Research on the Cultural Connotations of Decorative Art in Slab

Shelf Dwellings

Minghui Pan

, Wei Liu

1,*

, Chunyan Liu

and Baofeng Liang

College of Art, Southwest MinZu University, Da Jian Road, Shuangliu District, 610000, China

College of Architecture, Southwest MinZu University, Da Jian Road, Shuangliu District, 610000, China

Keywords: Slab Shelf Dwelling, Decorative Art, Cultural Connotation, Siji Ji Village.

Abstract: The crisis in the preservation of their skills demonstrates the extent to which the architectural cultural heritage

of the ethnic minorities is being protected. The decorative art of Slab Shelf Dwellings is a tangible

representation of the cultural system built by the southwest mountainous peoples. Through field mapping,

craftsmen's interviews, and pattern genealogy, this study systematically dissects the various themes, modeling

logics, and spatial compositional features of the decorative art in Siji Ji Village in Meigu County, the core

inheritance area of the intangible cultural heritage "Liangshan Yi Folk Dwelling Skills." In the semi-

agricultural and semi-pastoral livelihood, it is discovered that: (1) The ternary combination of animal and

plant motifs, natural abstract motifs, and production tool motifs maps out the synergistic relationship of

"Nature-Human-Technology"; (2) The decorative motifs realize the spatial translation of the primitive

religious cosmogony and the pragmatic construction logic through the compositional technique of continuous

motifs; and (3) Liangshan Ji Village, influenced by the Han architectural culture, has become the most

significant locati0n in the history of the Chinese people worldwide. (3) Liangshan residences, which are

affected by Han architectural culture, exhibit multicultural traits, and Yi culture maintains its individuality

while assimilating Han culture, further illustrating the cultural importance of the unity of diversity. This study

establishes for the first time an interpretative framework for the decorative art and culture of the product rack

houses, which provides a value cognitive foundation for the living inheritance of ethnic minority architectural

cultural heritage in the Southwest region.

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 The State of Traditional

Architectural Decoration in

Liangshan

The exquisite art of the Slab Shelf Dwellings, a

quintessential example of southwest mountain

architecture, reflects the cultural DNA and

knowledge of the Yi people. Early buildings were

usually constructed of wood, and the ornamental art

was presented through carvings and paintings

attached to beams, pillars, gables, and other

components (Yang and Tang, 2021) (Figure 1). These

structures are a physical expression of the semi-

https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2187-1726

https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0474-017X

https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0346-9901

https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8852-8014

agricultural and semi-pastoral subsistence and

primitive religious cosmology. The decorative culture

is experiencing a crisis as a result of the loss of

knowledge about handicraft, the deterioration of

cultural identity, and the breakdown of ecological

adaptation. This is because the aging of artisan groups

and the lack of lumber make it impossible for wooden

houses to meet the requirements of contemporary

living. Wooden structures have gradually given way

to brick-concrete homes (Figure 2). In this sense, both

theoretical reconstruction and salvage preservation

benefit from a systematic examination of the

significance of the ornamental culture of Slab Shelf

Dwellings.

228

Pan, M., Liu, W., Liu, C., Liang and B.

Research on the Cultural Connotations of Decorative Art in Slab Shelf Dwellings.

DOI: 10.5220/0013628100004671

In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Environmental Science and Civil Engineering (ICESCE 2024), pages 228-235

ISBN: 978-989-758-764-1; ISSN: 3051-701X

Figure 1: Examples of Slab Shelf Dwellings in Sijiji

Village.

Figure 2: Current status of the Sijiji villagers' residences.

1.2 The Current Research Status of

Traditional Architectural

Decoration in Liangshan

Established studies on Liangshan architectural

decoration focus on two imensions: domestic scholars

focus on pattern classification and innovative design

research. Yang Xixian (Yang and Tang, 2021)

explores the path of national cultural identity through

the innovative design of modern architecture and

architectural ecoration patterns; Ni Jianlin (2007)

explains the origin of decoration from the perspective

of primitive art; Chen Xiaoqin (Chen and Tang, 2019)

and others believe that the architectural forms and

decorations of the Liangshan Yi people are affected

by factors such as social structure, religious culture

and living customs. Su Tianlin (2020) has the changes

of the residential culture centred on the fire pit in the

construction of new villages, and puts forward the

protection and inheritance strategy of the

architectural culture. Guo Yannan (2022) sorted out

the formal characteristics and decorative

connotations of architectural components and

proposed how to apply pattern and colour innovation

in architectural decoration through practice.

