@article {xu_religion-related_2022,
	title = {Religion-Related Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguarding Practices and Initiatives of the Contemporary Chinese State},
	journal = {Religions},
	volume = {13},
	number = {8},
	year = {2022},
	note = {Publisher: MDPI},
	abstract = {This paper reveals the contemporary Chinese state{\textquoteright}s active role in shaping the country{\textquoteright}s religion-related intangible cultural heritage (ICH) safeguarding, through a systematic review of China{\textquoteright}s official inventories of national representative ICH projects and extensive investigations of relevant local practices and initiatives. Although China is ruled by a political party officially embracing an atheist ideology, various elements of the contemporary Chinese state have been proactively involved in safeguarding religion-related ICH. The Chinese state{\textquoteright}s involvement in de facto religion-related ICH safeguarding predates its adoption of explicit ICH safeguarding narratives. Still, the Chinese state{\textquoteright}s practices and initiatives in safeguarding religion-related ICH flourished after ratifying the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2004. Since then, China{\textquoteright}s central government has established a nationwide framework to recognise representative ICH items, including religion-related ones. Beyond Beijing, various local state agencies have also developed noticeable enthusiasm for supporting the safeguarding of religion-related ICH. In addition to engaging directly with ICH safeguarding, the contemporary Chinese state has also shaped China{\textquoteright}s religion-related ICH by working closely with some academics and religious groups.},
	keywords = {heritage policy, ICH safeguarding, Intangible cultural heritage, religion-related heritage, state-centric approach, state{\textendash}religion relations},
	issn = {20771444 (ISSN)},
	doi = {10.3390/rel13080687},
	url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85136805412\&doi=10.3390\%2frel13080687\&partnerID=40\&md5=14313fe38b11f042536e973797c969e8},
	author = {Xu, Yawen and Tao, Yu}
}
