This study attempts to construct the prototype plans of traditional houses at Kingman through the use of shape grammar. First, the literature on traditional houses is examined and analyzed. Following that, a form-deriving system for generating the morphological structure of prototype plans is established. This system consists of two grammars - "Shape Grammar" for geometrical structure and "Architectural Grammar" for spatial structure. In addition, a dimension system is formulated as an integral part of the form-deriving system. Finally the contribution of the grammar systems and their possible applications are discussed, including (1) the establishment of a comparative framework, (2) the simulation of the planning process on real site, (3) the clarification of the spatial ideas underlying traditional houses. In conclusion, this study privides not only a framework of prototype grammar developed from the literature, but also a new aspect of meaning-form relationships for shape grammar.