitchens and sanitary facilities emerged due to housing shortages. This stage marked the initial transition from traditional to modern culture, lifestyles and spatial layouts, making traditional spatial forms more complex.

• The fifth stage of development: from the reform and opening up to the present (1979–Present).

With reform and opening up, the economy gradually recovered, and many clan halls in villages underwent restoration and reconstruction. Although they moved away from the traditional feudal ethical framework, clan halls still hold significant importance for spatial forms and daily life, especially the public life, of the villages in the Guangzhou area. They play a special role in the organization of rural communities. Many clan halls, especially those in rural areas, have been restored and reconstructed. However, some assembled-clan halls have been demolished due to urban transformations. Some assembled-clan halls, such as the Chen Clan Academy, the largest assembled-clan hall-style building in Guangzhou, have undergone restoration. The Chen Clan Academy integrates various architectural decorative techniques of the Lingnan region. It is the largest and best-preserved ancestral hall building with exquisite decorations in the country [54] and currently serves as the Guangdong Folk Arts Museum. The Lujiang Academy (He Clan’s Hall) has a history of over 200 years and has been restored as the Lingnan Finance Museum. Nevertheless, many clan hall buildings have been demolished or damaged due to urban development changes. During the census of cultural relics in 2000, twelve academies were recorded in the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan area, where a concentration of assembled-clan halls were built during the Qing Dynasty. On the west side of Damazhan, there were five academies, including the Pingsuo Academy, Xie Family Academy, Lai Clan Academy, Jiangdu Academy, and Sanyi Academy. On both sides of Xiaomazhan, there were four academies: Guan Clan’s Hall on the east side, Zeng Clan’s Hall, Zhou Clan’s Hall, and the Jianda Academy on the west side. On both sides of the Liushui Well, there were three academies: He Clan’s Hall (Lujiang Academy), Kaoting Academy, and Guanying Family School (Ma Clan’s Hall) on the east side. Nowadays, only six academies remain: Zeng Clan’s Hall, Jianda Academy (Yu Clan’s Hall), Lujiang Academy (He Clan’s Hall), Lianxi Academy (Zhou Clan’s Hall), Kaoting Academy (Zhu Clan’s Hall), and Guanying Family School (Ma Clan’s Hall).

4.2. Development and Influencing Factors of Assembled-Clan Halls

The development of assembled-clan halls occurred within the context of clan hall culture and academy culture and was influenced by social and economic factors (Figure 5). As mentioned before, assembled-clan halls were not established based on the concept of bloodline kinship and did not strictly adhere to traditional rituals. However, they have survived and developed with the help of clan ritual ideas and academy culture. Throughout history, they have shown great vitality in terms of functional imitation, form replication, and development after the founding of our country.

• Clan culture (“宗族文化”), economic growth, and population migration: Since the Ming Dynasty, assembled-clan halls have existed as “regional alliances” to serve as a link between urban and rural areas in the face of population migration and growth. In essence, assembled-clan halls are loose alliances formed by clans of the same surname in various regions. Although they are not clan organizations, they imitate the architectural style of clan halls and incorporate function of worship to gain legitimacy. In addition to managing housing, buying property and business management are also major activities of assembled-clan halls. Therefore, they have their own regulations for admission and rules for management and operation.
• Political factors, social environment, and academy culture: During the Qing Dynasty, assembled-clan halls existed as “academies” due to three rounds of imperial actions to ban and destroy them. Although assembled-clan halls were not traditional academies, they valued the imperial examination system and the cultivation of talent. They also rewarded individuals who achieved success in the exams. The higher the number of successful members from the assembled-clan halls, the higher its status. Furthermore, in order to obtain government support, assembled-clan halls actively responded to the government’s initiative of family autonomy. For example, the Chen Clan Academy organized a family craft factory.
• Warfare and urban construction: During the Republican era, assembled-clan halls existed as “autonomous organizations” and were influenced by urban development. They experienced demolitions and reconstructions, leading to a greater emphasis on their functional aspects and expanding their network of connections to gain broader support. In later stages, they also engaged in educational and other operating activities. After the founding of the country, they were even more influenced by urban development activities.

