 | Intangible Cultural Heritage in Contemporary China: The participation of local communities Subjects: Area Studies; Development Studies Environment Social Work Urban Studies; Social Sciences; Cultural Studies; Anthropology; Asian Studies; Sociology & Social Policy; Chinese Studies; South East Asian Studies; Sociology of Culture; This edited book examines the significance of intangible cultural heritage to local communities and the state in Hong Kong and China. Through ethnographic studies, the various chapters in this edited book argue for the role of the local community in the creation and conservation of the intangible cultural heritage and traditions. Irrespective of whether they are selected and listed as regional, national or UNESO intangible cultural heritage, they are part of the living traditions unique to that particular local community. This edited book argues that there are threefold significance of intangible cultural heritage to the local community and the state. First, intangible cultural heritage is seen as a social prestige. Second, it acts as socio-cultural and economic capital for members of the community to tap into to ensure socio-cultural and economic sustainability of the community. Finally, the intangible cultural heritage serves as a depository of the collective memories of the community, linking the past to the present and the future. Kuah Khun Eng is Professor and Head of the School of Arts and Social Sciences, and Co-director of the Global Asia in the 21st Century (GA21) Research Platform, Monash University Malaysia. Liu Zhaohui is Deputy Director of the Institute of Anthropology and Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology, Zhejiang University, China. |
