Farming Civilization. Gully

Living space is a kind of material system of human survival and spiritual activity. As far as its functional requirement, shape designing, and forming spirits are concerned, it must rely on a certain cultural system. It is the network of thought and belief. It directs the relationship between human and architecture, human and nature, and the connections of human beings. It also directs the code of conduct and ethics, and leads the aesthetic standards and aesthetic judgements.Culture is an ideology made up of the material civilization and spiritual civilization. Its highest form is the idea of philosophy, which is the foundation and roots of all cultural phenomenon. It is seen in the traditional philosophy that human and nature, human and society are co-existing as a whole and this is the general characteritics of eastern civilization. This belief can be represented by the spirit of"variety"and"harmony", including Laozi's naturalistic belief and Confucius'benevolent thought. It forms the meaning and structure of traditional Chinese Living space.In this paper, a place in loess plateau of Northern Shaanxi is surveyed and studied in detail. The survey, centered with Chang manor, begins with its natural factors such as ecological environment, geographical features and landforms. This paper analyses and disputes the reasons of the life style and architecture style of the manor in loess plateau. It generalizes its cultural features, explores its cultural source and studies its forming structure. Regarding the present ecological problems and cultural crises, the author put forward his own reasonable thinking and practical exploration.