A bibliometric visualisation of research trends in Chinese batik (1959–2024)

Batik is a significant facet of China’s intangible cultural heritage. It reflects the refined textile craftsmanship of ethnic minority communities and carries deep cultural, artistic, and economic value. This study analyses 1438 Chinese-language articles from the CNKI database published between 1959 and 2024. It applies bibliometric methods and visual mapping techniques to examine the evolution of batik research over the past 65 years. Using CiteSpace, the study identifies patterns in publication output, institutional distribution, author contributions, and topic clustering. It also highlights persistent challenges, such as limited collaboration among scholars, uneven regional participation, and a need for more interdisciplinary engagement. Based on these findings, five strategic directions are proposed to improve research quality, broaden comparative scope, and encourage more collaborative innovation in future studies.