Spatial distribution characteristics of Tibetan Buddhism principal-subordinate monastery systems in the Hehuang region

Abstract Tibetan Buddhist monasteries constitute significant cultural heritages of ethnic minorities, evolving into the Principal-Subordinate Monastery System (PSMS) with profound historical and cultural significance. This system exhibits an integrated hierarchical structure in terms of religious dominance, political administration, and cultural diffusion. Existing research primarily focuses on internal humanistic factors such as governance patterns, while there is not any research focused on its patterns and manifestations in spatial distribution. This study aims to elucidate the spatial distribution characteristics of the PSMS in Hehuang region, including the Tibetan Buddhist monasteries from all sects in the Hehuang region since the Song Dynasty It establishes a hierarchical PSMS database based on the affiliation relationships, aimed at storing spatial and property information related to PSMS. The database standardizes the naming and coding of monasteries, and classifies them through hierarchical relationships to ensure data consistency and usability. Finally, the classified and coded monastery data were analyzed by GIS tools to form the PSMS spatial distribution characterisation framework. Results reveal that (1) Monasteries demonstrate notable spatial clustering patterns from both holistic and sectarian perspectives, with density being influenced by the principal monastery’s position. (2) Almost every PSMS exhibits a spatial pattern centered around the principal monastery, with subordinate monasteries clustering within a defined range correlated with the administrative region of the principal monastery. (3) PSMS scale variations are controlled by principal monasteries, exhibiting positive correlations in hierarchical structure, control quantity, and distribution range. (4) The spatial orientation of PSMS correlates with river distribution, while the relationships among mountain ranges require further investigation. These findings provide initial insights into the spatial distribution characteristics of PSMS, confirming the spatial influence of the principal monastery. Besides, this study established an innovative spatial research framework for heritage clusters with multiple types and hierarchies. Thus, this study offers new insights into the spatial distribution of Tibetan Buddhist monastery heritage and presents a framework for further examining the spatial distribution of the Tibetan Buddhist monastery heritage in other regions, as well as other heritage clusters where connected and clustered through religious and cultural ties.