Volume 12 Issue 2
Published on May 2025This study adopts bibliometric methods to systematically review the development trajectory of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and community research from 2003 to 2025. Using the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database as the data source, 235 relevant documents published between 2003 and 2025 were selected as samples. Bibliometric techniques were applied, and statistical analysis was conducted with the help of the CiteSpace visualization tool to reveal the overall trends and key characteristics of research in this field. The study analyzes annual trends, keyword frequencies, research institutions, the evolution of research hotspots, and future trends, and ultimately presents a scientific knowledge map based on data visualization to outline the research context. The results show that research on ICH communities has been steadily growing, but a mature research framework has yet to be established. Core topics focus on community participation, educational inheritance, and protection practices. Emerging trends show dual drivers in tourism development and legal protection. However, current research still faces challenges such as weak research capacity, a high number of prolific authors, and a limited number of institutions. In recent years, there has been a significant practical shift in ICH research, deeply aligning with the national cultural development strategy. A multidimensional research framework has been established in areas such as cultural industry innovation, technological integration, and interdisciplinary platform development. Among these, the construction of community subjectivity as an emerging theoretical perspective is driving the transformation and reconstruction of the ICH protection paradigm.
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This study investigates the potential for Cultural Keystone Species (CKS) historically nurtured by Guangzhou Traditional Central Axis to enhance Sense of Place in contemporary communities within its boundaries, addressing the ruptures caused by the city in the Lived and Materialized Layers of the people-place relationship. It is therefore hypothesized that reintroducing these species can enhance visitors' Sense of Place. The study focuses on three thematic CKS: Daily Life, Biodiversity Resources, and the Exchange of Goods and Knowledge. The social benefits of CKS implantation are examined in the form of structured interviews based on three Sense of Place sub-dimensions: Place Dependence, Emotional Attachment, and Place Identity. The results show that all three CKS categories significantly improve the overall Sense of Place, and different CKS types have different abilities in placemaking: culturally oriented species strengthen intangible connections through shared memories and practices, while biodiversity-focused species emphasize specific ecological functions. This study introduces a correlation analysis framework between CKS and Sense of Place, providing theoretical and practical support for the realization of ecological and cultural synergistic regeneration in the renewal of contemporary urban historical environments.
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