Research On The Building Paradigm Of Naxi Vernacular Architecture

Based on field work and interviews, this dissertation is a research on the history, types and building process of Naxi vernacular architecture. This research aims to reveal the architectural diversity and interpret the vernacular building process in Naxi area, thus approach an understanding of vernacular architecture in a continuous and historical view, rather than a huge theoretical frame or universal truth.The first part of the body, mainly based on investigation of typical villages and literature study, discusses several types of vernacular architecture which represent different periods of Naxi history, including their building technologies and core spaces. While most of the existing research of Naxi architecture focuses on Lijiang City and Lugu Lake, this part pays attention to the regional distribution and historical development.The second part is an interpretation of construction activities in a Naxi village, Nangaozhai. Through participant observation, this part describes the technology paradigm, which includes the tools, materials, crafts etc., the interpersonal paradigm, which includes the interaction between different roles in construction, and the spiritual paradigm, which includes rituals and taboos in the building process. While architectural theorists always study the built architecture from a static perspective, sociologists and anthropologists concern immaterial topics much more than technologies, this part regards the architecture as the result of building behavior, representing an original study of building process, which is also the generation process of the architecture.At the end, this dissertation presents a dynamic view of tradition. Although the building paradigm of Naxi vernacular architecture is changing under the influence of technology, market, and state institutions, but as long as the vernacular building community exists, the building tradition will develop continuously into a new vernacular paradigm. The connection between buildings and residents, the maintenance of vernacular building community and its right of self-decision, are keys to the continuity of building traditions, which lead to the diversity of vernacular architecture.