Between Square and Circle: Environmental Philosophy in Qiang Culture on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau’s Eastern Edge

Spatiotemporal worldview of traditional Chinese thought and expresses an understanding of natural order. This conceptual framework has long served as a philosophical foundation for the harmonious relationship between humans and nature. This study further identifies widespread philosophical interpretations and practical applications of this principle in the traditional settlements of the Qiang people on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, revealing a deep-seated environmental wisdom that informs local strategies for climatic and topographical adaptation. The research findings reveal that the environmental philosophy embedded in the traditional settlements of the Qiang people manifests in five key dimensions: (1) The siting wisdom of "embracing yin and facing yang". (2) The spatial layout wisdom of "front-back enclosure". (3) The constructive wisdom of "yin-yang integration". (4) The productive wisdom of "from round to square". (5) The religious wisdom of "square over circle". This study elucidates the environmental adaptation wisdom embedded in the spatial organization of traditional Qiang settlements through the philosophical framework of "heaven round, earth square," thereby exemplifying the core Chinese cultural principle of harmony between humans and nature. The findings offer substantial theoretical insights for contemporary ecological urban development and the preservation of historical and cultural heritage.