Work

From fragmented narratives to spatio-narrative networks: a knowledge graph approach to Tianjin Grand Canal heritage

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Linear cultural heritage derives meaning from relationships among people, events, places and historical processes, yet these connections are often fragmented across textual sources. Taking 98 heritage sites in the Tianjin section of the Grand Canal as a case, this study constructs a narrative knowledge graph from multi-source texts using LLM-assisted extraction, event hierarchy modeling and graph-database construction, and projects it into a site-level narrative network. Network and spatial analyses identify narrative visibility, thematic clusters, endpoint roles and potential narrative corridors. Results reveal a comprehensive Old City–Sanchahekou core, specialized hydraulic units along peripheral canal sections, locally embedded memory in Yangliuqing, and medium- and weak-strength relations that connect these components. By linking traceable narrative evidence with spatial network analysis, the approach explains how dispersed heritage sites form an integrated relational structure and provides an evidence-based basis for holistic interpretation, thematic presentation, route organization and public communication in linear cultural heritage.

Source: npj Heritage Science

DOI: 10.1038/s40494-026-03060-y

Authors: Bolun Zhang, Jingwen Tian, Lihao Meng, Jiaying Li, Lei Cao

Institutions: Tianjin University, Tianjin Chengjian University

Language: English

Topic: Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation

Subfield: Archeology

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: Tianjin Municipal Education Commission, National Office for Philosophy and Social Sciences, National Social Science Fund of China