Temporal and spatial patterns and influencing factors of intangible cultural heritage: Ancient Qin-Shu roads, Western China

Abstract

The ancient Qin-Shu roads corridor is one of the important cultural main corridors in China. Throughout China’s long historical and cultural evolution, today’s ancestors created a rich intangible cultural heritage along this route. Studying its intangible cultural heritage has important theoretical and practical significance for the protection and innovation of cultural heritage in this region. The purpose of this study is to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of intangible cultural heritage along the ancient Qin-Shu roads and explore the main factors affecting its distribution. The nearest neighbor index, kernel density estimation, standard deviation ellipse, location entropy, buffer analysis and other methods were used. The results show that (1) The types of intangible cultural heritage of the ancient Qin-Shu roads are expressed in three echelons. Traditional handicrafts are the most numerous, folk custom and traditional music are the second most numerous, the other categories of ICH are third in quantity overall, among which traditional medicine and sports recreation competition are the scarcest. (2) The overall spatial distribution of intangible cultural heritage along the ancient Qin-Shu roads shows an agglomeration distribution. Its distribution pattern places the central cities (Xi'an, Chengdu and Chongqing) at the core, gradually spreading out and decreasing in density as it reaches peripheral districts and counties. There are significantly differ in the core areas of different types of intangible cultural heritage. (3) In the process of historical development, the intangible cultural heritage of the ancient Qin-Shu roads demonstrated an overall change pattern of “three rising and three falling”. That is, during Qin and Han Dynasties, Sui, Tang and Five Dynasties, and Ming and Qing Dynasties, culture flourished, while in Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Song and Yuan Dynasties, modern times culture developed slowly. The overall trajectory of the center of gravity of intangible cultural heritage shifted from the northeast to the southwest. (4) Natural and human factors, such as topography, climate, transportation, traditional villages and population evolution, have an important impact on the spatial pattern of the intangible cultural heritage of the ancient Qin-Shu roads. The results of this study provide a useful reference for the theoretical research and practical management of intangible cultural heritage.