Mapping the spatiotemporal evolution and driving mechanisms of intangible cultural heritage in Southeast Coastal China

Abstract Southeast Coastal China boasts abundant marine Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), yet quantitative assessments of its long-term driving mechanisms remain insufficient. This study analyzed 2372 ICH items(refined from 2384 records) via spatial models and Geodetector. Results indicate: (1) Spatiotemporally, provincial ICH centers of gravity show a fluctuating southward migration trend, with an average distance of 218 km. (2) Spatially, all categories of ICH displayed significant clustering (Nearest Neighbor Index: 0.29–0.68), presented to diverse dual-, triple-, and multi-core agglomeration patterns. (3) Mechanistically, human factors ( q = 0.34) slightly outweigh natural factors ( q = 0.32). Furthermore, interaction results exhibit bivariate or nonlinear enhancement, with the combined effect of the factors water system and GDP being the strongest. ( q = 0.90). Theoretically, these findings reveal the underlying evolutionary patterns and multi-dimensional driving mechanisms of marine ICH. Practically, they provide a robust scientific basis for cross-regional collaborative governance and conservation strategies.