The Wisdom of Oasis Garden Construction in the Arid Zone of the Tarim River Basin

Objective The Tarim River Basin, a representative arid region, is characterized by unique climatic conditions, ecological fragility, and rich cultural heritage. The construction and evolution of oasis gardens in this area significantly influence the distribution of natural vegetation, desertification processes, and the rise and fall of oases. These gardens exemplify long-term human adaptation to extreme aridity, embodying profound indigenous knowledge and landscape construction wisdom. However, previous studies have largely remained at the level of phenomenological description and static analysis, lacking a systematic exploration of the internal adaptive mechanisms and resilience of these landscapes. This study situates oasis gardens within the theoretical framework of resilient landscapes and cultural landscapes to deeply analyze the inherent logic and practical pathways of their construction wisdom, aiming to provide historical insights and theoretical support for contemporary ecological development and cultural sustainability in arid regions. Methods This research follows a methodological pathway of “data collection, feature induction, overlay analysis, and wisdom extraction.” First, in the phase of data collection and feature induction, historical records from various periods concerning oasis gardens were compiled to summarize their construction history, functional requirements, and resilience evolution. Based on documents such as the Integration of the Third National Cultural Relics Census of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Immovable Cultural Relics, information including names, periods, and locations of 92 garden samples was extracted to establish a spatiotemporal database, analyzing their spatial distribution and construction patterns to support the study of landscape resilience and cultural stratification. Field mapping of 33 existing residential sites and one manor was conducted to document the evolution of the relationship between dwellings and courtyards, spatial typologies, and other aspects, deepening the understanding of garden construction mechanisms. Second, in the phase of overlay analysis: DEM data within the basin were extracted to generate contour lines, which were overlaid with geographical elements such as hydrographic networks and streets to create base maps. The 92 garden samples were plotted onto current maps to achieve spatial quantification and visualization of construction features. The Kernel Density tool was used to generate a kernel density analysis map, revealing the spatial aggregation and distribution patterns of the gardens. Third, utilizing the theories of resilient landscapes and cultural landscapes, the evolution and characteristics were interpreted to extract the inherent construction wisdom of the oasis gardens. Results First, the construction and succession of oasis gardens are the result of the synergistic effects of environmental, economic, and cultural factors. The core of this process lies in maintaining a dynamic balance among the utilization of natural resources, the fulfillment of construction demands, and the inheritance of historical and cultural heritage. Second, under extreme drought and sandstorm conditions, the construction elements of various types of oasis gardens exhibit diversity and integration. Common elements such as rivers, settlements, oases, vegetation, and landforms constitute the foundational base for systemic resilience. The spatial pattern demonstrates characteristics of “water-system dependence, settlement symbiosis, and landform adaptation.” Third, the construction wisdom is reflected in a four-dimensional collaborative mechanism: “environmental borrowing, ecological adjustment, dynamic adaptation, and regional translation.” This mechanism aligns with the “absorption-adaptation-transformation” capacity of resilient landscape and the “stratification” characteristic of cultural landscapes, effectively maintaining the sustainability of the human-land system in an extremely arid environment. Environmental borrowing relies on the absorption capacity of resilient landscapes to seek benefits and avoid harm through spatial cognition. Ecological adjustment corresponds to the buffering and regulating capacity, actively adapting to the environment through measures such as controlling architectural forms, optimizing shape coefficient, and utilizing walls, plants, open corridors, and pergolas for shading. Dynamic adaptation involves adjustments based on climatic seasons, reflecting the cyclical “release-reorganization” process in resilience theory, reconstructing resources through time-varying strategies to meet new demands. Regional translation represents the creative transformation of environmental constraints and local knowledge, with regional expressions such as the Ayiwang residence, the eave corridor, the high-shed frame enhancing the system's capacity for reorganization and transformation at the cultural level. Conclusion Viewed through the dual theoretical lenses of resilient landscapes and cultural landscapes, this study yields the following conclusions and insights. First, ancient practitioners accumulated extensive experience in oasis garden construction by balancing natural resource utilization, construction needs, and cultural heritage under extreme aridity and sandstorms, offering significant reference value for sustainable landscape development in contemporary arid regions. Second, the construction wisdom of oasis gardens is essentially an adaptive design and resilience system based on local knowledge and following the path of “environmental borrowing, ecological adjustment, dynamic adaptation, and regional translation.” This mechanism not only effectively copes with environmental stress but also accumulates profound cultural landscape value through long-term human-land interaction. Third, corresponding practical insights are proposed for the four-dimensional mechanism: at the level of environmental borrowing, a nested protection pattern should be established, making benefit-seeking and harm-avoidance the core of ecological planning; at the level of ecological adjustment, promoting a composite ecological model integrating “ecological-production-living” functions and local suitable technologies; at the level of dynamic adaptation, implementing the principle of flexible planning to enhance systemic adaptability; at the level of regional translation, focusing on revitalizing cultural carriers to facilitate the contemporary transformation of traditional wisdom. The construction wisdom of the oasis gardens in the Tarim River Basin embodies a holistic ecological worldview of human−nature coexistence and holds significant implications for sustainable landscape planning in arid regions globally.