TRIPLE PLACES: RETHINKING PLACE AND PLACELESSNESS IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF HUMANISTIC GEOGRAPHY

GUO Zi-chuan; HUANG Xu

doi:10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2026.02.013

PDF(52986 KB)

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2026, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (2) : 120-130,173. DOI: 10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2026.02.013

CULTURE

TRIPLE PLACES: RETHINKING PLACE AND PLACELESSNESS IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF HUMANISTIC GEOGRAPHY

GUO Zi-chuan, HUANG Xu

Author information +

History +

Abstract

Based on the perspective of humanistic geography, the paper constructs a research framework of Triple Places (Spiritual Places, Other Places, and Self Places), and takes the Heming Teahouse, located in the People's Park of Chengdu, as a case study to discuss the derived meanings and the movement of places and placelessness, as well as the relationship between them nowadays. The paper obtains the following conclusions: In the Spiritual Place, the paper divides the process of the Heming into four stages, the Pre-place Paving Stage, the Strong Place Developing Stage, the Strong Placelessness Shrinking Stage, and the Place Revival Stage. The influence of placelessness has two sides. When facing the crisis of the deconstruction of the meaning of the place, the place has its own resilience, i.e., the cultural genes carried by the people and objects rooted in the place. Subsequently, through the construction and abstraction of the triple place map, the paper proposes an axis of place movement to highlight the special temporality and movement of place, arguing that the perception of place that comes from the collective sedimentation in history will be gradually superimposed with the inheritance of generations, and will become the collective archetype of the emotion of the place. Finally, this paper analyses the contradiction between place and placelessness from the perspectives of site and individual, and discusses the triple derivative meanings of place and placelessness from the levels of significance, phenomenon, and attitude, arguing that the antagonism between place and placelessness is weakened due to the more relaxed historical process nowadays, and that the two are both opposing and can be transformed into each other.

Key words

place / placelessness / humanistic geography / Heming Teahouse

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

GUO Zi-chuan, HUANG Xu. TRIPLE PLACES: RETHINKING PLACE AND PLACELESSNESS IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF HUMANISTIC GEOGRAPHY[J]. HUMAN GEOGRAPHY. 2026, 41(2): 120-130,173 https://doi.org/10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2026.02.013

