*4.3. Analysis of the Variation Characteristics of Kernel Density in Dingzhou*

A kernel density analysis of rural settlements in Dingzhou can be used to understand their agglomeration in space and time. We used the kernel density analysis tool in Arc GIS software to examine rural settlements in Dingzhou from 1962 to 2020.The results of the kernel density analysis show (Figure 7) that the maximum kernel densities of rural settlements in Dingzhou from 1962 to 2020 were 0.998 km2, 0.996 km2, 0.919 km2, 0.983 km2, 1.162 km2, and 1.149 km2. The scale and distribution density of rural settlements in Dingzhou are generally increasing overall. In 1962 and 1972, the high density values of rural settlements were concentrated in the areas surrounding towns and along rivers, such as Kaiyuan Town, Qingfeng Dian Town, and Gaopeng Town, and rural settlements far from urban areas and river areas were scattered. In the 1980s, the kernel density values in the surrounding areas of towns and along the river decreased, and high density values appeared in Zhuanlu Town. In 2000, compared to the original trend, the density values of rural settlements in Dongliu Chun Town and Xicheng Town increased. The spatial distribution of the kernel density values in 2010 and 2020 was basically the same, and the density values of rural settlements in the surrounding areas of cities and towns increased. Except for the high-value agglomeration in the surrounding areas of towns, areas demonstrated a new trend of multicore fragmentation based on the original trend.

From a local point of view, from 1962 to 2020, the high kernel density values were mainly distributed in parts of the central, western, and southeastern parts of Dingzhou City, and there were also cases where the kernel density values decreased in these areas. Based on an analysis of the number and spatial characteristics of rural settlements in the study area, we learned that the total area of rural settlements in the study area is increasing year by year, and there are merging rural settlements. Some rural settlements retreated to cultivated land, and existing settlements continued to expand, gradually connecting and merging with surrounding settlements. These changes resulted in a decrease in the kernel density value of some areas.

#### **5. Discussion**

#### *5.1. Main Policies Affecting the Changes of Rural Settlements and Stages*

In rural areas of China, the policy for homesteads (land for building rural housing, the main component of rural settlements) profoundly affects rural settlements. The homestead system is an important part of China's land system. It began during the founding of the People's Republic of China. Continuous adjustment and improvement meant that it was relatively complete and gradually standardised in the late 1980s. We divided the policies causing changes in the spatial pattern of rural settlements in Dingzhou into five periods (Figure 8): the period of transition from "private ownership of farmers" to "one homestead, two systems", the period of the "unified planning" of homesteads, the period of the "paid use" of homesteads, the period of "connecting increase and decrease" in homesteads, and the period of "separation of three rights" of homesteads.

**Figure 8.** Partial Homestead Policy 1949–2020. Note: I: the period of transition from "private ownership of farmers" to "one homestead, two systems" (1949–1972) [47–51]; II: the period of "unified planning" of homesteads (1972–1990) [52–56]; III: the period of "paid use" of homesteads (1990–2000) [57–61]; IV: the period of "connecting increase and decrease" of homesteads (2000–2010) [62–66]; V: the period of "separation of three rights" of homesteads (2010–2020) [67–71].

5.1.1. 1949–1972: Period of Transition from "Private Ownership of Farmers" to "One Homestead, Two Systems"

The Common Program of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference adopted in 1949 [47] proposed that farmers' land ownership should be protected and that land (including homesteads) should be distributed to farmers free of charge. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, China reformed the rural land system. The Land Reform Law of the People's Republic of China [48] promulgated in 1950 proposed the establishment of a privately owned land system by farmers. In 1955, the Draft of the Pattern Constitution of Agricultural Production Cooperatives [49] stated that means of subsistence were privately owned and that means of production should be gradually nationalised. At this time, as a general rule, farmers were self-employed, and homesteads were distributed evenly and could be obtained free of charge. In 1962, the [46] established the principle of "one homestead, two systems" (that is, a homestead occupied by farmers for building houses are collectively owned, and the houses built on the homestead are owned by farmers individually) rural homestead pattern. Homesteads were transformed from peasant ownership to rural collective ownership. In 1963, the Circular of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Making Some Supplementary Regulations on the Issue of Homesteads for Members [50] first proposed the concept of the right to use homesteads. During the period when the private ownership of peasants changed to "one homestead, two systems", the original ownership of homesteads was changed to a right to use the homestead, beginning the era of the "separation of two rights" of homesteads [51]. At this time, the framework of China's homestead system was preliminarily formed. As the concept of the right to use homesteads gradually became clear, the total number of homesteads remained stable.
