Research On Protection And Development Of The Historic Towns And Villages In Hunan Tujia Nationality Regions

Historic towns and villages has many valuable historical and cultural heritage, it is important carrier for inheriting Chinese history and culture. In recent years, the protection and development of these features are in a dilemma in Hunan Tujia nationality regions caused by growingly disappearing of traditional architecture, cultural customs and other cultural heritage due to the impact of modern culture. As a result, it is increasingly essential to study the concerning issues on the historic towns and villages in Hunan Tujia nationality and which will play a academic and practical role in promoting protection and sustainable development of historic towns and villages in these regions.A overall study of the historic towns and villages in Hunan Tujia nationality regions is discussed firstly in aspects including present development situation, settlement characteristics, existing problems and appropriate countermeasures by taking field research, binding of qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis. Then a few preliminary understanding about the protection and development problems of the historic towns and villages in Hunan Tujia nationality regions will be concluded after a careful analysis of Liye town and these understanding can be summarized as follows:(1)The historic towns and villages in Hunan Tujia nationality regions are mainly in the Longshan County and Yongshun County. These towns and villages were usually formed before in the Ming Dynasty or the Yuan Dynasty because of the national Migration. Therefore most of protection of these towns and villages are basically in their infancy.(2)Natural geographical and cultural features are outstanding in Tujia historic towns and villages. It is the land surfaces largely occupied by hilly and flood basin areas that enormously influence the special locations of villages or towns-either in front of water, back hill or next to hills and far water. Buildings there are unique as there are various shapes such as flat shape "a font", "L-type", "concave shape" and "mouth", stilted building, main room as well as bedroom warmed with fire. Streets there are also special and their patial pattern are in herringbone or network shape. The shape of the village seem to be in the shape of ribbon or group but in irregular pattern.(3)There are many problems in the protection and development in the majority of historic towns and villages according to basic status of the historic towns and villages in Hunan Tujia nationality regions. Generally, these problems include natural environmental protection, artificial environment protection and human environment protection from the point of protection; while there are short term and long term problems from the point of development. Based on practical local problems, the best way to achieve sustainable development of historic towns and villages in Tujia nationality is to work out a practical policy and development countermeasure in aspects of spatial pattern in the villages, historical and cultural characteristics, community infrastructure.(4)Liye town of Longshan county, located next to river and at the foot of hill, is a famous town of Tujia nationality regions. Its special traditional neighborhoods are set into pieces and it presents outstanding historical value and rich cultural heritage. In the past 10 years, the protection and utilization of Liye town has made great achievements, but there are still many problems. Based on the principles of conservation and development, concrete measures such as protecting the landscape pattern, renovating architectural style, digging national characteristics, developing the local economy, riching propaganda means as well as strengthening the protection and management can be taken to gradually realize the sustainable development of future of Liye town.