Reframing Cultural Heritage Policy Through Place-Based Perspectives: The Evolution of China’s ICH Governance Amid Historical Continuity and Global Convergence

This study explores the evolution of China’s intangible cultural heritage (ICH) governance through the lens of discursive institutionalism, with a specific focus on how institutional discourse and arrangements shape the spatial configuration and symbolic meaning of ICH-related landscapes. By analyzi...

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Main Authors: Jing Li, Xiangling Wu, Yanan Du
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/7/1425
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author Jing Li
Xiangling Wu
Yanan Du
author_facet Jing Li
Xiangling Wu
Yanan Du
author_sort Jing Li
collection DOAJ
description This study explores the evolution of China’s intangible cultural heritage (ICH) governance through the lens of discursive institutionalism, with a specific focus on how institutional discourse and arrangements shape the spatial configuration and symbolic meaning of ICH-related landscapes. By analyzing policy discourse, governance actors, resource mobilization, and regulatory mechanisms, the study traces the transition from community-led practices to increasingly formalized and spatialized systems under the influence of the 2003 UNESCO Convention. Drawing on a combination of historical policy analysis and place-specific institutional insights, the research finds that while institutional reforms have enhanced administrative coherence and international alignment, they have also at times disrupted vernacular meanings and weakened residents’ place-based cultural attachments. Conversely, localized revitalization initiatives can foster community resilience and landscape justice. These findings are derived from an interpretive synthesis of institutional trajectories and spatial governance practices. Overall, the study contributes to the theoretical integration of discursive institutionalism and cultural geography, offering new insights into heritage governance and sustainable cultural planning in rapidly urbanizing contexts.
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spelling doaj-art-0bf71f9d18dc4842b0b6ccb3110cacfe2025-08-20T02:45:43ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2025-07-01147142510.3390/land14071425Reframing Cultural Heritage Policy Through Place-Based Perspectives: The Evolution of China’s ICH Governance Amid Historical Continuity and Global ConvergenceJing Li0Xiangling Wu1Yanan Du2School of Political Science and Public Administration, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaSchool of Political Science and Public Administration, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaSchool of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, ChinaThis study explores the evolution of China’s intangible cultural heritage (ICH) governance through the lens of discursive institutionalism, with a specific focus on how institutional discourse and arrangements shape the spatial configuration and symbolic meaning of ICH-related landscapes. By analyzing policy discourse, governance actors, resource mobilization, and regulatory mechanisms, the study traces the transition from community-led practices to increasingly formalized and spatialized systems under the influence of the 2003 UNESCO Convention. Drawing on a combination of historical policy analysis and place-specific institutional insights, the research finds that while institutional reforms have enhanced administrative coherence and international alignment, they have also at times disrupted vernacular meanings and weakened residents’ place-based cultural attachments. Conversely, localized revitalization initiatives can foster community resilience and landscape justice. These findings are derived from an interpretive synthesis of institutional trajectories and spatial governance practices. Overall, the study contributes to the theoretical integration of discursive institutionalism and cultural geography, offering new insights into heritage governance and sustainable cultural planning in rapidly urbanizing contexts.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/7/1425intangible cultural heritage (ICH)cultural policy changediscursive institutionalismplace-based governanceheritage landscape planning
spellingShingle Jing Li
Xiangling Wu
Yanan Du
Reframing Cultural Heritage Policy Through Place-Based Perspectives: The Evolution of China’s ICH Governance Amid Historical Continuity and Global Convergence
Land
intangible cultural heritage (ICH)
cultural policy change
discursive institutionalism
place-based governance
heritage landscape planning
title Reframing Cultural Heritage Policy Through Place-Based Perspectives: The Evolution of China’s ICH Governance Amid Historical Continuity and Global Convergence
title_full Reframing Cultural Heritage Policy Through Place-Based Perspectives: The Evolution of China’s ICH Governance Amid Historical Continuity and Global Convergence
title_fullStr Reframing Cultural Heritage Policy Through Place-Based Perspectives: The Evolution of China’s ICH Governance Amid Historical Continuity and Global Convergence
title_full_unstemmed Reframing Cultural Heritage Policy Through Place-Based Perspectives: The Evolution of China’s ICH Governance Amid Historical Continuity and Global Convergence
title_short Reframing Cultural Heritage Policy Through Place-Based Perspectives: The Evolution of China’s ICH Governance Amid Historical Continuity and Global Convergence
title_sort reframing cultural heritage policy through place based perspectives the evolution of china s ich governance amid historical continuity and global convergence
topic intangible cultural heritage (ICH)
cultural policy change
discursive institutionalism
place-based governance
heritage landscape planning
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/7/1425
work_keys_str_mv AT jingli reframingculturalheritagepolicythroughplacebasedperspectivestheevolutionofchinasichgovernanceamidhistoricalcontinuityandglobalconvergence
AT xianglingwu reframingculturalheritagepolicythroughplacebasedperspectivestheevolutionofchinasichgovernanceamidhistoricalcontinuityandglobalconvergence
AT yanandu reframingculturalheritagepolicythroughplacebasedperspectivestheevolutionofchinasichgovernanceamidhistoricalcontinuityandglobalconvergence