The Study Of Modern Evolution Of Rural Settlement Pattern In Chaoshan Area

On account of diverse factors like economy development, the Lingnan region had experienced dramatic transformation in economic and social forms, leading the change of settlement forms as well. Since the modern evolution of Lingnan serves as a forerunner in the whole country, research on its historic experience and pattern would provide guidance and reference to the future development of itself and settlements in other areas. Chaoshan, located in south-east coastal area of Lingnan region, has its own distinct regional culture, which makes it an important part of the research on rural evolution of Lingnan. Especially during the modern evolution process since 1949, the rural settlements in Chaoshan area still remains multiple fragments constructed in different periods, providing possibility and convenience for a diachronic research on the settlement forms. Moreover, clearer clues can be provided by some long-term observation into the rural society in this area in the field of anthropology and history.Based on the diachronic investigation on the modern modal evolution of rural settlements timing from 1949 till now, this paper divided this whole process into three typical periods, the first one being from 1949 to 1978, the second from 1978 to early 1990 s, and the third from mid-1990 s till today, each of which is depicted in chronological order. Before the depict of settlements forms, this paper first gives a summary of the development of the social backgrounds in aspects of economic, social and culture systems that are related to rural developments, in order to place the observation of settlement evolution in a global environment. Three levels including macro-graphic, medium-graphic and micro-graphic are covered in the modal depict of the changes in the settlements forms during each period. In macro-graphic level, the discussion includes the construction scale, settlement boundary,expansion mode and so on, while in medium-graphic the discussion focuses on the internal structure, space order and in micro-graphic mainly on the forms of rural housing. By diachronic running through this process, the paper tries to extract convergence rules as well as the diversity in the evolution patterns.On the base of discussions on the phenomenon of rural evolution and its factors, this paper gives a reflection on the problems coming up during the rural evolution process, and tries to provide according advises for the future development of the rural settlements in Chaoshan.This paper includes 4 parts, first of which is Chapter 1 that gives a brief introduction of the background, objects and destinations of the research. The second part includes Chapter 2to Chapter 5, all of which are the modal depict of rural settlements in Chaoshan with Chapter2 serving as a beginning statement and Chapter 3 to 5 relating to the three evolution periods.Finally, Part 3 gives the conclusion of rule, factors and problems of the rural evolution as well as a prospect.