COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION FOR DESIGN GUIDELINE: A CASE STUDY OF SOUTHERN SONG DYNASTY GARDEN IN WUXING DISTRICT

Abstract

Southern Song gardens fuse literati aesthetics and religious culture, embodying the ideals of “poetic living” and “harmony between man and nature.” While Wuxing gardens are representative of this tradition, systematic research on their stylistic evolution and modern expression remains limited. This study clarifies their transformation logic and, using Dalou Village as a practical platform, proposes culturally rooted, heritage-oriented design guidelines. Grounded in cultural landscape theory and participatory design, the research integrates literature review, case studies, interviews, and fieldwork to construct a dual-axis “style–mechanism” model. This model reveals the logic of stylistic change and offers collaborative design strategies for rural revitalization. The study identifies four core dimensions of Southern Song garden style in Wuxing: spatial configuration, landscape elements, functional uses, and cultural imagery. It also reveals the combined influence of political, economic, cultural, and religious mechanisms. Despite changes in form, values such as poetic living, spiritual retreat, and Confucian–Buddhist–Taoist integration remain consistent. Based on these findings, six design guidelines are proposed to connect traditional culture with contemporary spatial expression.