社区与建筑 Communities and Architecture

布朗族社区与建筑文化:人与自然和谐共生的智慧结晶

The community and architectural culture of the Bulang ethnic group: The wisdom crystallization of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature

布朗族村寨多建于海拔1500-2300米的半山腰地带,呈现出”依山而建、聚族而居”的典型特征。每个村寨都是一个完整的生态-社会系统,蕴含着丰富的文化内涵:

The villages of the Bulang ethnic group are mostly built on the mountainside at an altitude of 1,500 to 2,300 meters, presenting the typical feature of “building along the mountains and living in groups”. Each village is a complete ecological-social system, rich in cultural connotations:

  1. 神圣的建寨仪式
    布朗族在建寨前必须举行庄严的”乖脱”仪式:佛爷用茅草绳围出建寨范围,在中心栽象征”寨心神”(再曼)的木桩,用白线绕成网状。这一仪式将自然空间转化为文化空间,确立”拥”(正式村寨)与”邦”(临时居所)的区别。四道寨门(都拥正门和巴都期侧门)由”肯拥”(守门神木桩)守护,形成完整的精神防护体系。

Sacred Rituals of Village Foundation

Before founding a settlement, the Bulang people must perform a solemn Guaituo ritual. A Buddhist master encircles the chosen site with grass ropes, plants a wooden stake in the center as the symbol of the “Village Spirit” (Zai Man), and weaves white thread into a net-like pattern. This ritual transforms natural space into cultural space, establishing the distinction between Yong (formal settlement) and Bang (temporary residence). Four village gates (the main gate Du Yong and the side gates Ba Du Qi) are guarded by sacred posts known as Ken Yong (guardian wooden stakes), forming a complete spiritual defense system.

  • 功能分明的空间结构
    传统村寨包含三大核心空间:
  • 生活区:干栏式民居集群
  • 宗教区:位于制高点的佛寺建筑群
  • 生产区:外围的粮仓与茶园
    这种布局既满足生活需求,又体现”人-神-自然”的三重秩序。西双版纳章朗村的”龙山”森林作为公共墓地,其神圣性使这片原始森林得以完整保存。

The Clearly Functional Spatial Structure
Traditional Bulang villages contain three core zones:

  • Residential zone: clusters of stilt houses (Ganlan style)
  • Religious zone: a Buddhist temple complex built on the highest point
  • Production zone: granaries and tea plantations on the outskirts

This layout satisfies daily needs while reflecting a “human–divine–nature” triadic order. For example, the “Dragon Mountain” forest of Zhanglang village in Xishuangbanna serves as a communal cemetery, and its sacredness has preserved the old-growth forest intact.

生态智慧的实践
村寨选址严格遵循”背靠青山、面朝平坝”的原则,既避风防洪,又便于耕作。布朗山曼桑寨的干栏建筑群沿等高线错落分布,深褐色竹木结构与翠绿茶园形成和谐景观,被学者称为”从土地里生长出来的建筑”。

Ecological Wisdom in Practice

The site selection of the village strictly follows the principle of “backing the green mountains, facing the open plain,” ensuring protection against wind and floods while facilitating cultivation. The stilted dwellings of Mansang village in Bulangshan are distributed along contour lines, their dark brown bamboo-and-wood structures blending seamlessly with lush tea gardens—praised by scholars as “architecture grown from the land itself.”

干栏式民居的建筑艺术与生活哲学

布朗族传统民居主要有三种典型形制,各具特色:

The Architectural Art and Life Philosophy of Stilted Houses

Traditional Bulang dwellings take three main forms, each with distinctive features:

  1. 西双版纳孔明帽式竹楼 
  2. 结构特征:以14-16根直径20cm的木柱支撑,中柱高5-6米,屋顶呈重檐歇山式,草排覆盖面积达800-1500片 
  3. 空间布局:
    1. 上层:分廊间(通道)、外间(火塘会客区)、内间(卧室)
    1. 下层:架空层饲养牲畜、堆放农具
    1. 附属:晒台(晾晒谷物)、凉台(妇女劳作空间)
  4. 文化符号:
    1. “绍艾”(男性柱)与”绍南”(女性柱)代表祖先神灵 
    1. 火塘上方的”恩哈”烘架兼具实用与神圣功能 

