Geographical Imagination and Spatial Construction of Zhenshan in Ancient China

: [Objective] Zhenshan is an important component of China’s mountainous geographical system and an excellent product of the close integration of nature and culture in traditional Chinese landscape construction. Related to both geography and humanity, Zhenshan is a typical result of geographical imagination. The current research on Zhenshan involved the traditional Chinese state ritual system of sacrifice to mountain and water spirits has provided detailed textual research and interpretation of the concept and cultural connotations of Zhenshan. In the construction of urban landscape, urban Zhenshan is a typical cultural element that shapes urban landscape pattern. As a common phenomenon in urban and rural spaces, urban Zhenshan lacks in-depth research compared to national sacrificial Zhenshan in terms of their respective values. Therefore, there is a certain gap in the current research on Zhenshan between national sacrificial Zhenshan and urban Zhenshan. Only by fully revealing the historical evolution process of Zhenshan can a complete knowledge system and spatial cultural system of Zhenshan be constructed. Meanwhile, it is also important to explore the identification and protection of cultural resources and the establishment of a theoretical system for traditional “city – mountain” landscape construction in combination with the interpretation of the humanistic connotation of Zhenshan, the induction of the composition of the geographical spatial system of Zhenshan, and the summary of the principles for spatial order and construction of Zhenshan, natural landforms and cultural elements, which is an important way to elucidate China’s traditional natural values and promote the excellent experience of traditional spatial practice. [Methods] Based on Erudition Chinese Local Chronicles Database of 6,000 volumes of chronicles spanning a period from Song Dynasty to the Republic of China, this research conducts a quantitative analysis of the historical information about Zhenshan Moreover, combined with the analysis of graphic and textual historical materials, the research