Foreign academics' studies of the architecture of

the Liangshan region are typically more focused on

the thorough generalization of architectural elements

and the in-depth examination of architectural culture

(Gamage, and Hyde, 2012; Bamo and Huang, 2000).

From the micro perspective of the decorative carriers

of the Slab Shelf Dwelling architectural decorative

culture, in-depth research is still lacking despite the

fact that previous studies on the national culture,

inheritance and evolution, and decorative

characteristics of Liangshan architecture have been

involved (Ye, 2017; Li, 2021; Fan and Cheng, 2008).

In order to provide fresh viewpoints and theoretical

support for the legacy of the architectural culture in

Liangshan Prefecture, this paper begins with the

themes, modeling, and compositional forms of the

architectural decoration of the Slab Shelf Dwellings

in the prefecture. It then uses fieldwork data and

diagrams to focus on the relationship between their

architectural decorations and aesthetics, functions,

and concepts.

2 OVERVIEW OF SLAB SHELF

DWELLINGS IN SIJIJI

VILLAGE

2.1 Broad Details about Shijiyoshi

Village

Siji Ji Villiage, which was included in the second

batch of Chinese communities in 2013, is a natural

settlement hamlet situated in the northeastern region

of Meigu County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous

Prefecture. In order to integrate agriculture and

animal husbandry for their production and living

needs, the villagers decided to dwell close to the

mountain's summit, where the terrain is

comparatively easy. The hamlet is located in a high

mountainous locati0n with an average elevation of

3,000 meters (Figure 3). All of the residents are Yi

ethnic. Prior to the liberation, when the Yi ethnic

group lived in an area that was a slave society,

Liangshan Mountain was divided into three

provinces: Sichuan, Kang, and Dian. Following the

liberation, regional ethnic autonomy was realized,

and the homes of Siji Jiji Village are a cultural

microcosm of this history. The living practices of the

Liangshan region were chosen to be a part of the Fifth

Batch of the People's Republic of China's Intangible

Cultural Heritage List in 2021.

Research on the Cultural Connotations of Decorative Art in Slab Shelf Dwellings

229

Figure 3: The Village Form of Sijiji Village.

Cultural practices and religious beliefs are

strongly related. The Year of the Yi is traditionally

observed from November 17 to November 21. With

wrestling, horse racing, bullfighting, sheep fighting,

and grinding ear autumn activities (Yi 2024), the Yi

people's "Torch Festival" is a powerful and passionate

event that demonstrates their brave and audacious

nature. According to an oral remark made by

MuPoYiHa, a member of the SiJiJi Village village

committee in July 2023, BiMo cultural witchcraft

activities involve three "superstitions": each family

needs chickens, pigs, and sheep. The villagers exhibit

strong local features by dressing in "felt, kanji, right-

over-oblong, trailing skirt, hairpin, and green

pajamas" (Figure 4) during weddings and funerals.

The locals' comprehension of the unknown world and

their yearning for a better existence are reflected in

this blending of religious rituals, culture, and art. It is

also crucial for them to preserve communal

togetherness and preserve their national culture.

Figure 4: Dress for weddings, funerals and other events

2.2 Slab Shelf feature

Each ethnic culture's decorations have their own

symbolic meanings. Slab Shelf Dwelling is one of the

most notable examples of the widely dispersed

residential buildings in the Liangshan Yi area, with

Meigu County at its center. It is renowned for its

unique "Slab" wooden structure system, which has

gradually evolved from the early purely longitudinal

frame structure to the half-slab structure and finally

evolved into the mature structure system dominated

by horizontal slogans. The original patterned

decorations are still present in the house's

construction style, namely on the partition walls,

arches, squares, and columns inside, as well as the

eaves and purlins beneath the eaves (Table 1). Despite

the design's simplicity, it gives the room a spooky

color by adorning some items with symbols of

warding off evil spirits, like an ox's head or horns.

Table 1: Research Data Sheet for Yoshimura's Four Seasons

Product Shelf Building Decoration.

