Diaolou Buildings and Villages for Tibetan and Qiang Ethnic Groups

Danba County N 30 29-31 29, E 101 17-10212

Li County N 31 33, E 103 26

Mao County N 31 45, E 103 43

1. Danba Diaolou Buildings for Tibetan Ethnic Groups   

Danba County is located at the east of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in western Sichuan Province. Danba means the town of rocks. Special geographical situation, geological condition and unique cultural background all attribute to the well-developed culture of Rock Buildings in Danba. Old Diaolou Buildings have a long and colourful history, and represent the masterpieces of Jiarong Tibetan architectural arts. Danba tops China, or even the world in terms of its quantity, density and types of old Diaolou Buildings. So far, it is the place that reserves the largest quantity of old Diaolou Buildings and villages in China, with the highest density, and is known for its rich styles and overall preservation.

The history of Danba can be traced back to Qin and Han Dynasty. According to The Record of Southwest Minorities, Southern Minorities in The Post Han Script, Ranmang People were conquered by the Emperor Hanwu. In the 6th year of Yuanding, it was named Wenshan Shire... (Its people) all inhabit the mountains, and reside houses of rocks and slates. The maximum height of the house points over 30 meters. These folk houses were referred to as Qiong Hutches. In Tang Dynasty, Xian LI noted that, "Today, the minorities called it Diaolou Buildings." In Sui and Tang Dynasty, such rock towers prevailed in the west of Sichuan and east of Tibet. The excavation of the ruins and stone coffins at the graveyards at Zhonglu proves that, over 5,000 years ago, the area was densely populated by primeval people, who had mastered fairly advanced technique of building with rocks.

The latest survey in 2004 demonstrates that there are 562 old Diaolou Buildings in the whole county. The shapes of old Diaolou Buildings in Danba are diversified, with quadrangular, pentagonal, octagonal and tridecanal towers. The majority of them are quadrangular Diaolou Buildings. Among them, only one tridecanal watchtower (incomplete) remains; of the 24 octagonal Diaolou Buildings, 10 of them remain intact, 9 of them lost their tops, and 5 of them were reduced to ruins; the only one pentagonal watchtower has been restored as original; of the 536 quadrangular towers, 216 of them remain intact, 74 of them were reduced to ruins.

The old watchtower takes up an area of 25~120 m2, with a height varying from 10 to 60 m. Mountain rocks and slates, yellow mud and timber are adopted as the main building materials. With a relatively bigger base, the Diaolou Buildings narrow upward to the top. The towers were built with rocks and slates of various sizes. As many walls were built with rocks weighing over several hundred kilos, the walls prove firm, thick and solid. They are built with well-leveled surface and pointed corners, making the tower stand straight and upright. The function of the old Diaolou Buildings varies, combining military and residential purposes. They fall mainly into two categories: folk towers and residential towers. By its own particular function, they can be further labeled as war flame tower, strategic pass tower, official village tower, boundary tower, scripture tower, and tower in houses, etc. The old Diaolou Buildings in Danba have survived wars, weather, and earthquakes. With a long history, they rise straight from the land, towering loftily, solid and strong as usual. Some of them stand as bows, forming quite marvelous spectacle, making one amazed at its refined and intricate arts of building. In 2006, the old Diaolou Buildings in Danba were enlisted as the Cultural Relics of National Importance by the State Department.

The Tibetan folk houses in Zhonglu, Suopo, especially Jiaju, can best represent the extant form of folk houses in Danba, preserving integrally the basic features of Jiarong folk houses. They adopt local materials and primal techniques, keeping the historical style and features. The development of history is also embodied in details, which do not affect its traditional style and basic pattern.                                                  

2. Taoping Diaolou Buildings and Villages for Qiang Ethnic Groups

Taoping Qiang village is located 40 km away from the east of the county seat, bordering Wenchuan County on the southeast (14 kilometers), Mao County in the north, and Tonghua County in the northwest, situating on the alluvial platform where the Zengtougou Brooklet joins the Zagunao River. Being a natural village inhabited by Qiang People, the village has 104 households and 482 people.

Taoping Qiang Village was initially set up in the 6th of Yuanding in West Han Dynasty (111B.C.). Taoping, in Qiang People's language, is pronounced as "qizi". It was originally named Red Creek Village as the red rock in the creek turns the creek seemingly red. It was also once called chicken, as in the local dialect, creek and chicken share the same pronunciation, hence the name Red Chicken Village. People also refer to it as Dustpan Village after its dustpan-shaped terrain. The legend has that two people named Tao and Shu came here to develop the area in early years. They planted many peach trees. In memory of them, the village was renamed as Taoshu Ping (ping means level ground). Since the mountain was later covered with fruitful peach trees, it was renamed accordingly as Taoziping (Taozi means peaches).