References

[1] 爱德华·雷尔夫.地方与无地方[M].刘苏,相欣奕,译.北京:商务印书馆,2021:48-85,126-142,213-223. [Relph E. Place and Placelessness[M]. Liu Su, Xiang Xinyi, trans. Beijing: The Commercial Press, 2021:48-85,126-142,213-223.]
[2] 白凯,王博林.拉萨藏漂的自我表达与地方意义解读[J].地理学报, 2021,76(8):2048-2066. [Bai Kai, Wang Bolin. The interpretation of place meaning and the expression of self-concept: A case study of Tibet drifters in Lhasa, Tibet[J]. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2021, 76(8):2048-2066.]
[3] 王笛.那间街角的茶铺[M].北京:人民文学出版社,2021:1,272,407-414. [Wang Di. The Tea Shop on the Corner[M]. Beijing: People's Literature Publishing House, 2021:1,272,407-414.]
[4] 李劼人.李劼人说成都（第2版）[M].成都:四川文艺出版社,2007: 288. [Li Jieren. Li Jieren Talks about Chengdu(2nd.)[M]. Chengdu: Sichuan Literature and Art Publishing House, 2007:288.]
[5] 王笛.茶馆：成都的公共生活和微观世界1900—1950[M].北京:北京大学出版社,2021:79,385,458-533. [Wang Di. The Teahouse: Small Business, Everyday Culture, and Public Politics in Chengdu, 1900— 1950[M]. Beijing: Peking University Press, 2021:79,385,458-533.]
[6] 王笛.公共生活的恢复：改革开放后的成都茶馆、民众和国家[J].开放时代,2018(5):142-162. [Wang Di. The revival of public life: Teahouses, state, and people in Chengdu during the Reform and Opening-up Era[J]. Open Times, 2018(5):142-162.]
[7] 吴焕加.西方近现代建筑史（第1版）[M].北京:机械工业出版社, 2020: 192. [Wu Huanjia. History of Modern Western Architecture (1st.)[M]. Beijing: China Machine Press, 2020:192.]
[8] 周尚意.触景生情：文化地理学人笔记[M].北京:商务印书馆, 2021:19. [Zhou Shangyi. Touched by the Scene: Notes from a Cultural Geographer[M]. Beijing: The Commercial Press, 2021:19.]
[9] Massey D. Power geometry and a progressive sense of place[M] // Bird J, Curtis B, Putnam T, et al. Mapping the Futures: Local Cultures, Global Change. London: Routledge, 1993:31.
[10] 高慧慧,周尚意.人文主义地理学蕴含的现象学——对大卫·西蒙《生活世界地理学》的评介[J].地理科学进展,2019,38(5):783-790. [Gao Huihui, Zhou Shangyi. Phenomenology in humanistic geography: A review of David Seamon's book on a geography of the lifeworld[J]. Progress in Geography, 2019,38(5):783-790.]
[11] 朱竑,刘博.地方感、地方依恋与地方认同等概念的辨析及研究启示[J].华南师范大学学报(自然科学版),2011(1):1-8. [Zhu Hong, Liu Bo. Concepts analysis and research implications: Sense of place, place attachment and place identity[J]. Journal of South China Normal University (Natural Science Edition), 2011(1):1-8.]
[12] 白凯,周尚意,吕洋洋.社会文化地理学在中国近10年的进展[J].地理学报,2014,69(8):1190-1206. [Bai Kai, Zhou Shangyi, Lv Yangyang. The progress of social cultural geography in China in recent 10 years [J]. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2014,69(8):1190-1206.]
[13] 周尚意,戴俊骋.文化地理学概念、理论的逻辑关系之分析——以“学科树”分析近年中国大陆文化地理学进展[J].地理学报,2014, 69(10):1521-1532. [Zhou Shangyi, Dai Juncheng. Logic analysis of concept and theory of cultural Geography: Progress in cultural geography in China's Mainland during the past decade[J]. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2014,69(10):1521-1532.]
[14] 朱晓丹,叶超“.理想的家就是普通的家”——上海流动儿童地方感的实证分析[J].人文地理,2022,37(3):60-71,109. [Zhu Xiaodan, Ye Chao.“An ideal home is an ordinary home": A case study of migrant children's sense of place in Shanghai[J]. Human Geography, 2022,37(3):60-71,109.]
[15] 朱竑,李如铁,苏斌原.微观视角下的移民地方感及其影响因素——以广州市城中村移民为例[J].地理学报,2016,71(4):637-648. [Zhu Hong, Li Rutie, Su Binyuan. The migrants' sense of place and its influencing factors on a microcosmic perspective[J]. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2016,71(4):637-648.]
[16] 田金超,艾少伟,周文凤,等.城市少数民族社区地方认同的消解与重构[J].人文地理,2020,35(1):28-35,122. [Tian Jinchao, Ai Shaowei, Zhou Wenfeng, et al. Dissolution and reconstruction of place identity of urban minority communities[J]. Human Geography, 2020,35(1):28-35,122.]
[17] 郎朗,林森.结构化理论在“地方”研究中的应用——以北京三里屯的演变为例[J].地理研究,2017,36(6):1065-1080. [Lang Lang, Lin Sen. Place transformation from the perspective of structuration theory: A case study of Sanlitun, Beijing[J]. Geographical Research, 2017,36(6):1065-1080.]
[18] 阮仪三,林林.文化遗产保护的原真性原则[J].同济大学学报(社会科学版),2003,14(2):1-5. [Ruan Yisan, Lin Lin. Authenticity in relation to the conservation of cultural heritage[J]. Journal of Tongji University (Social Science Edition), 2003,14(2):1-5.]
