Mr Deming AN

• Researcher, Institute of Literature, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, People's Republic of China

• Session 2: Presenter 2

The Campaign of Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguarding in China: Significance and Challenge

Since its introduction to China, the campaign of intangible cultural heritage safeguarding has indeed brought many dynamic results to traditional culture and people’s practice, as well as to related academic disciplines such as folklore studies. Thanks to a series of actions related to ICH safeguarding, and more active cooperation of the state, communities and scholars, numerous folk culture genres – especially folk beliefs and religious practices used to be labelled as feudal superstition and restrictedly prohibited – have gained an improved status in the whole country by being identified as an ‘ICH item,’ together with their bearers and communities having received more space for survival. Meanwhile, folklore studies are also celebrating various new opportunities and challenges to the discipline caused by the movement. However, a number of problems have also risen simultaneously. Among them, the central one is the paradox between UNESCO ideal theory and the actual practice of ICH safeguarding in specific contexts. It has not only caused competition or conflict between different places in the country, and caused various countries to fight over property rights to traditional events, but has also diminished the authority and confidence of the common people as traditional bearers in expressing themselves through their own culture. To this extent, ICH communities, scholars – including folklorists worldwide – and the state powers still have a long way ahead.

Keywords: safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage; China; folklore; cultural hierarchy

Deming An is professor and director of Folklore Division at Institute of Literature, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. His research interests are focused on popular religion (folk beliefs) among Han Chinese, Chinese proverbs, mythology, the intellectual history of Chinese Folklore studies, and the ongoing Intangible Cultural Heritage movement both in Chinese and global context. His main published works include Exorcising Disaster: A Study of Agricultural Rituals from Farming Villages in Tianshui, Gansu Province (in Chinese, Zhongguo Shehui Kexue Chubanshe, 2003), Going Back to Hometown: A Folklorist's Field Experiences in Familiar Place (in Chinese, Guangxi Renmin Chubanshe, 2004), and Handbook of Chinese Mythology (co-written with Yang Lihui, ABC-CLIO, 2005; Rpt. Oxford University Press, 2008). He has been visiting scholar respectively at Folklore Institute of Indiana University (2000-2001), Harvard-Yenching Institute (2006-2007), and visiting professor at Institute for European Ethnology of Humboldt University zu Berlin (May-Aug., 2014), Dong Hwa University in Taiwan (Mar-May, 2016). He is also the Editor-in-Chief of a Chinese journal Folk Culture Forum sponsored by Chinese Folk Literature and Arts Association. His main membership in in professional associations include China Folklore Society (vice president), Chinese Folk Literature and Arts Association (member of executive council), and Association of Intangible Heritage (vice president).