# Spatial layout characteristics of Northern Wei Luoyang: A spatial humanities analysis of the “Record of the Monasteries of Luoyang”

## TL;DR

This study uses spatial analysis to explore how social classes were arranged in the ancient city of Luoyang during the Northern Wei Dynasty.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a spatial humanities approach combining GIS and network analysis to reveal social stratification in Luoyang's urban layout.

## Key findings

- The spatial organization of Luoyang was concentrated in and around the inner city with distinct areas for different social classes.
- Higher-status groups occupied the west side of the city, while social rank decreased as one moved outward from the central axis.
- Geography, rituals, customs, and ethnic diversity influenced the city's spatial structure.

## Abstract

This paper explores the urban spatial structure and social stratification of Northern Wei Dynasty Luoyang City, based on Record of the Monasteries of Luoyang. Adopting a spatial humanities approach, the study integrates quantitative approaches, including the application of geographic information systems (GIS) for spatial analysis and complex network analysis. The findings indicate that the spatial organization of Northern Wei Luoyang was primarily concentrated within and around the inner city. People of different social classes and statuses occupied distinct spaces, forming socially stratified groups. As one moves outward from the city’s center, the social rank of these groups decreases. The city’s layout is characterized by a single central axis, with multiple spatial divisions, and the west side being associated with higher-status groups. This spatial arrangement was shaped by factors such as geography, urban development, Central Plains rituals, traditional customs, and ethnic diversity. This study enhances our understanding of the spatial layout characteristics of Northern Wei Luoyang. It provides innovative insights and methods for understanding the city’s structure and its implications for other underground historical cities. Furthermore, it provides valuable data and visualizations that could support future preservation and planning efforts for the city.