A study on the distribution and scale evolution of Jiangnan’s thatched cottages from Tang to Ming Dynasties

The Thatched Cottage represents a form of garden where ancient Chinese literati lived in seclusion in the mountains and forests. Currently, research on thatched cottages primarily focuses on individual case studies, lacking a comprehensive examination of their historical trajectory. This article focuses on the historical development and scale evolution of thatched cottages, aiming to draw people’s attention to the cultural heritage of thatched cottages. Through literature analysis, 92 thatched cottages in the southern region of the Yangtze River in China from the Tang Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty were sorted out. Draw a geographical distribution map of thatched cottages and study their development. Further research on Suzhou city revealed that during the Ming Dynasty, the distribution of thatched cottages in Suzhou tended to shift from suburban areas to urban areas. While the number of thatched cottages increased, their scale also decreased. Research has shown that the large-scale thatched cottages in the Tang and Song dynasties were related to the privatization of land policies, while the reduction of thatched cottages in the Ming dynasty was related to the intensification of the contradiction between people and land and the rapid development of urbanization.