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

Yu Yan, Zhe Bai, Xian Hu and Yansong Wang ()
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Yu Yan: School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Zhe Bai: School of Design Engineering, Wuhan Qingchuan University, Wuhan 430204, China
Xian Hu: School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Yansong Wang: School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-25

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: Wudang Mountain; famous mountain building complexes; temple site selection; ecological rationality; GIS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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