Analysis of the factors influencing the dissemination of Mazu culture in Southeast Asia during the Qing Dynasty

Abstract

Mazu culture has had a profound impact on Southeast Asia. Its widespread dissemination during the Qing Dynasty resulted from the combined influence of various factors. This study uses the number of Mazu temples in Southeast Asia during the Qing Dynasty as a quantitative indicator and employs Pearson, Spearman, and Kendall correlation analyses to reveal the central role of geographical environment in cultural diffusion. The data show that there is a threshold effect between the scale of immigration and the distribution of Mazu temples: when the immigrant population exceeds 100,000, the impact significantly weakens. The propagation of Mazu culture is significantly underpinned by a distinctive geo-economic environment, notably characterized by an extensive coastline and a high coastline-to-land ratio, which inherently fosters the development of a marine economy. The high concentration of Mazu temples in port cities highlights the role of the compatibility between the maritime economic network and geographical space in promoting the dissemination of the belief. Consequently, the dissemination and spatial distribution of Mazu culture during the Qing Dynasty were intrinsically linked to the distinctive geographical environment of Southeast Asia.