Cultural hybridity and ideological shifts: shaping the campus space of modern Chinese universities

Abstract

This paper examines the development of modern universities in China between 1840 and 1949—a period marked by the negotiation and coexistence of diverse value systems. During this time, the university spirit integrated diverse civilizational cores, which is reflected in the spatial design of the campuses. Taking 25 modern Chinese universities as research subjects. Employing a bifurcated historical methodology and the theory of cultural hybridity, the research traces the history of university construction and outlines the historical framework of university spirit through material forms. The research reveals that cultural hybridity follows a phased pattern of “encounter—appropriation—adaptation—integration—new ecological form.” In the semi-colonial context, diverse actors actively participated in dynamic processes of cultural hybridization, which profoundly shaped spatial forms. The transformation of the modern university spirit is reflected in the creative translation of spatial morphology. Based on these findings, the study proposes a dynamic model for campus heritage conservation, viewing the campus as a continuously evolving whole. Moving beyond the research paradigm of architectural history, it introduces a multi-threaded model of cultural hybridity, offering historical insights for cultivating a distinctive university identity in the era of globalization.