Spatiotemporal Evolutionary Mechanisms of Gardens on Hainan Island from the Tang to the Qing Dynasties

The spatial distribution patterns and temporal evolution of ancient designed gardens provide critical insights into the interactive dynamics among regional human–environment relationships, institutional structures, and cultural transmission. Taking 420 ancient garden sites on Hainan Island from the Tang to Qing dynasties (618–1911 AD) as the study objects, this research constructs a spatial database based on historical documents and local gazetteers. It further applies kernel density analysis, spatial overlay, and administrative hierarchy normalization to investigate their spatiotemporal distribution patterns and evolution mechanisms. The results reveal that: (1) natural geographical constraints serve as the fundamental boundaries defining the spatial differentiation; (2) transport corridors serve as the structural curve directing the spatial expansion; (3) the administrative hierarchy serves as institutions shaping the distribution of garden types and the spatial stratification; (4) social and cultural factors serve as the endogenous driving force for the continuous evolution of the spatial distribution. The evolution mechanism implies an analytical framework, i.e., “natural geographical constraints, the organization of transportation corridors, the influence of administrative hierarchies, and the dynamics of socio-cultural diffusion”, offering a transferable approach for studying historical cultural landscapes in island and peripheral regions.