Topological Core and Spatial Configuration Differentiation of Qing Dynasty Educational Buildings: An Investigation of Hunan Academies and Confucian Temples

Academies (shuyuan) and Confucian temples (wenmiao) respectively embody the traditions of scholarly instruction and ritual observance in traditional China, representing two significant architectural typologies within the ancient Confucian cultural and educational systems. However, existing research largely consists of qualitative descriptions of individual types, lacking cross-typological quantitative comparisons based on unified metrics. Focusing on 26 extant Qing Dynasty academies and 15 Confucian temples in Hunan Province, this study employs spatial genotype theory to construct a quantitative framework integrating “functional configuration,” “plan morphology,” and “Justified Plan Graph (JPG) topology.” Spatial genotypes are identified through the matrix of “Functional Type of the Topological Core” versus “Configurational Type.” The results show the following: (1) The overall functional composition of the two building types is quite different, but the main institutional functions are not necessarily concentrated in the topological core, which is dominated by transitional spaces such as courtyards, corridors and entrance halls. (2) The degree of axial concentration and spatial depth is remarkably higher in Confucian temples, whereas the branching rate is significantly higher in academies. Notably, spatial depth is highly sensitive to the encoding of entrances. (3) The distribution of “spatial genotypes” between the two building types shows no statistically significant differences. In terms of topological core functions, both types are dominated by transitional spaces, while Confucian temples tend toward axial organization and academies toward branched connectivity in terms of configurational relationships. The study developed an analytical path of “topological core identification and functional attribute determination—configurational relationship analysis—two-dimensional spatial genotype extraction,” providing empirical reference for the classification and protection of academy and Confucian temple heritage and the quantitative study of the spatial generation patterns of traditional public buildings.