• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.13-26
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• 2024

This study examines the historical and cultural landscape of Qingguo Lane (靑果巷) in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, focusing on the relationship between the changes in the landscape and the local residents from the Ming Dynasty to the present. By analyzing ancient maps, literature, and field photographs, the research reveals that the residents played a crucial role in the transformation of the Qingguo Lane landscape. The findings can be summarized as follows: Firstly, the naming of Qingguo Lane. 1) The name "Qingguo Lane" first appeared in the Changzhoufu and was mistakenly understood as a place for selling fruits. In reality, it was a residential area, and the name originated from descriptions of the plant landscape in poetry. 2) Qingguo Lane served as a residential area for the upper-class, including the prominent Bi-Ling Tang and Dong families, from the Ming Dynasty through the Qing Dynasty. Secondly, changes in administrative divisions and road development. 1) During the Ming Dynasty, Qingguo Lane spanned three administrative regions: Zhongwushang, Xiwushang, and Dongwushang, later narrowing to Xiwushang and Dongwushang during the Qing Dynasty. 2) The main road of Qingguo Lane with nine alleys running north to south, forming the historical and cultural preservation area of Qingguo Lane. Over time, the number of roads increased, and the area transitioned into a residential and commercial space, shaping the modern Qingguo Lane. Thirdly, the formation of the cultural landscape of the upper-class in Qingguo Lane. 1) The development of Qingguo Lane was influenced by population movements and growth during the peaceful period following the Yuan Dynasty massacres. The importance of the natural landscape attracted literati to settle there, and Qingguo Lane became a new residential area for the Changzhou upper-class as commerce and culture flourished. 2) From the late Ming Dynasty, Qingguo Lane gained social and cultural prominence through the garden culture of the upper-class. 3) The concentration of upper-class residents attracted many scholars and merchants, leading to the construction of numerous gardens. The literati of the Ming and Qing Dynasties helped shape the unique cultural landscape of Qingguo Lane, and in modern times, it has developed into a protected historical and cultural area with diverse functions as a multifunctional complex.