5. Analysis of the Evolution of Physical Spatial Forms

The Damazhan and Xiaomazhan academies in Guangzhou originated in the Song Dynasty and flourished during the early Ming and Qing Dynasties, forming the cluster of ancestral clan academies. In the Republican era, significant changes occurred in the external roads and construction of the city, leading to transformations in the layout and architectural forms of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan areas. After the founding of the country, the plots underwent further subdivision, resulting in changes to the existing architectural patterns. As of today, some areas have been demolished, traditional academy buildings are in a state of disrepair, and traditional patterns have been severely disrupted. Due to the difference between historical development and pivotal events and assembled-clan halls and academies, this section focuses on spatial changes and divides the history of Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy cluster plot into the following five stages: (1) Song—late Ming Dynasty (960–1644); (2) Qing Dynasty (1644–1912); (3) from the Republic of China to the founding of the People’s Republic of China (1912s–1949); (4) the establishment of the People’s Republic of China to the reform and opening up (1950s–1978); and (5), the reform and opening up to the present (1979 to the present).

According to the hierarchical division of urban forms by the Conzen School, urban blocks are composed of plots, and plots are further composed of buildings. The development and evolution of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy plot mainly focus on changes in plots and buildings. In each stage, the form, proportion, and architecture of the plot reflect the characteristics of that stage in terms of design, spatial sequence, and other aspects. Based on our statistical data analysis of the plot form in areas with specific forms during each stage, as well as the analysis of the types and characteristics of buildings, the relationship between the layout of buildings and the plot, as well as the relationship between the layout of the plot and the block, are identified.

5.1. The First Stage of the Development of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy Cluster Area: Song–Late Ming (960–1644s)

During the feudal period, Guangzhou formed a horizontal and longitudinal axis, with the east–west Zhongshan Road and the north–south Beijing Road intersecting at the perpendicular. The Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy cluster plot was located in the West Lake Road area before the Song Dynasty. The formation of Xiaomazhan and Damazhan was related to two small gullies on the east side of West Lake Road. After these gullies dried up, they gradually transformed into urban streets [52]. The development of the historically recorded Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy cluster plots began in the Song Dynasty. According to The Chronicles of City Lane in Guangzhou, it was recorded that “the Salt Transport Ambassador’s Office is located at Xiaomazhan in the Inner City. It was rebuilt in the 27th year of the Qianlong reign. The Road Administrative Office for Huizhou and Chaozhou is located at Xiaomazhan in the Inner City. The Tax Division is located at Damazhan and Xiaomazhan in the Inner City. It has been abolished now [55]”. During this stage, there was preliminary development of plots within the block. Due to its location in the core political area, it was developed earlier and became a large family homestead or a subordinate institution of the government from the Song Dynasty to the late Ming Dynasty [52]. Before the end of the Ming Dynasty, nine independent developing plots were formed by enclosing Guanlian Street, Huiai Middle Road, Xinglong Lane-Liushui Alley, and Xiaomazhan (Figure 6).

The development of clan society began in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, with a large number of ancestral halls being built. The continuously enriched and improved clan system promoted the formation of the ancestral hall form. The mainstream form followed a one-path, three-entrance and three-room pattern, and employed the “gate, the hall of offerings, and bedroom” model [50], while the powerful clans employed the one-path, three-entrance and five-room model. The legalization of common clan halls was based on this form in many ancestral halls of Guangzhou during the Jiajing reign. At this stage, Guangdong also started the construction of assembled-clan halls, such as the Xian Clan’s Hall. However, the construction of assembled-clan halls in the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan area gradually began to develop into the second stage (Qing Dynasty).

