Uneven development of intangible cultural heritage: A spatial analysis of traditional drama in Southwestern China

Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) exhibits pronounced spatial unevenness, yet the spatial patterns and driving mechanisms of traditional drama as a form of living performing heritage remain insufficiently understood. Taking Southwest China as a case, this study analyzes 257 traditional drama ICH items, comprising 54 national-level and 203 provincial-level items. Using kernel density estimation, nearest neighbor index, standard deviational ellipse, and the geographical detector methods, we examine spatial distribution, typological differentiation, temporal evolution, and influencing factors. The results show that: (1) traditional drama ICH displays a “dense in eastern section while sparse in western section” pattern, with core clusters in eastern Guizhou and the Sichuan–Chongqing–Guizhou border region; (2) clear typological differences exist, with Dengxi Opera, Tibetan Opera, and small-scale dramas (Others) showing clustered patterns, while Sichuan Opera, Di Opera, and shadow puppetry are more dispersed; (3) from 2006 to 2025, the spatial pattern evolves from scattered distribution to multi-core agglomeration, with a relatively stable gravity center in the Sichuan–Chongqing–Guizhou border area; and (4) terrain, traditional villages, and cultural institutions are the main driving factors, with interaction effects enhancing explanatory power, while economic and urbanization variables show no significant independent effects. This study responds to critiques of spatial disconnection from ICH’s living attributes and integrates cultural ecology, therapeutic arts, and digital heritage perspectives. It provides empirical support for the spatial governance and living preservation of performing ICH.