The Kongming HatBamboo House of Xishuangbanna

  • Structure: Supported by 14–16 wooden posts (20 cm in diameter), with central posts reaching 5–6 meters; the double-eaved hip-and-gable roof requires 800–1,500 grass tiles for coverage.
  • Layout:
    • Upper floor: corridor, outer room (Chinese firepit and reception area), inner room (bedrooms)
    • Lower floor: raised platform for livestock and tools
    • Additional: drying platform for grains, cool platform as women’s workspace
  • Cultural symbols:
    • The “Shao Ai” (male pillar) and “Shao Nan” (female pillar) represent ancestral spirits.
    • The “Enha” rack above the hearth serves both practical and sacred functions.
  1. 双江鸡罩笼民居 
  2. 椭圆落地式草房,形似农具”鸡罩”
  3. 以椿树、麻栗树为柱,茅草覆顶,屋檐距地仅1米 
  4. 室内不设隔断,火塘居中,靠墙设地铺
  5. 典型如大南直村传统住宅,50年历史仍保留完整建造工艺

The Chicken CoopHouse of Shuangjiang

  • Oval, ground-level thatched dwellings resembling the agricultural tool “chicken coop.”
  • The pillars are made of the tree of heaven and chestnut trees, and the roof is covered with thatch. The eaves are only 1 meter above the ground
  • There are no partitions indoors. The Chinese fireplace is placed in the center and a floor mat is set against the wall.
  • A typical example is the traditional residence in Dananzhi Village, which has a history of 50 years and still retains its complete construction techniques
  • 施甸”一步楼”建筑 
  • 依山势建造的干栏变体,二层在地表以上,一层半嵌于坡地 
  • 段文顺家200㎡老宅展示经典格局:
    • 上层:堂屋(会客)、卧室、火塘间 
    • 下层:斜坡为后墙,前部为畜厩
    • 北侧1米宽走廊兼具晾晒功能 

The One-StepHouse of Shidian

  • A stilted-house variant adapted to slopes: the second floor above ground, the first floor half-embedded into the hillside.
  • Example: The 200 m² ancestral home of Duan Wenshun preserves the classic layout:
    • Upper floor: main hall (for greeting guests), bedrooms, and Chinese fireplace room
    • Lower floor: rear slope wall and front livestock stables
    • Northern corridor (1 meter wide) used for drying produce

建造智慧:

  • 材料选用”梅树”皮染红、”黄花”根染黄的天然工艺 
  • 全竹篾绑扎技术,不用一颗铁钉 
  • 35根木柱的榫卯体系可抗8级地震

Construction wisdom:

  • Natural dyeing techniques with Meishu bark (red) and Yellow flower root (yellow).
  • Entirely bound with bamboo strips, without nails.
  • Mortise-and-tenon joints of 35 wooden pillars can withstand earthquakes up to magnitude 8.

佛寺建筑的精神象征

布朗族佛寺是南传佛教与原始宗教融合的结晶:

The spiritual symbol of Buddhist temple architecture

The Bulang Buddhist temples are the crystallization of the integration of Theravada Buddhism and primitive religions:

  1. 建筑群构成
  2. 维夯大殿:坐北朝南,石灰混合红糖铺地 
  3. 烘莫素诵经楼:禁止女性进入的圣域
  4. 烘光鼓房:悬置神圣木鼓
  5. 烘准僧舍:僧侣修行空间

Architectural complex composition:

  • Wei Hang main temple hall: north-facing, with floors paved by lime mixed with brown sugar.
  • Hong Mo Su Chanting hall: a sacred space forbidden to women.
  • Hong Guang drum house: Suspend the sacred wooden drum.
  • Hong Zhun monk residences: Monks’ meditation space.
  • 艺术成就
  • 老曼峨佛寺木雕讲述”帕召古德马”本生故事 
  • 柱梁的金黄几何图案象征宇宙秩序
  • 玻璃镜片镶嵌墙面形成”万花筒”效应

