China: Cultural Heritage Management

A Difficult Integration of Authenticity and Intangible Cultural Heritage? The Case of Yunnan, China

“…A consequence of the "authorised heritage discourse" is that unofficial or alternative heritage discourses held by local cultural custodians and community members are likely to be neglected or marginalised. Recent studies indicate that a similar "authorised heritage discourse" has been established for both tangible and intangible heritage at the national level in China (Wu and Qin 2016;Su 2020). Nevertheless, alternative discourses and practices of authenticity in relation to ICH in China need further examination.…”

“…Officials, with their political power, work with experts/elites to construct Chinese ICH "authorised heritage discourse" through the making of official ICH documents and implementing these textual "authorised heritage discourse" in a top-down manner (Su and Chen 2020). This section analyses the measures through which ICH officials implement the concept of authenticity and the accompanying challenges they encounter in practice.…”

“…The second factor is due to the diversity and stratification in the understanding of ICH officials from the higher to lower levels. National-level officials are knowledgeable of the concept of authenticity because they work with experts to make national policies, while officials at the middle and lower levels understand the authenticity of ICH from reading policies and documents, and from their connection with ICH practitioners and local communities (Su 2020). Officials at the provincial level encounter difficulties in the implementation of authenticity, and this situation is common at the lower levels.…”

“…These remarks triggered the mobilisation of ICH for not only political considerations but also economic and social purposes. China's segmented management systems of cultural heritage and tourism used to be an obstacle to the integration of the protection and commodification of cultural heritage (Su and Chen 2020). Following the integration of the governmental sectors of culture and tourism in 2018, the institutional obstacle has been resolved, and an integrated protection and commodification of cultural heritage, including ICH, has become imperative.…”