Examining Cultural Production and the Development of Zhuang Cultural Performances in Guangxi Province, China

The Zhuang people, the most populous ethnic minority group in China, have a rich performance identity that is in danger of assimilation by mainstream Han culture. Over time, the method of preservation and dissemination of indigenous aesthetics has become a severe problem faced by the Zhuang people. The survival of their intangible cultural heritage has come to depend on the government commitment and guidance. This article is a qualitative investigation combining documentary and field research of the Zhuang Opera to identify a more suitable path for the continuous transmission and development of Zhuang culture. Results show that, although Zhuang intangible heritage has a long, well-developed history, globalization has contributed to an existential crisis that has left the culture in jeopardy. It is hoped that this investigation goes some way toward documenting this fading culture.