5.2. The Second Stage of the Development of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy Cluster Area: Qing Dynasty (1644–1912s)

The Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy cluster area formed a mature and stable plot distribution from the late Ming Dynasty to the late Qing Dynasty, and it was precisely during this stage that it reflected the most valuable traditional form of the area. From the end of the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty, due to the construction of the assembled-clan halls, the plots were subdivided into 17 sub-plots (Figure 7).

The Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy cluster were at their peak during the Qing Dynasty, with hundreds of clan academies gathered within a three-square-kilometer area centered on West Lake Road today. From the schematic diagram of the distribution of official schools and academies in Guangzhou in the early and mid-Qing Dynasty, it can be seen that the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan area contained a cluster of clan academies during the Qing Dynasty. With the development of the architectural cluster of clan academies in the Qing Dynasty, the plot form of the blocks of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan area were located was gradually subdivided. The plots with three or two sides facing the street were gradually transformed into plots with a single side facing the street [34] (

Table 2. Plot layout analysis for the first stage and the second stage.

Feature Elements		Value	Causes of Change
Plot form	Average length of frontage	49–19 m	The frontage is too long to use
	Average plot area	1858–987 m2	Massive construction of the assembled-clan hall
	Function	Residence, administrative clan hall, academy	Imitate the clan halls and academies
Road (Width)	Guanlian Street	4 m	No change
	Huiai Middle Road	9 m	No change
	Xinglong Lane	3 m	No change
	Liushui Alley	3 m	No change
	Xiaomazhan	3 m	No change

).

Architectural characteristics are explained below (

Table 3. Spatial order and functions of buildings.

	Building Type 1: Assembled-Clan Hall	Diagram
Orientation	Facing south	(drawn by author)
Spatial axis and sequence	Gate–hall–bedroom sequence, gate combination of hall and bedroom	(drawn by author)
Architectural form	Middle road–Qingyun Alley–bilateral side road (wing room)
	Middle road: Head gate (gatehouse, front door)–front courtyard (courtyard)–Sacrificial hall (central room, middle hall)–back courtyard (back courtyard)–bedroom (back hall, bedroom)
Architectural function	Clan hall, study room	——
Gatehouse	Gatehouse with two stories	——
Roof form	Gable roof	See below picture (Lujiang Academy)
Building materials and decoration	Green brick walls, green Chinese glazed roof tile trim, and wok ears on both sides of the roof, ridge decoration	See below picture (Lujiang Academy)
Number of stories	Gatehouse with two stories, ancestral building with one story	——
Structure	Traditional brick–wood clan hall architectural structure. The wooden structure consists of a raised beam system and a column–bracket style hall	——

).

Function: During this period, influenced by the imperial examination system, the prevalence of academies, and other social environments, the assembled-clan halls imitated the clan halls in order to obtain legal identity and added functions such as a testing hall. When this form developed to maturity, it could be seen as a combination of academies and ancestral halls, combining the functions of clan halls and academies. A typical case is the Lujiang Academy [56]. (Note: Due to the fact that the assembled-clan halls in the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy cluster area are all small and medium-sized ancestral halls, and the difference in plot size is not significant, the architectural form analysis is based on the assembled-clan academies that currently have historical data.)

Architectural form, sequence, and number of stories: The construction of ancestral halls in Guangdong is somewhat consistent with the construction peak of academies. During the period from the Yongzheng reign to the Jiaqing reign, Guangzhou had the highest concentration of Guangdong academies, and the development of assembled-clan halls also followed this trend. In terms of architectural form, similar to clan hall buildings, single buildings with layouts on a central axis often used one or three paths. There is Qingyun Alley between the middle path and the side roads on both sides, and the sequence of buildings along the depth direction is the same as that of clan hall buildings. The three-entrance form contains the door–hall–bedroom sequence, specifically: front door (gatehouse, front door)–front courtyard (courtyard)–-the sacrificial hall (central room, middle hall)–back courtyard (back courtyard)–bedroom (back hall, bedroom). This form is seen in the Kaoting Academy, while the two-entrance form consists of the sequence gatehouse–front hall (lobby)–courtyard–back hall (a combination of the sacrificial hall and ancestral temple). The ancestral temple is actually a combination of the sacrificial hall and the bedroom, such as in the Lianxi Academy (Figure 8). Due to land restrictions, only a few ancestral halls follow traditional forms within the limited land area, such as the Guanying Family School (Figure 9). The one-path and three-entrance form is represented by Ye Jianying’s Former Site for Negotiating Against Rebellion (Zeng Clan’s Hall). Influenced by the academy buildings, the side rooms on both sides of the assembled-clan halls mostly serve as study rooms (study chambers), which are often places for candidates to study and live. Except for the gatehouse building, all the ancestral hall buildings are one story.

