Identification and Optimization of Traditional Village Morphology from the Perspective of Material-cultural Interaction: A Case Study of Miaoxia Village, Chenzhou City, Hunan Province

In implementing rural revitalization strategies, the morphological analysis of rural settlements is fundamental to the preservation, development, innovation, and protection of traditional villages. This study established a comprehensive framework for identifying traditional village morphology through the lens of material-cultural interaction, synthesizing representational and non-representational theories with Conzenian urban morphology theory. The framework encompasses three dimensions: historical morphology, structural morphology, and functional cultural morphology. Using Miaoxia Village in Chenzhou City, Hunan Province, as a case study, the research employed multiple methodological approaches, including field surveys, participatory assessments, questionnaire surveys, and in-depth interviews. The findings reveal four significant aspects: (1) The historical morphological evolution demonstrates four developmental stages-restricted expansion, clustered growth, outer development, and roadside expansion-shaped by historical and sociocultural influences across different periods. (2) In terms of structural morphology characteristics, the village's interior structure exhibits a complete and ordered arrangement of points, lines, and planes. Points cluster near the northeast ancestral hall and the central area, line elements show a chessboard-like structure of intersecting grids, and functional areas of plane elements presented a clearly defined and orderly layout within the village. (3) Points, lines, and planes bear distinct cultural characteristics. The cultural morphological evaluation, based on 1 086 existing buildings, utilized six indicators: land use type, construction age, building quality, architectural style, building height, and roof form. Through 2.5D spatial analysis, the findings reveal significant spatial patterns of cultural agglomeration, similarity, and continuity. (4) Based on material-cultural morphological characteristics, Miaoxia Village is classified into six distinct zones, including traditional cultural areas and modern living areas. These zones are further categorized into protection, renovation, and replacement areas, with specific management strategies proposed for each category. The study concludes by proposing a collaborative governance framework involving villagers, government entities, and enterprises, offering novel insights for the sustainable development of traditional villages.