Cultural Reproduction: Ethnic Festivals as Intangible Cultural Heritage in China

Despite a considerable body of research focusing on the preservation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), the actual impact of ICH on shaping the cultural life of local communities needs further acknowledgement. Since 2004, China has rapidly engaged with ICH and the associated practices stipulated by UNESCO. Based on a critical analysis of two cultural festivals in China, this study illustrates the impact of official heritage discourse on local communities. Heritage policies have adopted a particular understanding of “culture” that certifies and beautifies related cultural practices and products for commercial purposes. However, these processes of cultural reproduction transform community-based leisure activities into tourism consumption for an external public. Such changes legitimize and reinforce social inequalities within state-society relationships. This study contributes to the broader discussion on the “right to heritage”–whose rights and what rights should be considered in the issues that ICH creates as a form of cultural reproduction.