Mapping the Evolution of Intangible Cultural Heritage Dissemination: Knowledge Structures, Emerging Themes, and Future Research Directions (2007-2026)

Abstract

Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is a significant aspect of a nation's identity, and its preservation is crucial. Many review papers have analyzed these issues through bibliometric analysis, but long-term dynamic quantitative analysis of ICH dissemination literature is lacking. This study performed a comprehensive analysis over twenty years (2007-2026), retrieving 1449 publications from the Web of Science. Using VOSviewer, Scimago Graphica, and R-Bibliometrics as tools revealed annual publication trends and prominent contributors. The knowledge cluster was also visualized and analyzed to draw an evolution map of the research field, which revealed structures of trends and potential topics for further investigation. This study represents the first bibliometric analysis explicitly conducted in ICH dissemination, providing the academic community with a comprehensive database. Policymakers can use these findings to identify experts, foster partnerships, allocate resources for study, and tackle the pragmatic significance of safeguarding ICH.