Read "Discovering the Rural Landscape"
?The image of the rural landscape is that of ordinary people: hardship, desire, mutual give-and-take, and mutual love. Only landscapes that embody these qualities are truly beautiful landscapes. ——Jackson
The writing of "Discovering Rural Landscape" is based on a historical perspective. Jackson believes that rural landscape is the continuous conflict, constant adaptation, and constant compromise between human beings' spontaneous survival and the natural environment and remains in the world. Imprints on the ground, spatial traces of political organization in this landscape are largely absent, or completely absent. In Jackson's view, vernacular landscapes have many characteristics: temporality, adaptability, mobility and transmutation, etc. Among them, mobility and transmutation are the core characteristics of rural landscapes. These two characteristics often occur unconsciously and unwillingly, highlighting the uniqueness of rural landscapes in the process of adapting to changes in the natural environment and political environment. Temporary and adaptive characteristics.
The book is divided into 13 chapters. The first chapter traces the origin of the word "landscape" and explores the origin of the word "landscape", which sets the tone for the book; the second chapter traces the origin of the word "landscape". Chapter 1 discusses the difference between political landscape and vernacular landscape, as well as the main characteristics of each; Chapters 3 to 12 discuss the changes in American landscape and its influence on European landscape; the last chapter comprehensively discusses the medieval landscape, The characteristics, changes and future development trends of three different landscapes: the landscape of the late fifteenth century and throughout the Renaissance, and the contemporary American landscape.
In the first chapter, through the development of the word "landscape" and the changes in its meaning, the word landscape and the process of landscape development and germination are discussed. Later, by tracing the origin of the two words "land" and "scape", it was determined that the surface meaning of the word landscape is: a collection of land, which distinguished the relationship between the word landscape and scenery or landscape imitation. , pointed out: Landscape is a complex of spaces created or transformed by people, and is the foundation and background of human existence. The in-depth research in this chapter sets the tone for the full text.
In Chapter 2, the author divides the landscape into two parts: political landscape and residential landscape, and discusses the process of transformation from the initial residential landscape to the political landscape and the organizational structure of the landscape space. The impact of the political landscape on The characteristics and typical political landscapes are discussed in detail and delicately, paving the way for the definition and characteristics of rural landscapes. In addition, this chapter also discusses the emergence of the initial residential landscape (part of the vernacular landscape), indicating that the research and design of the vernacular landscape is conducive to the creation of human beings' sense of belonging and happiness. Among them, the discussion in the section "Change and Eternity" focuses on the difference between residential landscape (rural landscape) and political landscape. (Characteristics of the political landscape: visibility and sanctity of borders, importance of monumental buildings and radiating roads, status closely related to enclosed space.)
Chapters 3 to 12 Chapter mainly discusses the development and changes of landscape from ancient times to the present, and conducts a detailed exploration of the evolution of native American landscape. In the author's opinion, the emergence and emergence of American landscapes are inseparable from the development and transformation of European landscapes, and there is a certain inheritance relationship. However, due to geographical changes, differences in local environment in America, and differences in living habits, landscapes have It is also very different from the European landscape. The definition of the word "country" in the chapter "Country": farmhouse, self-produced and traditional, provides a clearer definition of rural landscape, and points out that the contemporary rural landscape in the United States has the characteristics of traditional rural landscape.
In the last chapter, the author continues to explore the meaning of landscape and constructs a framework for understanding contemporary American vernacular landscape: three landscapes. Landscape 1, the early medieval landscape, has the characteristics of temporaryness, adaptability, mobility and transmutation. It is produced unconsciously and unconsciously, endlessly and patiently adapts to the environment, and has the characteristics of blurred boundaries and confusion of functions; landscape Second, the landscape formed in the late fifteenth century and continued throughout the Renaissance era (mainly political landscape, represented by classicism), which paid great attention to visibility and insisted on the homogeneity and single use of space.
It clearly defines rural and urban space, and makes the boundary visible through city walls, hedges, opening green belts or lawns, and opposes any temporary, ephemeral, movable objects (opposite to the vernacular landscape); Landscape Three, which both It inherits the mobility, temporaryness and adaptability embodied by Landscape One, especially the preference for temporary nature, and inherits the monumentality, stability, long history and established landscape value of Landscape Two. Through the discussion of three types of landscapes, Jackson believes that environmental design is not only about simply adapting to and protecting the original appearance of nature, but also about creating new nature and beauty, and points out that future landscape development is compatible with the duality of local mobility and the stability of social and political order. Characteristics (and also the future development direction of the landscape).
Based on Jackson’s theory of “Three Landscapes”, China’s vernacular landscapes are very similar to it. According to its classification standards: First, before the formation of feudal society, the indigenous people that were common on the land of China Tribes, dwellings, farmland, feng shui forests, roads, temples, totem poles and even cemeteries, etc., are the landscapes of ordinary people. They have universal grassroots nature and are the product of people's endless adaptation to the natural environment. They contain the general recognition of the general public. The foundation has the characteristics of temporary, mobility and transmutation; secondly, after the formation of feudal society, with the substantial improvement of productivity, economic strength and unprecedented improvement of political control capabilities, an iconic political landscape emerged: the chessboard Cities with a traditional layout, luxurious imperial mausoleums, the Grand Canal, the ancient Great Wall, Confucian temples, etc., and even similar urban landscape avenues, memorial centers, cultural squares, sports centers, conference centers, etc. that have appeared in contemporary times, this landscape form has evolved from feudal society It has continued to this day and has obvious visibility characteristics. It mainly serves political rule and displays a unified national identity, but it has little relationship with ordinary people, does not belong to the grassroots class, and has nothing to do with faith; thirdly, today's China Many elements that are different from traditional landscapes have emerged: street food, pedestrian streets, farmers' markets, QQ farms, and urban suburban vegetable gardens, etc. These landscapes are either spontaneously formed or imported, but they all meet the needs of ordinary people and adapt to the needs of ordinary people. The changes in the environment show corresponding characteristics of mobility and evolution, as well as characteristics of stability and commemoration. They are China's new vernacular landscapes in the making.
In today’s context of rapid urbanization and rural tourism development, many areas are being “reconstructed” and “beautified” under the slogan of development, and some have their own unique personality and landscape characteristics of local culture. They are constantly disappearing and replaced by Roman avenues, small Western-style buildings, shopping malls, large lawns, central avenues, etc. These landscapes can neither show the national style nor have the characteristics of showing identity on Chinese soil. Often, in the end, they are acclimatized and lifeless. The main reason is that these landscapes often only serve political needs and ignore the needs of ordinary people, especially the needs of local people. They lack the participation of local people, are divorced from the local natural environment and cultural environment, and do not contribute to the sense of identity. and a sense of belonging, let alone a sense of happiness. And due to administrative and political pressure, new local landscape elements such as street food, roadside stalls, and urban villages are often suppressed in the name of "rectification" and "cleaning up," resulting in difficult and abnormal development.
The interpretation of "Discovering the Vernacular Landscape" forced me to take a new look at the Chinese vernacular landscape and gave me a new understanding of the vernacular landscape. But there are also many questions that bother me, such as: The early living habits of the nomadic people in the United States and the primitive farming customs of the early colonists had a profound impact on the formation of motels and are also their historical reasons. But with China's living habits that believe in blood and family, the sacredness of ancestors buried in farmland, and the traditional concept of returning fallen leaves to their roots, can motels still have a place to survive? In an era of population explosion and intensive population mobility, what kind of new landscape elements will we create?