Reverse Geomancy: The Spatial Patterns Between Jimei Ancestral Halls and Their Surrounding Environment

This study explores the distribution patterns of ancestral hall architecture and surrounding spatial elements in the Jimei area of Xiamen, China. As the core buildings of traditional villages in Southern Fujian, ancestral halls are deeply influenced by Feng Shui theories in their angular spatial layout. This research collected data on 45 ancestral halls and their surrounding elements, such as ponds, trees, plazas, and performance stages, using a classification approach based on Feng Shui theory to analyze the spatial distribution patterns, combined with DBSCAN and HDBSCAN clustering algorithms. This study found that certain elements were not significant, as mathematical analysis and clustering failed to reveal clear patterns. However, elements like ponds, trees, and performance stages showed strong correlations with orientation, with a Coefficient of Variation (CV) greater than 1 and clustering results displaying distinct angular patterns. Additionally, spatial distribution features such as building orientation were significantly associated with traditional Feng Shui principles (validated by a “shift half-division” irregularity ratio > 1). This study further demonstrated that within the cultural context of southern Fujian, these mathematical findings could be explained by Feng Shui theories or practical conditions.