Abstract:Guided by the theory of rural self-organization evolution, the endogenous and exogenous classification differences within the national rural revitalization classification system were systematically explored, which encompassed characteristic protection villages, suburban integrated villages, agglomeration villages, and relocation villages. The classification framework was refined from four to five categories and enhanced recognition methodologies that accounted for the quantity, quality, and spatial characteristics of village evolution. The results showed that for exogenously driven classifications, such as suburban integrated villages, characteristic preservation villages, and exogenous relocated villages, flowchart methods should be applied for identification. For classifications driven by endogenous development differences, such as agglomeration villages and endogenous relocated villages, the identification should follow the self-organizing evolution patterns of villages. Through self-organizing evolution, villages exhibited an ordered differentiation pattern of “decay-normal-prosperity” with distinct quantity, quality, and spatial characteristics. This led to the improvement of endogenous classifications of “relocation-existence-agglomeration”. Accordingly, employing an improved gravity model alongside a county-town scale overlay model for village evaluations offered a viable solution that aligned with the self-organizing evolutionary patterns of rural areas. Taking county L as an example, the theoretical hypotheses were tested, and the rural revitalization classification system was identified. The final classification results aligned with the quantity, quality, and spatial laws of rural self-organizing evolution.