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Guqin in the Process of Heritagization: Transmission Practices, Symbolic Alienation, and Ontological Reconstruction

Author(s)

Zhou Liqing

Affiliation(s)

Department of Art, Zhejiang Fashion Institute of Technology, Ningbo, China

Abstract

This article examines the social "craze" surrounding Guqin art following its inscription on UNESCO’s "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity." Set within the specific context of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) protection, the study provides a multi-dimensional scrutiny of this phenomenon. It systematically outlines the manifestations of the Guqin "fever" across transmission communities, commercial markets, and media dissemination. Furthermore, the paper dialectically analyzes the dual role of ICH protection mechanisms: while providing institutional safeguards and cultural legitimacy that promote democratization, these mechanisms also expose the art form to risks of "alienation" and "cultural hollowing" due to over-commercialization, performativity, and symbolic consumption. On this basis, the article argues that the sustainable development of Guqin must transcend superficial trends and return to its cultural ontology as a "vessel of the Dao" (Dao Qi). By integrating "skill, artistry, and the Way" (Ji, Yi, Dao) through "living transmission," the study seeks to provide a viable path for the creative transformation and innovative development of traditional culture in the contemporary era.

Keywords

Intangible Cultural Heritage; Guqin; Cultural Transmission; Reflexive Thinking

References

[1]LIU Yuqin. People's Daily, Dec 9, 2003 (p. 14). [2] WANG Yong. "Intangible Cultural Heritage in the National Context: A Case Study of Guqin." Journal of Nanjing Arts Institute, 2009 (03): 111-117. [3] WANG Yong. "Intangible Cultural Heritage in the National Context: A Case Study of Guqin." Journal of Nanjing Arts Institute, 2009 (03): 111-117. [4] ZHAO Xian. "Where are the Qinists Today? Transmission and Prospect of Guqin Art." Music Research, 2006 (04): 44-46. [5] ZHAO Xudong. "Dilemmas and Paradigm Shifts in Chinese Ethnic Studies: Based on the Context of Cultural Transformation." Exploration and Free Views, 2014 (04): 29-35. [6] LIU Mengxi. Masters and Tradition. China Youth Publishing House, 2007 (p. 28).