Basic Studies on Banwoldang(Half-moon shaped Pond) at the Traditional Chinese Villages

Abstract

This study was carried out to research the locations and comprehensive functions of Chinese unique Banwoldang(half-moon shaped pond) appeared at the traditional Chinese villages. Based on the research, the time of Banwoldang being introduced into Chinese traditional culture could date back to Yuan Dynasty and villages that have Banwoldang mainly distributed in the south of the Yangtze River of China where wealthy and high class have lived. Bamwoldangs were mostly built at the front of the village clan halls for the prosperity of the whole clan, The main reason of Banwoldang construction was to complete Feng Shui functions and its goal from the point of Feng Shui in Chinese ancient villages was replenishing the power of location, including increasing the probability of passing the imperial examination for villagers, multiplying riches, minimizing the fire accident and perfecting the geomantic pattern 'leaning against the hill and facing the water(背山臨水)' of villages. Other functions of Banwoldang were found as the place for the community meeting, fish farming and protection of village from enemy.In this research, the reasons of Banwoldang location and values of its various functions were found. But Banwoldang is disappearing rapidly at the Chinese modern villages because there is no interest in traditional culture. Banwoldang is one of unique elements of Chinese culture that must be preserved, so its meaning and value should be lasted well as the Chinese traditional cultures. 11)

The locality-adaptation theory of traditional villages

“…Figure 1 represents the ‘Locality-Mobility-Resilience’ model of adaptive capacity in traditional villages. The adaptive cycle of traditional villages includes two states (cycle phase and pathological state) and eight stages (exploitation (r), conservation (K), release (Ω), reorganisation (α), poverty trap, rigidity trap, lock-in trap, gambling trap).

Figure 1.The model of the locality-adaptation theory of traditional villages (modified based on Wang et al, 32 and Holling. 16 )

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“…The model of the locality-adaptation theory of traditional villages (modified based on Wang et al, 32 and Holling. 16 )…”