Seeking the Present in the Past: Chinese Folklore, Folklore Studies and Intangible Cultural Heritage Within and Without History
Seeking the Present in the Past: Chinese Folklore, Folklore Studies and Intangible Cultural Heritage Within and Without History

Summary/Abstract: Chinese folklore studies possesses a long, complex trajectory shaped by local social, cultural and political discourses. While European and North American folklore often seeks ‘the past in the present’, this guest editorial introduction argues that Chinese folklore operates by finding ‘the present in the past’. We discuss the academic discipline of Chinese folklore studies as part of Chinese folklore itself, exploring the connections between folklore; folklore theories; and Chinese understandings of national culture, traditions and the past. The paper examines folklore in relation to constructions of Chinese history and the impact of the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) movement, which integrates fragmentary folklore into the nation’s grand historical narrative. The introduction also outlines how digital communication technologies and social media are reshaping contemporary folklore and performance practices. Collectively, the special section’s empirical papers highlight the continuous negotiation of authenticity, lineage and commercialisation, demonstrating that while traditions adapt or decline, Chinese folklore remains a dynamic, evolving process that continually thrives in the present.

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