Research On Adaptability Mechanism Of The Evolution Of Tujia Architecture In Xiangxi

Climate warming, ozone hole, smog, etc, environmental phenomenons that are notsuitable for human survival are emerging, warning the adaptability of human beings isbeing challenged."Survival of the fittest", the truth has become a crisis signal, pushingattention on "adaptability" into the eyes.In the center of China, Xiangxi has a unique natural environment and profoundcultural heritage with more than40minorities here and Tujia at the most. Yongshun forits important position in the Tujia history in Xiangxi becomes the typical case of Tujiaculture. Geographic isolation of natural barrier breeds and maintains its distinctiveethnic culture, and the evolution of architecture shows clear stage features. Just likeDarwin took the more special and clearer variation of domesticated species as thestarting point, the dissertation making the adaptational evolution of traditionalarchitecture under collective consciousness as the process of natural selection, takingYongshun as the sample, discusses the adaptability mechanism of architecture under theinteractive selection by the natural, economic, social and cultural environment duringthe whole evolutional process of Tujia architecture in Xiangxi. And based on themechanism rules, try to extract the evolutional mode and trend of architecture, makeartificial selection intervene natural selection counter the not very positive adaptation atpresent, apply the mechanism for a reasonable adjustment, so as to guide the adaptationeffect, maintaining the sustainable development of harmonious living environment.The dissertation is divided into three parts:The first part (Chapter1to3) is the background theory. The introduction is theresearch work in preparation, including adaptability theory, the aspects of the adaptivemechanism factors, and three stages of architectural evolutional process is dividedaccording the historical background in Tujia area of Xiangxi: forming, mature andalienation period.The second part (Chapter4to8) analyzes the elements of adaptability mechanism.With the survey of Tujia architecture in Yongshun as the foundation, first the shape andstructure of villages, dwellings and religious architectures are introduced (chapter4and5), and then from the natural, social and cultural, economic and technological three environmental factors, it explains the environmental selective effect during evolutionalprocess (Chapter6to8). It comes out that selection of natural environment ishighlighted in the forming period, while social and cultural environment determines theadaptive direction of architecture cultural identities during mature period, and thetransition that is happening mainly is due to the selection of the extreme complicatedeconomic and technological environment nowadays.The third part (Chapter9) summarizes the adaptability mechanism and the way ofadjustment. Through the summary on the evolution of Xiangxi Tujia architecture, itconcludes that the architectural adaptability is the selection by natural, social andcultural, economic and technological environment all together, while in differenthistorical stages there are always one or several environmental factors to play theleading role. The result of architecture adaptability is to promote the spiral evolution.Finally, pointing at problems of Xiangxi Tujia architecture in the current environment,it tries to make adjustment based on the adaptability mechanism rules, leading thedevelopment of architecture to be more positive.