[19] 徐红罡,万小娟,范晓君.从"原真性"实践反思中国遗产保护——以宏村为例[J].人文地理,2012,27(1):107-112. [Xu Honggang, Wan Xiaojuan, Fan Xiaojun. Rethinking the implementation of authenticity in China's heritage conservation: A case study of Hongcun village[J]. Human Geography, 2012,27(1):107-112.]
[20] 胡宪洋,白凯.拉萨八廓街地方性的游客认同建构[J].地理学报, 2015,70(10):1632-1649. [Hu Xianyang, Bai Kai. The construction of tourists' placeness identity of Barkhor street in Lhasa[J]. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2015,70(10):1632-1649.]
[21] 丁新军“.地方性”与城市工业遗产旅游再利用——以美国马萨诸塞州洛厄尔国家历史公园为[J].现代城市研究,2018(7):68-76. [Din Xinjun.“Placeness”and urban industrial heritage for tourism adaptive reuse: A case study of Lowell national historic park in Massachusetts, America[J]. Modern Urban Research, 2018(7): 68-76.]
[22] 江海燕,宋天昊,李世杰,等.数字化背景下城市虚实活力空间格局特征——以广州为例[J].热带地理,2023,43(4):695-706. [Jiang Haiyan, Song Tianhao, Li Shijie, et al. Spatial pattern characteristics of urban virtual-real vitality in digitization context: A case study of Guangzhou[J]. Tropical Geography, 2023,43(4):695-706.]
[23] 程金华,张豪.虚实之界：元宇宙视野下的空间权利冲突及其解决[J].探索与争鸣,2022(11):52-59,177-178. [Cheng Jinhua, Zhang Hao. The boundaries of virtual and real: Space rights conflict and its solution in the perspective of the metaverse[J]. Exploration and Free Views, 2022(11):52-59.]
[24] 黄旭,于萍,杨振山,等.地方感的多态与分异：不同人群对旧城街区的感知[J].人文地理,2023,38(1):36-43. [Huang Xu, Yu Ping, Yang Zhenshan, et al. Polymorphism and differentiation in the sense of place: Different people's perceptions of old city neighborhoods[J]. Human Geography, 2023,38(1):36-43.]
[25] 何瀚林,蔡晓梅.国外无地方与非地方研究进展与启示[J].人文地理,2014,29(6):47-52,31. [He Hanlin, Cai Xiaomei. Progress and enlightenment on placelessness and non-place in the foreign geographical studies[J]. Human Geography, 2014,29(6):47-52,31.]
[26] Horton D, Rosen P, Cox P. Cycling and Society[M]. London: Routledge, 2016:30-42.
[27] Richards G. Cultural Tourism: Global and Local Perspectives[M]. New York: Haworth Hospitality, 2007:101-103.
[28] Kozak S. Home away from home: Meanings of the American truck stop[J]. Journal of Cultural Geography, 2012,29(3):293-313.
[29] 保罗·罗德威.人文主义和以人为中心的方法[M] //斯图尔特·艾特肯,吉尔·瓦伦丁.人文地理学方法.黄茜,译.北京:商务印书馆, 2016: 271-281. [Rodaway P. Humanistic and human-centred approach[M] //Aitken S, Valentine G. Approaches to Huaman Geography. Huang Xi, trans. Beijing: The Commercial Press, 2016: 271-281.]
[30] Seamon D. A Geography of the Lifeworld: Movement, Rest and Encounter[M]. London: Routledge, 1979:99-120.
[31] 周尚意,孔翔,朱华晟,等.地方特性发掘方法：对苏州东山的地理调查[M].北京:科学出版社,2016:15-55. [Zhou Shangyi, Kong Xiang, Zhu Huacheng, et al. Placeness Discovery Methods: A Geographical Survey of Suzhou's Dongshan Mountains[M]. Beijing: Science Press, 2016:15-55.]
[32] 袁星洁,赵曌“.再造地方性”：媒介化理论视角下地方媒体的传播创新[J].湖南师范大学社会科学学报,2021,50(6):149-155. [Yuan Xingjie, Zhao Zhao. "Recreating locality": Communication innovation of local media from the perspective of mediatization theory[J]. Journal of Social Science of Hunan Normal University, 2021,50(6): 149-155.]
[33] Ingold T. The temporality of the landscape[J]. World Archaeology, 1993,25(2):152-174.
[34] 穆红丽.晴空一鹤排云上——中国画中鹤意象的象征意味[J].爱尚美术, 2020(1): 112-117. [Mu Hongli. Clear sky, a crane, in the clouds: The symbolic meaning of crane images in Chinese paintings [J]. iFine Art, 2020(1):112-117.]
[35] 桑玉耀.成都近代城市规划历史研究[D].南京:东南大学,2020:17-19, 35. [Sang Yuyao. A Study on the History of Chengdu Earlymodern City Planning[D]. Nanjing: Southeast University, 2020:17-19, 35.]
[36] 司昆仑.新政之后：警察、军阀与文明进程中的成都（1895— 1937）[M].王莹,译.成都:四川文艺出版社,2020:118-209. [Kristin S. Civilizing Chengdu: Chinese Urban Reform, 1895—1937[M]. Wang Ying, trans. Chengdu: Sichuan Literature and Art Publishing House, 2020:118-209.]
[37] Casey E. The Fate of Place: A Philosophical History[M]. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997:204.
[38] Durrell L. The Spirit of Place[M]. New York: Dutton, 1969:157.