Artistic achievements:

  • The wooden carvings of Lao Man’e temple narrate the Pa Zhao Gudema Jataka tales.
  • The golden geometric patterns on the columns and beams symbolize the cosmic order
  • The glass lenses embedded in the wall create a “kaleidoscope” effect
  • 生态功能
    寺院周边的”缅桂”树林既是宗教圣境,也是村寨的生态屏障,章朗佛寺旁的百年菩提树至今仍是村民举行”赕佛”活动的中心。

Ecological functions:

The “Miangui” forest around the temple is not only a religious sacred place but also an ecological barrier for the village. The century-old Bodhi tree beside the Zanglang Monastery is still the center for villagers to hold “Tan Fo” activities.

传统与现代的对话

当代布朗族建筑正在经历深刻变革:

Dialogue Between Tradition and Modernity

Contemporary Bulang ethnic architecture is undergoing profound changes:

  1. 材料革新
  2. 瓦片替代草排,玻璃亮瓦改善采光 
  3. 邦协村30户家庭采用烘干机、揉茶机等现代设备 

Material innovation:

  • Clay tiles replace thatch; Glass bright tiles improve lighting.
  • In Bangxie village, 30 households now use modern tea-processing machines (dryers, rollers).
  • 功能进化
  • 火塘区缩减,增设电器专用空间
  • 太阳能浴室成为新晒台的标配

Functional evolution:

  • Chinese fireplace areas are reduced; dedicated spaces for appliances added.
  • Solar-powered bathrooms have become standard replacements for drying platforms.
  • 文化调适
    章朗生态博物馆的创新实践:
  • 保持干栏形制,内部设置展厅与研究中心
  • 采用混凝土基础提高耐久性
  • 屋檐装饰茶叶图腾延续文化记忆

Cultural adaptation:

  • The Zhanglang Eco-Museum innovatively preserves heritage by:
    • Maintaining stilt-house forms while adding exhibition halls and research centers.
    • Using concrete foundations for durability.
    • Decorating eaves with tea leaf totems to sustain cultural memory.

了解布朗 Get to know BULANG

布朗族的血脉如澜沧江水般在横断山脉间绵延!作为中国文字诞生前便扎根东亚的古老族群,他们合计 143745 人,核心聚居于中国(127345 人),
余者分布在缅甸北部与泰国,更是普洱茶文化的重要传承者。不妨跟着我们,一起探寻这个古老民族的独特魅力~

The bloodline of the Blang people stretches endlessly like the Lancang River winding through the Hengduan Mountains! As an ancient ethnic group rooted in East Asia long before the birth of Chinese writing, they have a total population of 143,745, with the core community residing in China (127,345 people) and the rest distributed in northern Myanmar and Thailand. Or eager to uncover the secrets of Pu’er tea production? Follow us to explore the unique charm of this ancient ethnic group together!

关于我们 About Us

我们是一个民间组织。

我们来自世界各地。

我们是一群年轻人。

我们为保护布朗族这个少数族群传统文化而凝聚在一起。

We are a grassroots organization.
We come from all over the world.
We are young.
We have come together to protect the traditional culture of the BULANG ethnic minority.

我们的团队Our Team

蔡言(创始人)

YAN CAI(Founder)

蔡振曦(创始行政总监)

ZHENGXI CAI(Founding Executive Director0

朱鑫熺(艺术总监)

XINGXI ZHUFounding Art Director

银禛(媒体总监)

ZHEN YIN(Founding Media Director)

岩拉(在地记者 – 中国-特约摄影师)

La AI(Local Journalist – China

Special Photographer)

意大利人 特约摄影师

The Italian Special Photographer

联系、加入我们 Contact、Join Us

info@bulangworld.com