开平碉楼的非主要用途探究

An Exploration of the Subsidiary Purposes of the Kaiping Diaolou Towers

防匪、防洪、居住是开平碉楼的主要和专属功能,为大众所熟知和认同。对现存1833座碉楼的调查数据作重新整理发现,开平碉楼还有作为教育场所、银行、侨汇兑换、金库、当铺、医院、祠堂等之用。归类和总结开平碉楼的这些非主要用途,可以为进一步探究开平碉楼的价值和意义提供新的立足点。

It is well known that warding off bandits,protecting against floods,and dwelling are the three major and special functions of the Kaiping diaolou towers. An organization and re- examination of the survey data on 1833 existing towers reveals that Kaiping diaolou towers also served as venues for education,banking,treasury,pawnshops,remittances transfer,hospital and ancestral worship. Classifying and summarizing the non- mainstream purposes of Kaiping diaolou towers can provide a new foothold for further exploring the value and significance of Kaiping diaolou towers.