Abstract: As the media for the exchange of energy between indoor and outdoor spaces, internal and external boundaries are crucial elements in low-carbon residential design. Given that external natural conditions and internal living requirements are not static, boundaries that can adapt flexibly to these changes have greater potential for enhancing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in housing. In this study, boundaries capable of significantly adjusting their properties, forms, or positions to respond to various changes are defined as adaptive boundaries. Modern Japanese housing provides exemplars for exploring adaptive boundaries within the context of modern technology. Notably, rural residences in China share similarities with Japanese single-family houses in terms of scale and construction environment. Therefore, the study of low-carbon strategies employed in adaptive boundaries in these Japanese samples offers valuable insights for the design of rural residences in China. This paper delves into three types of adaptive boundaries: 'Tategu-like' daily adjustable boundaries, seasonal boundaries for thermal comfort zoning, and reversible boundaries leveraging material reversibility. The discussion revolves around their characteristics in terms of responding to changing factors, the time spans of adjustment, the resulting changes in living space, and the underlying low-carbon strategies. The key insights for low-carbon design of rural residences in China are summarized as follows: 1) Introducing and harness external natural energy sources such as wind and thermal energy, transcending the conventional mindset of primarily blocking internal and external energy exchange. 2) Shifting away from absolute numerical standards, focusing instead on enhancing the physiological and psychological comfort of residents by adjusting boundaries to optimize living space experiences. 3) Considering the thermal comfort needs of different living spaces and adopt tailored enclosure structure approaches that align with seasonal climate characteristics. 4) Devising strategies to address potential reductions in future living space needs. 5) Exploring the potential reversibility of materials and construction methods to enhance sustainability.