Uses of the past

Negotiating heritage in Xi'an

Bibliographic Data

ID5700922
AuthorsYujie Zhu (0000-0002-7424-1697, Australian National University, corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume24
Issue2
Pages181-192
Publication date2018-02-07
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Heritage Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1352-7258 • E-ISSN: 1470-3610
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13527258.2017.1347886
OpenAlexW2730389063
LanguageEN
Citations received28
References cited26

The recent urban development in Xi’an illustrates how local authorities are rebuilding an imagined and ancient capital of China which is tied to the remote Tang dynasty, a symbol of the glorious Chinese civilization. Based on instrumental uses of the past, the municipal government has implemented heritage plans to create an aesthetically pleasing and economically valuable destination for display and consumption. This study contributes to an understanding of the contested nature of heritage in the rapidly shifting urban landscape of contemporary China. Rather than fully following the official script, participants in the heritage industry have different responses to the changing social and living environment in Xi’an. Despite the nation-state’s overwhelming involvement in people’s daily lives, I suggest that there is still space where individuals may challenge the dominant narrative. While such challenges might not replace the existing official discourse, people adapt, negotiate and contest these heritage discourses and practices to pursue their own interests

Aesthetics · Art · China · Civilization · CONTEST · Cultural heritage · Cultural heritage management · Economy · Industrial heritage · Narrative · Negotiation · Political science · Social science · Sociology · Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation · History · Law · Religious Tourism and Spaces · Southeast Asian Sociopolitical Studies

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