How Do Natural Environmental Factors Influence the Spatial Patterns and Site Selection of Famous Mountain Temple Complexes in China? Quantitative Research on Wudang Mountain in the Ming Dynasty
Ancient temple complexes in China’s mountainous landscapes exemplify a profound synthesis of environmental adaptation and cultural expression. This research investigates the spatial logic underlying the Wudang Mountain temple complex—a UNESCO World Heritage site—through integrated geospatial analysi...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Yu Yan Zhe Bai Xian Hu Yansong Wang |
| author_facet | Yu Yan Zhe Bai Xian Hu Yansong Wang |
| author_sort | Yu Yan |
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| description | Ancient temple complexes in China’s mountainous landscapes exemplify a profound synthesis of environmental adaptation and cultural expression. This research investigates the spatial logic underlying the Wudang Mountain temple complex—a UNESCO World Heritage site—through integrated geospatial analysis of environmental factors. Using GIS-based modeling, GeoDetector, and regression analysis, we systematically assess how terrain, hydrology, climate, vegetation, and soil conditions collectively influenced site selection. The results reveal a clear hierarchical clustering pattern, with dense temple cores in the southwestern highlands, ridge-aligned belts, and a dominant southwest–northeast orientation that reflects intentional alignment with mountain ridgelines. Temples consistently occupy zones with moderate thermal, hydrological, and vegetative stability while avoiding geotechnical extremes such as lowland humidity or unstable slopes. Regression analysis confirms that site preferences vary across temple types, with soil pH, porosity, and bulk density emerging as significant influencing factors, particularly for cliffside temples. These findings suggest that ancient temple planning was not merely a passive response to sacred geography but a deliberate process that actively considered terrain, climate, soil, and other environmental factors. While environmental constraints strongly shaped spatial decisions, cultural and symbolic considerations also played an important role. This research deepens our understanding of how environmental factors influenced the formation of historical landscapes and offers theoretical insights and ecologically informed guidance for the conservation of mountain cultural heritage sites. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c0d48cead6d04de294e986afb06f9989 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c0d48cead6d04de294e986afb06f99892025-08-20T03:58:26ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2025-07-01147144110.3390/land14071441How Do Natural Environmental Factors Influence the Spatial Patterns and Site Selection of Famous Mountain Temple Complexes in China? Quantitative Research on Wudang Mountain in the Ming DynastyYu Yan0Zhe Bai1Xian Hu2Yansong Wang3School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaSchool of Design Engineering, Wuhan Qingchuan University, Wuhan 430204, ChinaSchool of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaSchool of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaAncient temple complexes in China’s mountainous landscapes exemplify a profound synthesis of environmental adaptation and cultural expression. This research investigates the spatial logic underlying the Wudang Mountain temple complex—a UNESCO World Heritage site—through integrated geospatial analysis of environmental factors. Using GIS-based modeling, GeoDetector, and regression analysis, we systematically assess how terrain, hydrology, climate, vegetation, and soil conditions collectively influenced site selection. The results reveal a clear hierarchical clustering pattern, with dense temple cores in the southwestern highlands, ridge-aligned belts, and a dominant southwest–northeast orientation that reflects intentional alignment with mountain ridgelines. Temples consistently occupy zones with moderate thermal, hydrological, and vegetative stability while avoiding geotechnical extremes such as lowland humidity or unstable slopes. Regression analysis confirms that site preferences vary across temple types, with soil pH, porosity, and bulk density emerging as significant influencing factors, particularly for cliffside temples. These findings suggest that ancient temple planning was not merely a passive response to sacred geography but a deliberate process that actively considered terrain, climate, soil, and other environmental factors. While environmental constraints strongly shaped spatial decisions, cultural and symbolic considerations also played an important role. This research deepens our understanding of how environmental factors influenced the formation of historical landscapes and offers theoretical insights and ecologically informed guidance for the conservation of mountain cultural heritage sites.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/7/1441Wudang Mountainfamous mountain building complexestemple site selectionecological rationalityGIS |
| spellingShingle | Yu Yan Zhe Bai Xian Hu Yansong Wang How Do Natural Environmental Factors Influence the Spatial Patterns and Site Selection of Famous Mountain Temple Complexes in China? Quantitative Research on Wudang Mountain in the Ming Dynasty Land Wudang Mountain famous mountain building complexes temple site selection ecological rationality GIS |
| title | How Do Natural Environmental Factors Influence the Spatial Patterns and Site Selection of Famous Mountain Temple Complexes in China? Quantitative Research on Wudang Mountain in the Ming Dynasty |
| title_full | How Do Natural Environmental Factors Influence the Spatial Patterns and Site Selection of Famous Mountain Temple Complexes in China? Quantitative Research on Wudang Mountain in the Ming Dynasty |
| title_fullStr | How Do Natural Environmental Factors Influence the Spatial Patterns and Site Selection of Famous Mountain Temple Complexes in China? Quantitative Research on Wudang Mountain in the Ming Dynasty |
| title_full_unstemmed | How Do Natural Environmental Factors Influence the Spatial Patterns and Site Selection of Famous Mountain Temple Complexes in China? Quantitative Research on Wudang Mountain in the Ming Dynasty |
| title_short | How Do Natural Environmental Factors Influence the Spatial Patterns and Site Selection of Famous Mountain Temple Complexes in China? Quantitative Research on Wudang Mountain in the Ming Dynasty |
| title_sort | how do natural environmental factors influence the spatial patterns and site selection of famous mountain temple complexes in china quantitative research on wudang mountain in the ming dynasty |
| topic | Wudang Mountain famous mountain building complexes temple site selection ecological rationality GIS |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/7/1441 |
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