An exploratory study on the construction context and driving forces of mansion-style vernacular dwellings in the Chaoshan region
Vernacular dwellings are increasingly recognized not only as climate-responsive shelters but also as material expressions of social institutions, ritual order, and collective identity. Based on field surveys, semi-structured interviews, and historical document analysis, this study examines 39 representative mansion-style vernacular dwellings in the Chaoshan region of southern China. It aims to clarify how historical conditions, construction practices, and socio-cultural mechanisms interacted to shape the formation and continuity of this distinctive dwelling type. The findings show that the emergence of Chaoshan mansion-style dwellings cannot be explained by economic accumulation or aesthetic preference alone, but by the interaction of multiple social and cultural forces. First, the rise of the scholar-official stratum provided both material resources and cultural legitimacy for mansion construction. Second, lineage-based ritual institutions structured a spatial order characterized by the integration of ancestral halls and residential spaces, reinforcing hierarchy, ancestor veneration, and collective identity. Third, feng shui beliefs and local customs exerted a lasting influence on site selection, orientation, and spatial organization. These dwellings should therefore be understood not merely as residential buildings, but as material expressions of lineage organization, ritual order, and local social authority. The study contributes to a better understanding of vernacular architecture in southern China and offers a case for comparative discussions of the social meanings embedded in domestic space.
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