Building orientation: Although the size of the assembled-clan halls in the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan area is not large, their orientation strictly follows the principle of facing south. As the entrances of the clan hall buildings mostly face Qingyun Alley and Guanlian Street, and the gatehouses in the entrances are perpendicular to the main axis of the buildings, to achieve more space in the hall buildings, the gatehouse buildings are relatively small. Therefore, an increase in the story height compensates for the limited area and highlights the importance of the entrance. The assembled-clan halls in Damazhan and Xiaomazhan form a “Kui Tower” landscape. The gatehouse of Kaoting Academy is 13 m high, with green brick walls, green Chinese glazed roof tile trim, and wok ears on both sides of the roof. It is still towering and beautiful, and it is also the largest and most complete Kui Tower of the Academy in Guangzhou. On the rear window of the second floor of the Kui Tower, there is a stone plaque engraved with the words “Kui Pavilion”, meaning “winning first place in the imperial examination and entering the (inner) cabinet”.

Building roof, building materials and decoration: The assembled-clan halls in this area are not large in scale. The roof form is mostly a gable roof with rolling gray tiles. The building materials of the exterior walls are mostly blue bricks. The head gate, sacrificial hall and bedroom, are generally made of bricks, tiles and ash.

Architectural structure: The architectural structure follows the form of traditional clan hall buildings, and the central road building employs a wooden frame with a raised beam style hall and mostly a three-room breadth.

Although the clan academies in the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan area continue the clan hall form, the scale and layout of the ancestral halls vary. Due to family financial resources, land restrictions, and other reasons, the construction scale of each ancestral hall also varies, mostly consisting of a two-entrance courtyard and three-entrance courtyard. Special smaller academies such as Guanying Academy have one-entrance courtyards.

5.3. The Third Stage of the Development of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy Cluster Area: The Republic of China to the Founding of the People’s Republic of China (1912–1949)

From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy cluster underwent changes. In 1905, the imperial examination system was abolished, and the clan hall was affected. During the Republic of China, the clan halls gradually transformed into various organizations and their functions also shifted towards educational and other functions. The biggest changes in plot form during this period were mainly in two aspects. The first was the plot changes caused by road expansion. The northern section of Education Road (Zhongshan Road–Nanchao Street) was built by the Republic of China’s government in 1932 and expanded from the original Guanlian Street. Residential buildings along the street were gradually converted into commercial use, which has continued to today [52]. The second was the increased length of the buildings along the street after the construction of the main street, and the emergence of commercial land along it. Commercial buildings are mainly distributed along Education Road and Zhongshan Road, and are separated from the previous parental plot. The buildings along the street have a width of 4–7 m and a depth of 6–20 m. The commercial plot area ranges from 20 square meters to 260 square meters, with an average plot area of 115 square meters. The aspect ratio of the plots is in the range 1.1–4.8, and the average aspect ratio is 2.4. The scale and form of the plots are completely different from those of the feudal period. The residential plots within the block were partially changed during the feudal period, with the modified plots concentrated on the north side of Wenhe Lane and Guanying Family School. The area of the plots ranged from 46 square meters to 3000 square meters, with an average plot area of 1230 square meters, an aspect ratio of 1.0 to 1.9, and an average aspect ratio of 1.4, resulting in an increase in the plot’s area span (

Table 4. Plot layout analysis of the third stage.

