A study on the spatio-temporal distribution and influencing factors of Buddhist architectural remains in Xinjiang region

The spatiotemporal distribution of Buddhist architectural remains in Xinjiang is a central question in Silk Road research. Addressing the limited understanding of their distribution patterns and the insufficient investigation of the underlying driving mechanisms, this study adopts a religious cultural geography perspective. Focusing on 196 Buddhist architectural remains dating from the Han to the Qing dynasties in Xinjiang, and utilizing a GIS platform, we integrate kernel density estimation, mean center, weighted mean center, standard deviational ellipse, and multi-ring buffer analysis to systematically examine their spatiotemporal distribution characteristics, evolutionary trajectories, and driving factors. The results reveal a polycentric, clustered distribution of the remains. The historical mean center exhibits a phased migratory trajectory: south–northwest–northwest–southeast–northeast–northwest. Natural conditions imposed a foundational constraint on site selection, with Buddhist architecture concentrated predominantly in habitable oases and near-water zones. Human factors, however, played the dominant role in shaping spatiotemporal dynamics: the remains are clustered in a corridor-like pattern along the Silk Road and are strongly coupled with shifts in political and economic centers, collectively driving a south-to-north migration of the Buddhist distribution center. By systematically revealing the dynamic evolutionary patterns of Xinjiang’s Buddhist architectural remains through GIS-based spatial analysis, this study transcends the limitations of traditional qualitative approaches. It provides both methodological and empirical support for research on the transmission routes and spatial structure of Buddhism in Xinjiang, and holds significant theoretical value for advancing the conservation of Buddhist architectural remains in the region.