The spontaneous spatial restructuring of traditional village based on an analysis of social relationship: A case in Fuling, Fujian China

Abstract

Traditional villages are often seen as complex social and spatial systems that reflect deeply rooted cultural and relational dynamics. Urbanization and modernization threaten vernacular spaces in traditional villages, risking the loss of place identity and complicating preservation efforts. Indigenous social relationships form the backbone of social interaction and spatial organization in these communities, shaping how space is utilized and transformed. However, the research on how local people reshape rural space from the perspective of social relationship is still insufficient. Drawing on social space theory and informed by observations and first-hand narratives, this study develops a framework to analyze the relationship between social relations and spatial transformation in spontaneous rural reconstruction. Taking Fuling Village in Fujian, China as a case study, it explores how shifts in kinship, territorial, and religious dynamics influence spatial configurations before and after reconstruction. The study highlights changes in residential patterns, clan networks, and religious spaces across different spatial scales. The findings reveal that the reconfiguration of organizational relationships and shifts in social interaction patterns are key drivers in reshaping spatial allocations and formations. This has sparked local creativity, but also highlighted identity crises and emerging inequalities, calling for attention to local forces to ensure integrated heritage preservation and the long-term sustainability of these communities.