Spatio-Temporal Analyses of Changing Religious Landscapes in China1

Abstract

A spatio-temporal analysis of the spatial distribution of religious sites can provide insightful information about the formation and diffusion mechanisms of the religious landscape. As an important part of the religious landscape, religious sites are the focus of religious geography research. Based on the data on religious sites from the 2004 Economic Census in China, this chapter analyzes the spatial distribution of Buddhism, Taoism, Islam and Christianity in the 342 prefecture cities of mainland China, which may reveal the future trends of religious landscape in China. The results from those analyses show that: (1) All religions have experienced significant growth since 1978; (2) There is an unbalanced development of religions with significant differences over space and time in China; (3) Different expansion modes and expansion strategies adopted by different religions dominated the temporal evolution of the spatial pattern of religion. The spatial structure of the dominated religions changes significantly. (4) Different models of religious development existed in different regions. There are differences in the religious landscapes to be found in the Han areas and the minority areas. The phenomena of over-agglomeration and rapid expansion exist in different religions. Those research results may help to create a better understanding of the future trends of the religious landscape in China and provide a reference point for religious policies.