Historical record notes that, in the 6th of Yuanding, West Han Dynasty, Guangrou County was founded 1 km away from Taoping, the then strategic pass and recovery border of Guangrou County. In the Three Kingdoms, Jin, Sui and Song Dynasty, the county seat was set in Guba County. In Qing Dynasty, Taoping belonged to "Gucheng Li(archaic Chinese meaning village)", the subordinate villages of Taoping were referred to as Housanku. In the 19th of Minkuo(1930 A.D.), Taoping Village was set up. Henceforth, Taoping becomes the village seat, and Taoziping is renamed as Taoping. The long history of Taoping Village, and its unique geographical condition precipitated a unique historical culture of Qiang. The architectural arts of rock buildings still glitter in the ethnic arts till today.

Running away from wars, Qiang People came to settle down at the valleys of the Minjiang River. In order to guard them against invasions of other ethnic nationalities and native Geji People, Qiang People learn to build their homes with rocks and mud from very early times. Long years of accumulation witness the unique architectural arts takes shape in constructing Qiang Diaolou Buildings, villages, folk houses, domestic buildings and underground drainage system. The architectural arts at Taoping Qiang Village are represented in its construction of Diaolou Buildings, folk houses, domestic buildings and the underground water system.

The folk houses, Diaolou Buildings, domestic buildings and the underground water system at Taoping Qiang Village are all built with rocks, earth and planks. With materials locally available, the earth, rocks and planks from the mountain make the environmentally friendly buildings. Taoping Qiang village epitomizes man's affinitive relation with nature, and represents the architectural arts of Qiang People.

3. Heihu Diaolou Buildings and Villages for Qiang Ethnic Groups

The Diaolou Buildings are located at Yingzui River Village on Gaoban Mountain, 300 meters away from the local government of Heihu Village, lying on the ridge of the north-south mountain. The west cliff of the ridge overlooks the Yingzui River after which the village is named. The east of the ridge is a slope with an altitude of 2727 m. With a vertical height of 200m above the river, the ridge is around 280 meters long, 20-60 meters wide. Within such an area, five Diaolou Buildings were built. Another two towers stand 100 meters away on the slope, well-preserved. Around the towers lie some abandoned building ruins and residential houses of Qiang people. To the north of the towers at the end of the ridge, an altar was dedicated to Qiang people's religious activities. The Qiang folk houses, the building ruins, the towers and the altar form an old and unique Qiang village. Located on the cliff of Gaoban Mountain, with two sides laced by rivers (The Yingzui River is on the west of the village, and the Heihu River is on the north.), the steepness makes the village easy to defend but difficult to be attacked. Its geographical condition graphically proves the record of ‘Qiong Hutches' in The Record of Southwest Minorities, The Southern Minorities in The Post Han Script - it gives expression to ‘They inhabit the mountains, and reside houses of rocks and slates, whose maximum height can well be over 30 meters '. Among the Diaolou Buildings in Yingzuihe Village at Heihu, there are 2 quadrangular towers, 2 hexagonal towers, 2 octagonal towers, and 1 dodecahedral tower. Some were independent Diaolou Buildings, and some were built together with residential houses. The Diaolou Buildings here present the most numerous old Diaolou Buildings in the upper reaches of the Minjiang River, offer the best preserved and diversified types of towers, best illustrate the superb architectural skills of Qiang Nationality.

Justification of Outstanding Universal Value

As for the criterion (i):

The construction of old Diaolou Buildings for Tibetan and Qiang Ethnic Groups has a history over a thousand years. Without the assistance of modern facilities, with building materials merely carried by men and horses, the height of old Diaolou Buildings even reaches over 60m. They may as well form the masterpiece of man's creativity. These unique Diaolou Buildings assembled to become a large-scaled group of old buildings in Tibetan and Qiang ethnic areas, materializing the extant Qiong Hutches over two thousand years. Tibetan villages gave birth to the Diaolou Buildings, while the Diaolou Buildings safeguard the survival of the villages. Forming unique defensive folk houses with strong characteristics of Tibetan and Qiang culture, they are mingled together, while integrated as a whole, erecting a monument of civilization on the ridge of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. It fully mirrors the fact that, against the harsh nature, the Tibetan and Qiang ancestors build their unique defensive houses with amazing wisdom, rich imagination, dextrous hands, and hundreds and thousands of rocks coming in different shapes and sizes. They created unique Tibetan and Qiang national building system, and the arts of construction, enriching the architectural history, the Chinese culture and that of the world.

