A human geography analysis of the evolution of the urban morphology of ancient Foshan city from the perspective of Cantonese trading culture
Recent studies have increasingly recognized cultural drivers as influential factors in urban morphology, reflecting a shift in focus from materiality to sociability and subsequently to culture. However, there remains a lack of evidence concerning the impact of geographical features and social factor...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2025.2455029 |
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| Summary: | Recent studies have increasingly recognized cultural drivers as influential factors in urban morphology, reflecting a shift in focus from materiality to sociability and subsequently to culture. However, there remains a lack of evidence concerning the impact of geographical features and social factors on the early urban morphology of Foshan city, and this is where the value of this paper lies. Based on the human geography theory, this paper also analyzes the impact of Beidi’s parade trade activities, rituals and folk culture on urban form. The study reveals that since the Northern Song Dynasty, the river area has decreased, while the number of tributaries has increased and extended further inland. This shift reflects a transformation in the river system structure from a natural to a more systematic, intertwined, and artificial state. Before 1980, Foshan exhibited slow expansion from the northern and southern regions towards the center, while the following decade saw rapid expansion that consolidated fragmented areas and extended into peripheral regions, indicating a shift from fragmentation to centralization in urban development. The contemporary street network in Foshan displays a combination of radial and ring roads, closely linked to the waterway network. Trading and political influences have been the primary drivers of urbanization in Foshan from the Tang to the Qing Dynasties, while military influence played a secondary role during the Qing Dynasty. |
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| ISSN: | 1347-2852 |