Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Temples Built in Yuan,Ming,and Qing Dynasties in the Old City of Beijing and Analysis of Influencing Factors

ZHANG Man; WANG Ning; ZHU Yongqiang

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-0232.2024.12.008

Abstract：As the religious and cultural center of the Yuan,Ming,and Qing dynasties,the Old City of Beijing accommodates abundant temples and carries considerable historical events and social changes.Existing studies on temples focus on a specific type or period but lack a comprehensive analysis of temples'temporal and spatial changes.This study aims to elucidate the spatial and temporal distribution of temples and their evolutionary characteristics in the Old City of Beijing.Moreover,it investigates their relationships with history,culture,and the natural environment. A total of 1,529 multitype religious buildings,including Buddhist temples,Taoist temples,literary temples,and altars,were identified through historical documents and field surveys.A spatial and temporal distribution database of 896 Buddhist temples and Taoist temples from the Yuan,Ming,and Qing dynasties was constructed using geographic information system(GIS)technology.The temples'spatial location,type,and construction time were processed and analyzed by spatial statistical methods,including nearest-neighbor analysis,kernel density estimation,and imbalance index. The results demonstrate that,temporally,506 temples were constructed during the Ming Dynasty in the Old City of Beijing,accounting for 46.1％of the total number of temples in the study area in history.There were 437 temples built during the Qing Dynasty,which was the second highest,and 75 temples built during the Yuan Dynasty,accounting for about 6.8％.Spatially,most temples are located in the inner city.There are more temples in the west than in the east and more in the north than in the south.During the Yuan,Ming,and Qing Dynasties,temples migrated from the inner city to the outer city and then returned to the inner city.In contrast,Taoist temples have been concentrated in the inner city.They had a concentrated spatial distribution in the Yuan Dynasty(R=0.88)according to the nearest point index(R).The nucleated areas were concentrated in the Fuxingmen Beishuncheng Street and Xisi Lamb Hutong area.In the Ming Dynasty,the nucleated areas migrated to the Qianmen area of the outer city,and the concentrating characteristics were more obvious than those in the Yuan Dynasty(R=0.64).The White Pagoda Temple area during the Qing Dynasty was the region with the highest density of temple construction,and the degree of concentration declined compared to that in the Ming Dynasty(R=0.88).Specifically,Qianmen is the area with the highest density of temple construction during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties.In terms of distribution pattern,most temples of the Yuan,Ming,and Qing Dynasties are consistently located in the imperial area of Beijing(116.38°～116.39° E,39.91°～39.92° N).This distribution center in the Yuan-Ming Dynasties exhibits a clear trend of long-distance movement from northwest to southeast,accompanied by a decreasing trend of flatness and weakened directionality.The distribution center in the Ming-Qing Dynasties tends to move back to the northwest,exhibiting the weakest directionality and a stabilization trend.The good urban infrastructure surrounding water-rich rivers and preferential temple construction and maintenance policies from the ruling classes during the Yuan,Ming,and Qing Dynasties are premises for the preservation of temples in the Old City of Beijing.Moreover,prosperous business activities are important conditions for the construction of temples. In sum,research on the history of temple development in the Old City of Beijing provides a new perspective on investigating the integrity of the city's historical context.Studies on spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and influencing factors of temples further enrich the understanding of the development of Beijing and lay a theoretical foundation for the subsequent urban planning and cultural heritage protection.This study realizes data visualization and spatial analysis based on GIS technology,displays the innovative application of GIS technology in history research,facilitates the crossover studies of historical geography and cultural heritage protection,and offsets existing studies'shortages due to mainly focusing on a specific type or period.Moreover,although this study has tried to search historical maps,literature,and other data,it still fails to include some Buddhist temples in Beijing that have been ruined by war,housing system reform,and urban renewal projects.