Bench Dragon Performance at Pujiang, Zhejiang Province: The Overlapping in-between the Ritual Practice and Intangible Cultural Heritage Management of China

Abstract

This is a qualitative survey aiming to study the history of the development of Pujiang and the history of the Pujiang Bench Dragon performance, to analyze the process of the ritual practice of the Pujiang Bench Dragon, the process of the Bench Dragon becoming a national intangible cultural heritage and the management of the intangible cultural heritage, and to use the Spring Festival as the background of the study to summarize the overlapping relationship that occurs between the process of the ritual practice and the management of the intangible cultural heritage of the Pujiang Bench Dragon in the Spring Festival. Intangible cultural heritage is not only a valuable treasure of Chinese traditional culture but also a concentrated manifestation of the diversity of Chinese culture. The Pujiang Bench Dragon has become an outstanding representative of national intangible cultural heritage due to its majestic momentum, varied shapes, and diverse cultural connotations.

The researchers analyzed data from literature studies and interviews with experts, intangible cultural heritage practitioners, and villagers to understand the ritual practices and intangible cultural heritage management process of the Pujiang Bench Dragon. Although there are slight changes in the ceremonial process and form due to factors such as tourism development, the performance form and the essence of the Pujiang Bench Dragon's rituals and entertainment for gods and goddesses remain unchanged under the constraints of the family concept. The results of the study are summarized and discussed using the descriptive analysis method, which shows that the creation of the Pujiang Bench Dragon is inextricably linked to the local production and life in Pujiang, and presents different shapes in various periods. There is an overlapping relationship between ritual practice and intangible cultural heritage management in nature and status, and analyzing the overlap between the two is conducive to making targeted suggestions for the inheritance and protection of the Pujiang Bench Dragon.

As a national intangible cultural heritage, the Pujiang Bench Dragon has an important conservation value, which is conducive to the protection of folk culture, provides villagers with emotional support and solid identity, and is also conducive to the development of folklore sports, which helps Pujiang realize rural revitalization through the integration of culture and tourism. However, in the process of development, some problems need to be solved, such as the deviation from the government's management concept of intangible cultural heritage and the single mode of inheritance of the bench dragon.

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