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In Search of National Ancestors

Heritage, Identity and Placemaking in China

Expected online publication date:  12 May 2025

Shu-Li Wang
Affiliation:
Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica

Summary

This Element examines how international heritage discourses are internalized and reshaped in China, using the Yellow Emperor cults as a lens to explore broader themes of intangible heritage, religious resurgence, and identity construction. The central argument is that cultural heritage serves as a powerful tool for shaping new religious expressions and enabling Chinese localities to assert their uniqueness while redefining historical narratives. Through case studies of several localities across China, this research illustrates how these regions engage in heritage competition by branding themselves with Yellow Emperor culture to shape their identities. This study argues that the cult of the Yellow Emperor-a legendary figure-is empowered by nationalism, a local search for tradition and religious revivals, and is further amplified by international discourses that reinforce national identity through heritage-making. Together, these forces drive the resurgence of ancestral cults and contribute to cultural identity formation in contemporary China.
Type
Element
Information
Online ISBN: 9781009582131
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

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In Search of National Ancestors
  • Shu-Li Wang, Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica
  • Online ISBN: 9781009582131
Available formats No formats are currently available for this content.
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In Search of National Ancestors
  • Shu-Li Wang, Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica
  • Online ISBN: 9781009582131
Available formats No formats are currently available for this content.
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

In Search of National Ancestors
  • Shu-Li Wang, Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica
  • Online ISBN: 9781009582131
Available formats No formats are currently available for this content.
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