Revisiting the spatial form of traditional villages in Chaoshan, China

Purpose Compared to other areas in China, Chaoshan region in Guangdong province has a more developed clan system set within a rural landscape. This paper aims to explore the relationship between the social structure (family–clan) and spatial form (housing settlement) of clan-organized rural China to understand the spatial form represented by “family and clan.” Design/methodology/approach By examining Dongli village and Huayao village, this paper outlines the typical path of spatial representation: dwelling of individual’s core family → mansion of the big family → settlement of a single clan → co-settlement of several clans. Moreover, it identifies three critical elements of the spatial representation: prototype (the spatial representation of the etiquette system); order (a hierarchical space set by the patriarchal system); and boundary (constructed on both physical and mental facts). Findings All elements indicate that descendants of migrants from the North maintain their self-identity and discipline clan members by planning the ideal space. Research limitations/implications The findings contribute to the ongoing discussions regarding how local cultural and historical experiences can influence renewed designs of traditional settlement areas (Aksulu and Eryildiz, 2003) and how digital means can facilitate updating designs of traditional buildings (Han et al. , 2017). Such planning and design should involve greater public participation, considering the impact on residents’ daily lives (Pandya, 2005). Originality/value This paper contributes to the understanding of the relationship between cultural values and the spatial form of residential settlements in Chinese history.