A Water Town In The Source Of Fuhe River: The Research For The Form And Architectural Features Of Yiqian Historic Town

Yiqian town is located in Jiangxi Guangchang border, which is in the source ofFuhe river. Since ancient times, Yiqian is the ancient gateway between Jiangxi, Fujianand Guangdong. Because of convenient waterway and road transport system, Yiqianbecomes the representative historic water town of Jiangxi. The town containspreserved pattern, street form and plentiful architectures so worthy of high studyvalue. Importantly Yiqian town is the creation of a single family. The history of Lai’sfamily affects the development of Yiqian to show the unique water culture and deepconnotation of architectural art. Yiqian preserved pattern of ancient town since theMing and Qing Dynasties, reflecting a form of showing residential culture andcustoms which are under the influence of water culture and rare in Guangchang andsurrounding areas. This paper analyses Yiqian town from the view of “water culture”overall and compares Yiqian with other typical historic water towns. Therefore thispaper clearly summarizes the typical characteristics of Jiangxi architecture of Yiqianas a water town to provide theoretical support for studying Jiangxi water towns andarchitectures.Based on detailed historical materials collecting by on-the-spot investigation, thepaper studies Yiqian town from a culture route point of view, especially the historicbuildings. Use a multi-disciplinary knowledge of architecture, planning, history,geology, hydrology, etc, to analysis ancient town in Jiangxi from the view of watertown. Firstly the paper detailed discusses the cultural and morphologicalcharacteristic in terms of geographical and cultural, geographic features,transportation advantages, economic characteristics and ethnic composition. Secondly,the paper studies on the formation and development from the aspects of location andpattern, morphological, spatial form, and street spaces characteristic of Yiqian. Itfocuses on dynamic evolution process since the Song Dynasty, while comparing withother typical water towns to summary development features of Yiqian as a water townin Gannan. It summed up the morphology of Yiqian town with “booming from waterand water as the bone". Further more, this paper analyses the historic buildingscomparison with surrounding water towns, architectural selection, the plane, facade, space, structure, and other aspects of creating arts to illuminate the town’s historicbuildings characteristics, and combined with the characteristics of historic buildingsin Gannan to explore Yiqian’s culture as the water town. Finally, according to theregional characteristics and current conservation status of town, this paper proposesthe stratified, three-dimensional planning to the overall style from the view ofcombining historic relics and lotus culture.Owing to the geomorphic environment, natural resources, building forms,economic way, diverse geographical and multiculturalism, Yiqian town has typicalcharacteristics as a water town and hosting Jiangxi Gannan region cultural. Yiqian is agood object to understand socio-economic, geographic and cultural of Jiangxi. Thespatial form and architectural culture of Yiqian reflects the concept of respecting forthe nature, constituting harmony water town with a long history.