Feature Elements		Value	Causes of Change
Plot form	Average length of frontage	Along the street, 4 m for commercial purposes. Along the street, 19 m for internal assembled-clan hall	Due to the high land prices along the street, the plots along the street were subdivided.
	Average plot area	56.7 m2 for commercial plot, 987 m2 for assembled-clan hall plot	The plot areas are subdivided.
	Function	Commence, clan halls	Commercial economic development
Road (Width)	Education Road	15 m	In 1932, the second batch of streets was built.
	Zhongshan Road	18 m	Widening construction of roads during the Republican era
	Xinglong Lane	3 m	No change
	Liushui Alley	3 m	No change
	Xiaomazhan	3 m	No change

, Figure 10).

During this stage, in addition to the buildings of the traditional clan academy, street houses also appeared, which formed a Lingnan architectural characteristic of this stage. The buildings along the Education Road and Zhongshan Road are all Lingnan traditional townhouses (Figure 11). The street houses were the houses that were adapted to the conditions of urban land scarcity and intensive use of space at that time [57]. The roof form was a sloping roof, which was different from the traditional folk houses. It compressed the courtyard, mostly used Manchurian windows, and most of them were single rooms, with a row distribution. The rooms were usually 4 m long, with depths ranging from 16 m to 20 m and 24 m. The street houses have a dual spatial attribute of “both street and house”. On the one hand, the elevation of the street houses forms the street interface, and the row layout of the street houses forms the background of the urban landscape [57].

The architectural form of the assembled-clan halls within the blocks did not change, and the architectural functions shifted to other functions such as management and education to gain legitimacy (

Table 5. Spatial sequence and function of building.

	Building Type 2: Street House	Diagram
Orientation	Towards the main street (Education Road and Zhongshan Road)	(drawn by author)
Spatial axis and sequence	Continuing the spatial sequence (three-room and two-corridor residence) of the traditional Lingnan architectural style: main hall–room–courtyard–room–kitchen/courtyard.	(drawn by author)
Architectural form	Shares similarities with residential buildings but is more flexible in terms of depth and width, adapting to the specific land conditions (instead of having a typical arcade-style street house). The width of each room is often around 4 m, with varying depths of 16 m, 20 m, or 24 m.	(drawn by author)
Architectural function	Commercial, residential	——
Roof form	Sloping roof	The continuation of the traditional sloping roof in modern times
Building material and decoration	Western-style decorative materials Windows on the second floor Brushed stone, red bricks Balconies and mountain flower motifs	Influenced by the western architectural forms (drawn by author)
Building elevation and story	2 stories
Structure	Brick–wood structure	The introduction of new building materials

).

5.4. The Fourth Stage of the Development of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy Cluster Area: The Founding of the People’s Republic of China to the Reform and Opening up (1950s–1978)

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, many aspects of society were fundamentally reformed. Due to rapid population growth and housing difficulties, the per capita living area in Guangzhou was 4.25 square meters in 1950, but by 1960, it had decreased to 2.76 square meters [58]. The rooms used for candidates in the original clan academies were also shared among multiple families, and even the kitchen, bathroom, and other shared spaces that were modified at that time can be seen in the current situation survey. The plots became fragmented and the property rights became increasingly complex (Figure 12).

Renovation in this stage caused damage to the traditional texture and architectural form of the clan academy cluster. Firstly, most of the core buildings of the academy were demolished, resulting in a disrupted texture pattern. For example, the Jianda Academy remains only as a gatehouse and storehouses along the street, while other academy buildings were demolished and subdivided into 2–3 story residential buildings to address the problem of tight living conditions (Figure 13). The second set of changes concern the preservation of localized buildings, which have undergone demolition, renovation, and addition, resulting in changes in the traditional form of buildings, such as Kaoting Academy and Lianxi Academy (Figure 14 and Figure 15). The middle-road building of Kaoting Academy no longer exists, and the rebuilt building is subdivided into multiple private residential units. The original Qingyun Alley has been transformed into an indoor public alley connecting the west side academy, which has been renovated with the addition of a second-floor corridor. Lianxi Academy was transformed into a school building and renovated in the 1960s and 1970s (

Table 6. Spatial sequence and function of building.