Nam

Eaves Beam

Decoration

Slab Shelf

Decoration

Partition

Wall

Decoratio

JiaSi

Yibu

AKu

Tieri

MuP

GeF

Shuo

ErZh

AZe

Ding

3 CULTURAL FEATURES OF

SLAB SHELF DWELLINGS'

ARCHITECTURAL

EMBELLISHMENTS

The fact that ornamentation is a component of culture

cannot be disputed. Architectural decoration uses

certain themes, styles, and compositions to highlight

the beauty of art. Thus, in terms of subjects, styles,

and organizational forms, architectural decoration

exhibits its distinct creative traits. The following

ICESCE 2024 - The International Conference on Environmental Science and Civil Engineering

230

categories and summaries of the cultural aspects of

architectural decoration are based on the thorough

gathering and examination of field survey data:

3.1 Decorative Subject

Since then, the people of Sijiyoshi Village have

documented their history, culture, farming, and

religious beliefs via architectural embellishments.

Based on the field investigation, the themes of the

architectural decorations of the Slab Shelf Dwellings

may be summed up in the following categories (Table

2): Natural patterns, which are frequently found in

sun and mountain patterns, represent the devotion of

nature and express people's love and respect for it by

mimicking natural phenomena. Patterns found in

plants and animals, such as the common fish eye,

frog, pumpkin seed, and sheep horn patterns,

demonstrate how dependent humans are on both their

religion and plants. Typical tool motif patterns, fire

sickle patterns, etc. These patterns emphasize the

importance of production tools in day-to-day life and

symbolize the fundamental role of labor and

production. Coin patterns, net patterns, back patterns,

and other abstract patterns—geometric patterns made

by rearranging points, lines, and surfaces—showcase

creative talent while also signifying wealth and good

fortune.

Table 2: Categories of Decorative Patterns in Slab Shelf

Dwellings

Categor

Original

Drawin

Decorative

Schematic

Eleme

（1）

Natural

Patterns

Sun

Moun

tain

（2）

Animal

s and

Plants

Patterns

Sheep

horn

Frog

Pump

kin

Seed

（3）

Tools

Patterns

Scyth

（4）

Geomet

ric

Patterns

Coin

It is evident that the architectural embellishments

of the Slab Shelf Dwellings perfectly capture the

culture of the Liangshan Yi people. Whether they are

geometric patterns, animals, or plants, they all convey

the locals' respect for the natural world and their

intense desire for a better living in their semi-pastoral

and semi-agricultural society. These ornamental

motifs transmit rich cultural connotations and

historical recollections while also reflecting the

residents' lives, production practices, and spiritual

beliefs in addition to their aesthetic preferences.

3.2 Design Characteristics

At a deeper level, modeling is a crystallization of

the routine aesthetic actions ingrained in political and

cultural symbols, in addition to being a direct

outcome of material production. In Liangshan, Slab

Shelf Dwellings are a type of typical residential

building. Their rich and distinctive decorative

modeling elements not only capture the local way of

life and culture, but also their distinct aesthetic art.

The outdoor through-fang structure, the indoor arch

and through-double structure, and the partition wall

are considered the main research areas in this study

because some studies have indicated that the

decorations of the interior walls of houses are

primarily concentrated at 1/2 – 3/4 of the ground

(Guo

2022)

(Figure 5).

（a）Exterior beam structures

（b）Wooden slab shelves

（c）Interior partition walls

Figure 5: Decorative Carriers of Slab Shelf Dwellings in

Sijiji Village.

Não é po ssível aprese ntar a imagem.

Research on the Cultural Connotations of Decorative Art in Slab Shelf Dwellings

231

3.2.1 Exterior Beam Structures, Known as

Eave Beams

The first kind is an outside square, often known as an

eaves square. The picket fence beneath the eaves,

which is typically separated into three sections,

supports the distinctive look of the product-frame

boarding house architecture. The eaves' primary

decorative colors—black, red, and yellow—as well as

white and blue (Figure 6) demonstrate the locals'

emotional orientation. In addition to geometric shapes

with symbolic connotations, the decorative motifs

also contain animal and plant motifs like bamboo

joints and cow horns. In addition to improving the

building's beauty, this type of decoration honors the

local culture and the environment.

Figure 6: Decorative colours.

3.2.2 Wooden Slab Shelves

The second category is product frames made of wood.

