Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries in Amdo Tibetan Inhabited Regions, China

Tibetan Buddhism is of vital significance to Buddhism as a whole. In traditional Chinese history, Tibetan society has always implemented a theocratic political system. Tibetan Buddhism permeates through all aspects of Tibetan social life. Monasteries are places for monks to preach Dharma and are carriers of Tibetan Buddhist culture. The spatial pattern of a monastery is the result of multiple factors. Therefore, analysis of the spatial patterns and influencing factors of the monasteries provides a basis for further analysis of the evolutionary laws and diffusion patterns. As the Amdo Tibetan area is located in the buffer zone between the Tibetan inhabited regions and the Central Plains, the religious and cultural development in this area has distinct regional characteristics. Based on the basic geographic data of monasteries obtained from literature review and field investigation, this article uses spatial analysis methods such as kernel density analysis, standard deviation ellipse analysis, and GWR in GIS to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the spatial distribution characteristics and driving factors of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the Amdo Tibetan inhabited regions. The results show that the general distribution of the monasteries represents a spatial agglomeration pattern of “one belt and two centers.” Under the multicentered spatial pattern of Buddhist monasteries, the monastery spatial distribution of various sects has obvious regional differentiation characteristics. Apart from historical population data, the factor that has the greatest impact on the distribution of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries is distance to the river, and elevation has a negative correlation with the monastery density. The coupling relationship between different sects affects the distribution of monasteries in Tibetan inhabited regions.