	Building Type 3: Collective Residence	Building Type 4: Modern Residence (7 Stories and Above)	Building Type 5: Modern Self-Built House (2–3 Stories)
Orientation	Continuing the south and north orientation of ancestral hall	No fixed orientation	No fixed orientation
Spatial axis and sequence	Traditional sequence is not followed	Traditional sequence is not followed	Traditional sequence is not followed
Architectural form	L-shaped, one-shaped	Modern form	Modern form
Architectural function	Commercial, residential	Residential	Residential
Roof form	Sloping roof	Flat roof	Flat roof
Building material and decoration	Red bricks Window lintels with vertical bricks Minimal decoration	Modern material No traditional decoration	Modern material No traditional decoration
Building elevation and story	3–4 stories	7 stories	3–6 stories
Structure	Brick–wood structure	Frame structure	Brick–wood structure
Picture

).

At this stage, the plot underwent subdivision and fragmentation. For example, the plot subdivision in Jianda Academy ranges from 12 square meters to 51 square meters, with an average plot area of 23 square meters, which is the area of each household. The aspect plot ratio is 1.1–2.6, with an average aspect ratio of 1.6. Residential plots are smaller in aspect ratio compared with the commercial plots. Taking Kaoting Academy and Lianxi Academy as examples of plot fragmentation, after the War of Liberation, Kaoting Academy was taken over by the government and distributed to employees for housing. Due to its permanent use rights, it became a private house. The academy was split from a large plot controlled by feudal clan property in the past to many small private household units [52], and the original form of the academy in the building was also destroyed. The Lianxi Academy was partially demolished in the 1960s. Then a second floor was built three meters or more above the original building foundation with red bricks and rented out to residents. The original layout of the academy no longer exists (Figure 16 and Figure 17).

5.5. The Fifth Stage of the Development of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy Cluster Area: The Founding of the People’s Republic of China to the Reform and Opening up (1979s to the Present)

After the reform and opening up, Guangzhou entered a period of rapid development. Due to the shortage of land in the old urban area, in addition to being occupied by the preserved academy buildings in the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan area, buildings with more than seven stories were also added to the limited land, such as the seven-story residential buildings in Nanchao Lane. In 1999, due to the expansion of Damazhan, a group of academies located on both sides of Damazhan were demolished. The demolished academies included the Pingsuo Academy, Xie Clan Academy, Lai Clan Academy, Jiangdu Academy, Sanyi Academy, and Guan Ancestral Temple. The northern plot was also demolished (Figure 18). In 2004 and 2014, the Conservation Plan for the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy cluster in Guangzhou and the Conservation and Renewal Plan for the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy Cluster in Guangzhou were successively announced, and the expropriation work was initiated. The detailed regulatory plan prepared in 2014 has reclassified this plot. By 2022, the completion rate of expropriation work exceeded 90%, and a new round of protection and utilization is about to be launched at Xiaomazhan.

6. Analysis of Changes in Traditional Spatial Characteristics in the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy Cluster Area

6.1. Changing Process in Plot and Building Types in the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy Cluster

Based on the above analysis, the historical development trajectory of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan and the distribution of building types in each stage can be represented by the following table (

Table 7. Diagram illustrating changes in block plot and building types in the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy cluster.