 As for the criterion (ii):

As a living evidence of the evolution of old Chinese nationalities, Diaolou Buildings and Villages for Tibetan and Qiang Ethnic Groups still preserve some traditions of an old primeval nationality, offering basis for researches on architectural history and man's harmonious coexistence with nature in remote antiquity. Therefore, it means significantly for researches on architectural history, ethnology and sociology, and holds values for the educational trips of artists and architects.

As for the criterion (iii):

Qiang Group is one of the oldest nationalities in the Chinese history. It has been recorded that Qiang people live in the upper Min River for 2000 years and this area became the main place for Qiang people to live together after 13th century. The existing Diaolou buildings and villages for Tibetan and Qiang Ethnic Group including those directly related archaeological sites and cultural traditions still remain some of the primitive activities of this old group, thus demonstrating the history of their migration, culture exchange, construction techniques, production ways, social environment etc. We can say that the Diaolou Buildings and villages for Tibetan and Qiang Ethnic Groups serve as a cultural carrier. They fully illustrate the history that the area functioned as "the major ethnic passage" in remote antiquity. They indicate the social development from ancient nationalities, tribes, to the chieftain system. The historical continuity and powerful presentation loaded in them are uniquely precious.

As for the criterion (iv):

Diaolou Buildings and Villages for Tibetan and Qiang Ethnic Groups is a unique construction technique and an outstanding example of landscape. It represents the complete history of Tibetan and Qiang Ethnic Groups surviving within the gorge belt of eastern Qingzang tableland, especially the important historic phase in human social development process from tribe system to Tusi system in more than 2000 years.

As for the criterion (v):

From the view of construction material, techniques, styles and layout, Diaolou Buildings and Villages for Tibetan and Qiang Ethnic Groups fully demonstrate the interaction between Tibetan and Qiang ethnic groups and the tableland-valley environment, thus being the outstanding example of human existence, living and development within the valley area of northeast Qingzang tableland.With the irreversible development of the society and that of the Heihu Qiang Village and its subordinate areas, the old civilization is facing increasingly apparent invasion. The traditional social economic structure undergoes gradual changes. The changes in living style and people's increasing material demands all lead to the disappearance of traditional national culture and historical relics. As one of the few extant representation of an old ethnic civilization, it deserves effective and integral preservation.

Satements of authenticity and/or integrity

1. Most of the old independent buildings, such as Diaolou Buildings and residential houses in the village have been well-preserved. The defensive system reflecting the overall planning of the village remains intact up to date.

2. Most of the living status that led to the architectural style are kept. The construction, living, using, maintenance and the religious worship still have their uniqueness to the nation. In the process of using, the buildings are well-preserved, demonstrating an integral and sustainable state.

3. The construction and using of the buildings determine the authenticity of these Diaolou buildings. Instead of a mere reservation of the original buildings, it also carries on a traditional building style and construction approach. Consequently, the replacement and restoration of the village buildings also materialize its authenticity.

4. Tibetan and Qiang culture worships the nature. The large area of Oriental White Oaks preserved till today are called "the holy woods".

5. The living custom integrated into the unique buildings and villages remains vital. The term "integrity" dictates that the historical information loaded in the legacy is not only authentic, but also all-round. The fact that a great many precious and characteristic relics, and national custom are conserved till today including its overall village layout, form, environment , architectural style , building materials, constructing arts and crafts, decoration , using and maintenance give a clear expression of domestic People's old tradition and authentic historical style and features. With the forceful measures taken by the local government, the village can hopefully receive good preservation to maintain its integrity.

Comparison with other similar properties

With striking features and a lofty look, the old Diaolou are buildings meeting the purpose of defense and residence, forming uniquely impressive ethnic architecture culture. In the view of combination, this group is both loose and compact; from the view of function, it is both solid and practical; In terms of its form and structure, it is both diversified and lofty. It differs from the Tulou in Fujian Province, P.R.China in that the walls of Tulou in Fujian were built completely with rammed earth, be it quadrangular or circular, adopting the Han style of resting or suspending roofs. It also differs from the castles at Augustusburg and Wartburg, Germany in that the walls of the German castles. The latter were built and owned by the lairds and aristocrats, were constructed with artificially modified stone materials in converging style.

With its diversified style and substantial quantity, the shape of Diaolou building varied from quadrangular, pentagonal, octagonal to even tridecanal. The highest tower stands over 60 m. Although they are remains over a long history, the structure of them adopted scientific principles that are still followed in architectural mechanics and structuring principles, such as decompressing and triangular stability elements, circular adhesion mechanics, etc. They are unique masterpieces of its kind in the world today.

The villages for Tibetan and Qiang Ethnic Groups well preserved their historical style and features, conserving the essential features and pattern of Jiarong folk houses.