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Leij, Julia van der (2025)

China’s Strategical Fossilization of Folk Belief as an Invariable International Heritage Asset

Master thesis | Asian Studies (60 EC) (MA)
Popular religious beliefs hold an ambiguous position in China. 2009 marked the first time China nominated intangible heritage practices to UNESCO, and three practices of these initial nominations contained elements of popular religious beliefs. As previous research has shown that heritage serves to aid Chinese interests domestically and internationally in heritage strategies, this study considers the international image China presents of these three practices. Close reading of Dragon Boat festival, Mazu belief and customs and the Qiang New Year festival UNESCO nomination files reveals a strategic Chinese governmental desire of directly managing and altering folk practices on national and international levels.
critical heritage studies
China
UNESCO
intangible heritage
folk belief
nation-building
Author
Leij, Julia van der
Faculty
Faculty of Humanities
Specialisation
History, Arts and Culture of Asia and Politics, Society and Economy of Asia
Supervisors
Menheere, Y.
ECTS Credits
30
Language
en