The majority of buildings in Liangshan use wooden

frame construction, which primarily uses product and

wood frame construction. Since the roof of the entire

building serves as the top support for the structure, the

roof's decoration primarily reflects that of the wooden

frame structure. The bucket truss structure is identical

to the wooden truss structure in that it is composed of

a row of columns, each of which is run through

horizontally with a square to create a purlin frame.

Together, these two structures form the entire roof,

which serves as the primary support for the roof. The

typical way to decorate an indoor product frame is to

utilize horn carving, which is also frequently used in

exterior house eaves beneath the eaves square (Yang

et al., 2021)). The indoor product frame is typically

divided into three, five, nine, or eleven levels. For

instance, the product frame's horizontal square head

has a distinct aesthetic style because to its deft

modeling integration into the cow horn components.

High contrast and solid colors are frequently

employed in color selection, which emphasizes the

decoration's visual impact even more.

3.2.3 Interior Partitions

Interior partition walls make up the third group. The

interior partition walls are primarily composed of

bamboo and wood, and they are embellished with

panel inlays and columns. About 70% of the labor in

the construction of residential buildings in the

Liangshan area is done by carpenters on their own,

using their exceptional abilities. The artisans

meticulously draw lines during the painting process

based on the various internal spatial structures and

patterns, then precisely zone and color the frames to

ensure that the entire area blends in with the natural

surroundings.

3.3 Forms of Organization

The Slab Shelf Dwellings' ornamental patterns start

with a single design and are created by skillfully

arranging and combining several independent pattern

parts to create a complex and cohesive whole pattern.

The arrangement is clever, achieving a delicate

synthesis of geometric abstraction and figurative

components of flora and animals. The layout is

harmonious with symmetry and harmony, as well as

rhythmic and rhythmic. The ornamental patterns also

display the ancestors' artistic intelligence; they

employ repetitive and continuous processes to

produce a smooth, continuous pattern that emphasizes

plant and animal features, well-arranged geometric

lines, and visual fullness and richness. For instance,

the two-square continuous design on the square head

of the ox horn is made up of appropriate patterns,

bamboo joints, and geometric patterns; similarly, the

indoor partition wall is made up of sheep's horn

patterns and geometric patterns (Figure 7-8). The

harmony and balance of the pattern organization in

the Liangshan region's architectural decoration

exhibits a particularly noteworthy artistic

quality(Figure 9), and it has grown to be a significant

symbol of the region's decorative art. This exquisite

organization displays the locals' profound awareness

and cultural heritage in addition to their desire of

beauty and aesthetic excellence.

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Figure 7: Organizational Forms of Exterior Beam

Structures.

Figure 8: Organizational Forms of Interior Partitions.

Figure 9: Organizational Forms of Interior Partitions.

4 THE CULTURAL

CONNOTATION OF THE

DECORATION ART OF SLAB

SHELF DWELLINGS

4.1 Forms of "Nature-Human-

Technology" Synergy

A distinctive trinity of animal and plant motifs,

natural abstract motifs, and production tool motifs is

created in the architectural and ornamental art of the

Slab Shelf Dwellings. The region's semi-agricultural

and semi-pastoral way of life is strongly tied to this

system, which was not created by accident. It shows

how "nature, people, and technology" may work

together harmoniously. For instance, the craftsmen

skillfully carved the square heads of the slate

structure into the shape of bull horns, a design that

not only satisfies structural stability standards but

also adds a distinctive decorative element to the

building

(Wang, 2023). Simultaneously, the materials

for the slate roofs were carefully chosen, and

premium woods such cold spruce, aspen, and pine

were employed, which not only had outstanding

physical qualities but also represented the local

reverence for life and the natural world.

The locals' keen awareness of and strong reliance

on the natural world is reflected in the widespread use

of animal and plant motifs as well as natural abstract

patterns. Humans view the selection and blending of

these patterns as the outward expression of regional

culture and spirit in semi-pastoral and semi-

agricultural life. Technically speaking, production

tool patterns are a clear representation of human

technology. Thus, under the semi-agricultural and

semi-pastoral livelihood, the ternary combination

pattern system of the product rack-type boarding

house is a vivid depiction of the interaction and

synergy between nature, humans, and technology,

which profoundly reflects the local community's

unique cultural connotation and survival wisdom.

