In Search of National Ancestors: Heritage, Identity and Placemaking in China

Author:   Shu-Li Wang (Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica)
Publisher:   Cambridge University Press
ISBN:  

9781009582117


Pages:   80
Publication Date:   08 May 2025
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   Manufactured on demand   Availability explained
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In Search of National Ancestors: Heritage, Identity and Placemaking in China


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Overview

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.

Full Product Details

Author:   Shu-Li Wang (Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica)
Publisher:   Cambridge University Press
Imprint:   Cambridge University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 0.60cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.255kg
ISBN:  

9781009582117


ISBN 10:   1009582119
Pages:   80
Publication Date:   08 May 2025
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand   Availability explained
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

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