Typological characteristics of military functional buildings in Gansu Zhen of the Ming Great Wall

Gansu Zhen, a section of China’s Ming Great Wall, is a core component of the Hexi Corridor and Silk Road heritage, containing over 200 military fortresses with diverse military functional buildings (MFBs). Due to functional transformation and natural deterioration, MFBs haveexperienced a loss of authenticity. This study examines their typological characteristics of structure, nature, and combination through word frequency analysis, discrimination ability measurement, and co-occurrence network analysis. Eight primary types and ninety-one subsidiary types were identified, with temples comprising 40.5%. MFB followed a functional configuration characterized by comprehensive basic functions and hierarchical advanced functions. Basic types (e.g. towers, barracks), showed lower discrimination ability, whereas distinctive types (e.g. government ministries, temples) exhibited higher values. Strong co-occurrence among government ministries, temples, and schools reflects functional synergy shaped by military organization, ritual norms, and resource allocation. These findings support value interpretation and conservation planning for Great Wall heritage.