The Silk Road
functioned as both a trade network and a living corridor for the transmission
of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) across Eurasia. Based on UNESCO ICH Lists
data as of December 2025, this study systematically examines 148 ICH elements
inscribed by seven countries and regions along the Asian Silk Road from Chang'an (Xi'an) to Istanbul:
China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and
Türkiye. Three major findings emerge. First, ICH distribution exhibits a “three-gradient”
structure, with China (45 items) and Türkiye (32 items) forming two peaks and
Central Asia serving as a cultural pivot, revealing an “ICH corridor effect.”
Second, cross-border sharing is prominent, with festivals (Nowruz), epics
(Nasreddin Hodja), music (Shashmaqom), and craftsmanship (sericulture and yurt
making) jointly inscribed by multiple countries, forming a transnational
cultural community. Third, a systematic comparison of the Muqam/Makam family
reveals a functional transformation from secular festive music in Xinjiang
through courtly art in Central Asia to Sufi ritual music in Türkiye,
demonstrating a law of “functional sacralization” with increasing distance from
the eastern origin. By integrating spatial analysis and cross-cultural
comparison, this study contributes to both the theoretical understanding of ICH
transmission along cultural routes and the practical safeguarding of living
heritage.