	1st–2nd Stage	3rd Stage	4th Stage	5th Stage
Plot Form
Building type	Type 1: Academy	Type 1: Academy Type 2: Street house	Type 1: Academy Type 2: Street house Type 3: Collective residences Type 4: Modern multi-story residence (2–3 stories) Type 5: Modern low-rise residence (7 stories and above)	Type 1: Academy Type 2: Street house Type 3: Collective residences Type 4: Modern multi-story residence (2–3 stories) Type 5: Modern low-rise residence (7 stories and above)
Evolution process	The building forms a series of courtyards along the north–south axis.	Some academies have been preserved and street houses have been arranged along the street.	Some academies have been preserved, while others have been demolished and built into collective and modern residences.	Part of the plot has been demolished, with a small number of academies and street houses remaining, while the rest are modern buildings.

).

6.2. Analysis of Continuity and Changes in Plot and Architectural Features in the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy Cluster Area

This section analyzes the continuity and changes in plot and architectural spatial forms in the historical stages of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan Academy cluster. The specific analysis is shown in Figure 19 and Figure 20 below.

According to the above analysis, it can be observed that the layout, design and function of buildings in each stage has changed through the transformation of urban development and the changes in political, social and economic ideologies, whether it is the impact of history or of globalization today. In order to adapt to the change and impacts of various demands, the space of plots and buildings is constantly changing, but it is gratifying that at present, the urban form still retains spatial and architectural features influenced by traditional culture.

In terms of spatial forms, it can be seen that apart from the widening of Zhongshan Road and Education Road during urban development, the boundaries and widths of traditional streets such as Xinglong Lane, Liushui Alley, and Xiaomazhan have been largely preserved. This implies that the overall form of the plots has not been completely destroyed, and the traditional streets retain the features of history.

The following analysis is based on specific building types:

• Building Type 1:
  The form of Building Type 1 is based on the continuation and inheritance of clan hall culture and academy culture. Considering that the traditional clan halls represent clan hall culture and academy culture, the core spatial elements of clan halls include spatial sequences, orientations, architectural forms, as well as the intrinsic gatehouses, materials, and traditional roofs. Although the traditional form of assembled-clan halls was somewhat damaged in the fourth stage, the core elements have been partially preserved. However, the activities of addition and renovation carried out to address housing shortages after the founding of the People’s Republic of China posed a significant threat to the continuity of traditional elements. Due to the addition and renovation of some buildings, the roofs and structures of the modified parts were damaged, and changes in building functions led to changes in spatial sequences. Nevertheless, the entrance spaces and axial sequences of the buildings have been well-preserved.
• Building Type 2:
  The Damazhan and Xiaomazhan area is also located in areas historically concentrated with traditional commercial and trade culture. Although they cannot represent the development of commercial and trade culture, the commercial culture that continues to thrive along Education Road and Zhongshan Road, and the elements of the traditional street-style buildings in the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan area are basically preserved. Core features such as commercial elevation, commercial functions, and roofs have been preserved, which to a certain extent, can continue the social and cultural elements of that time.
• Building Type 3:
  The development of urban construction after the founding of the People’s Republic of China has brought about the development of residential buildings. Multi-family residentials have developed on the basis of the traditional three-room and two-corridor buildings, so it continues the elements of traditional culture and has certain value and significance.
• Building Types 4 and 5:
  Building types 4 and 5 are urban forms that arose to address residential problems, particular to that era. They have no value in terms of architectural technology, architectural art, or in reflecting traditional culture. Especially, the residential additions and renovation activity after the founding of the People’s Republic of China has, to some extent, destroyed the integrity of traditional forms.
  In the development process of the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan area, the spatial changes that have affected the architectural spaces such as the assembled-clan halls, traditional street houses, and collective residential reflect the changes and continuity of the culture of the plot. In the process of urbanization, the context of culture has not been completely disrupted. Although the carrier and form of culture have changed, there are still traces to follow. The continuation of traditional culture is not only about preservation and conservation, but more importantly, development and meeting contemporary needs, which is the essence of sustainable development. Culture should have a certain degree of adaptability; thus, adapting to the development of today’s society is also necessary for this area.