4.2 Methods of Translation for

Pragmatic Construction Logic and

Primitive Religious Cosmology

As the fundamental components with aesthetic

and cultural significance, decorative motifs play a

significant role in the compositional rules of

architectural decoration. The decorative motifs of

Slab Shelf Dwellings present the original abstract

primitive religious cosmology in the architectural

space with the aid of the continuous pattern

composition law of repetition, interphase, and

reversal. This allows for the gradual development of

a comprehensive system of cultural expression from

the material basis to the spiritual pursuit. The building

serves as a place of dwelling as well as a vehicle for

cultural expression and inheritance thanks to the deft

integration of ornamental elements into the structure,

which is predicated on the building's structural

integrity. A unique viewpoint for the study of

architectural ornamentation and cultural history is

offered by this type of spatial translation, which not

only reflects human discovery and pursuit of the

spiritual realm but also exhibits a balanced

Research on the Cultural Connotations of Decorative Art in Slab Shelf Dwellings

233

understanding of pragmatism and artistry in the

material world.

4.3 The significance of Han and Yi

Cultures

The architectural culture of the Han people has a

significant influence on the residential buildings'

structural integrity and aesthetic design in the

Liangshan region. Meigu County residential

appearances, including the Han architecture's roof

ridge curved up, end nose wings, roof concave curved,

structural wall columns, arch, etc., as well as

modeling features, like the typical "double eaves" and

wooden structure using the "perforated tube" and

"hanging mountain" construction, are examples of

multi-cultural manifestation. The architectural design

of residential buildings in Meigu County is the

crystallization of multi-culturalism, as evidenced by

the features of the buildings, including the curved

roof ridges of Han Chinese buildings, such as the

wings of the end noses, the concave curvature of the

roofs, and the structural elements, such as the

archways and the columns of the mountain walls. The

slate roof's architectural embellishment is a striking

representation of China's multiculturalism. From a

historical perspective, the Yi people's forefathers

moved to the Liangshan region gradually since the

Tang Dynasty, and various migrations have created

the current pattern. The regional architectural style

evolved throughout the Ming and Qing eras as a result

of landlord economics, Han migration, and land

reclassification. The Yi culture selectively absorbed

and preserved its distinctiveness at this time, despite

the Han culture's influence, underscoring the traits of

cultural unity and pluralism. In terms of architecture,

the product frame structure demonstrates the

tolerance and blending of various cultures by

combining Central Plains architectural technology

with a timber construction. It is currently widely

accepted that the pierced bucket type housing is the

ancestor of the product frame structure, which is a

significant example of the architectural fusion and

interchange between the Central Plains and

Liangshan regions.

5 CONCLUSIONS

The fan-frame plank house is a unique cultural icon

in Liangshan Prefecture that is essential to

understanding its architectural decoration culture.

Important elements to consider include the

composition, form, and topic matter. The decorative

elements of the fan-frame plank homes in Sijijicun

are thoroughly examined in this essay, which also

looks at the harmonious and balanced pattern

organization, beautiful and distinctive form features,

and ornamental themes inspired by nature. The study

finds that: (1) The tripartite combination system of

animal and plant patterns, natural abstract patterns,

and production tool patterns in the "nature-human-

technology" synergy vividly depicts the interaction

between nature, humans, and technology under the

semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral livelihood mode,

exposing the local area's distinct cultural connotations

and survival knowledge. (2) The structure is a

significant carrier for cultural inheritance and

expression, striking a balance between practicality

and creativity, and achieving the spatial translation of

the primal religious cosmology and the pragmatic

construction logic through the continuous pattern

composition rule. (3) It is based on the idea of cultural

assimilation. Strong evidence of cultural interchange

and integration between the two regions can be found

in the fan-frame plank house's architectural design

and construction, which are influenced by Han

culture while maintaining the distinctive features of

the Yi people. In addition to being a priceless part of

Liangshan Prefecture's historical culture, the fan-

frame plank house's architectural decoration art offers

a distinctive viewpoint and a wealth of resources for

research on architectural decoration, cultural

inheritance, and interethnic and intercultural

exchange. In order to foster the growth of traditional

ethnic arts and culture, as well as to improve national

cohesiveness and cultural confidence, future efforts

should be made to further increase research and

protection.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The primary funding for this research was provided

by the 2019 Sichuan Province Social Science

Planning Project (Project No. SC19B154).

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