Transforming local chronicles into narrative maps: the case of Shaolin martial arts culture, China

Local chronicles meticulously document regional history, but their potential for disseminating and preserving local cultural heritage has not been fully exploited. Narrative maps offer new inspiration for expressing local chronicles. Nonetheless, existing studies often lack a structured methodology for translating textual narratives into effective map designs. This study proposes a systematic workflow to transform local chronicles into narrative maps, guiding the visual encoding of narrative content through elaborate map layouts, distinctive and meaningful colors, figurative hand-painted symbols, and scene symbols. The application and effectiveness of this method are demonstrated through a detailed case study mapping the Shaolin martial arts culture. The resulting map illustrates how structured design can unlock the cultural value of local chronicles, enhance public engagement, and assist in heritage preservation. The proposed method provides a replicable reference for designing narrative maps from other textual materials.