7. Conclusions and Further Study

In recent years, by combining typology and morphology, research on typo-morphology has revealed the connection between tradition and modernity, and these studies are also being applied to urban planning and design to highlight the importance of traditional forms. The application of typology and morphological theories in China has continued to pay attention to the changes and development of urban spatial features and has also explored comprehensive research methodologies [1] to solve problems in urban protection and management. Although typological research reveals and defines the continuity of spatial feature changes [3,9,10], there is little research on interpreting cultural elements of sustainable development by tracing cultural processes. This paper aims to combine the perspective of cultural sustainable analysis with traditional typo-morphological methods of urban spatial analysis, which can not only supplement the development of typo-methodology, but most importantly, guide the cultural conservation and spatial development of urban conservation areas.

With a combination approach of cultural literature analysis and spatial feature morphology analysis, the relationship between changes in block form and building types, as well as the inheritance and development of traditional culture is demonstrated in this paper. Focusing on the Damazhan and Xiaomazhan historical area in Guangzhou, this study examines how political, cultural, and economic factors in five historical development stages have influenced the scale, form, and building types of the block. Through an analysis of the continuity of various spatial characteristics, the developmental characteristics of five building types are demonstrated. Specifically, building types 1–3 represent the continuity of traditional cultural elements in the area and hold significant value. Based on the analysis of the evolution process, the historical development stages and cultural characteristics and factors of each stage are identified. Based on morphological analysis, the architectural and plot form characteristics of each stage, as well as the discontinuous, partially continuous and changed spatial characteristics are identified.

This study contributes to the current methodology of typo-morphology. Typo-morphology is a theory based on morphology, which utilizes the terminology and methods of typology and morphology, and is helpful for urban research, urban planning, design, and urban landscape management. This theory follows the basic principles of taking historical continuity and urban form as related aspects. In this study, combined with historical literature research, methods such as geographic analysis and process analysis in typo-morphology are utilized. During the argumentation process, a large amount of literature research enriched the understanding of the cultural value of this historical location. Through the continuity and element analysis of traditional culture, linking spatial geography analysis, an innovative analytical framework was developed that supplements existing methodologies. In addition, this study guides the development of urban morphology from the perspective of cultural sustainability, which has prominent practical significance, placing typo-morphology within the framework of sustainable development of urban culture, and providing strong support for exploring the dialectical relationship between urban forms, the changes in building types, and cultural sustainability, as described in detail below.

First of all, the correlation between cultural continuity and spatial continuity was analyzed based on the continuity elements of spatial features. The importance of traditional context in the development of a location can support the direction and positioning of future development. Continuity elements of the building characters can reflect core historical values and cultural significance, clarifying which elements need protection and to what extent they are protected. They can fill the gaps in management regulations and policies over the years. Secondly, it is necessary to analyze the factors that threaten the continuity of the historical context and identify discontinuous elements of spatial features, such as additions and renovation activities. These factors further reveal the cultural transformation of a specific period, and also reveal the negative impacts that arise to meet the needs of residents in a specific social environment. It is necessary to try to repair these impacts as much as possible in future plot development.

Apart from these contributions, there are some inherent limitations in this study. Firstly, this analysis framework only applies to the historical blocks located in the core urban area of Guangzhou. For other urban areas or rural environments, it may be necessary to conduct additional evaluations of various types of spaces in different contexts and perform further data analysis, including the use of a study model. If the evaluation involves a large area and complex building types, it is recommended to incorporate relevant algorithms. In addition, given that the development of theory requires more extensive case studies to test and validate this analytical framework, further research is still needed to strengthen the synergy between cultural sustainability, planning and design, and urban form [1]. Spatial analysis methods such as spatial syntax and GIS, as well as geographic information analysis methods need to be introduced to guide conservation and management, which on the one hand, is to understand user needs, monitor the development of plot form and building types, and on the other hand, is to develop new regulations for maintaining the historical characteristics of cities and carrying out development control [48].