Traditional Festivities and Temple Fairs in Rural Cultural Construction: A Study in Xinjiang County, Shanxi Province
Abstract
Traditional festivities (社火in Chinese), originated from the ancient earth and fire gods worship, have been popular among Chinese rural people during the Spring Festival and influential in rural areas throughout China for thousands of years. Yellow River Basin area is a typical representative. Xinjiang county, situated in the middle reaches of the basin and the only state-level Historical and Cultural City in southern Shanxi, has been well-known for its colorful traditional festivities and temple fairs. From the relevant document study and field investigation in Xinjiang County, the authors found the new content in the festivities and major temple fairs there reveals positive role of the traditional cultural activities from the perspective of revitalizing rural China and the reconstruction of cultural ecology in the countryside.
How to Cite This Article
Ji Lingzhu, Ma Qiang (2025). Traditional Festivities and Temple Fairs in Rural Cultural Construction: A Study in Xinjiang County, Shanxi Province . International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Growth Evaluation (IJMRGE), 6(2), 83-91.
References
- 15. Asamuseumoffolkartactivities, traditionalfestivitiesandtemplefairsin Xinjiang Countyaretheoriginalnaturalruralculturalcarrierandenvironmentashighlightedinthe Opinions. Fortraditionalfestivities, governmentsatalllevelsin Xinjiang Countytrytosteerthemontothepathofinnovative, greenandharmoniousdevelopment[
- 16. Fortemplefairs, Xinjiang Countyhasalsointegratedthemintoafolkculturefestival. Itisworthnotingthatthe Xinjiang Countygovernmentandthegeneralpublicshouldmakefurthereffortstocombinethetraditionalconceptsofvirtue, faith, loyalty, filialpiety, righteousness, goodnessandloveinthetemplefairculturewiththecoresocialistvalues, andtoremovethecrudeandthefalseandextracttherefinedandthetrue. Forexample, guidingthepeople, eithervillagerswhohavenotreceivedadequateeducationoryoungpeoplewhodonotknowmuchaboutthehistoricalandculturalbackgroundoftraditionalcelebrationsottemplefairs, tolearnmoreabout Excellenttraditional Chineseculture; promotingtheuseofenvironmentallyfriendlymaterialsinsteadofburningincenseandpapermoney, whichpollutestheenvironment, andthepreventionofsomepeoplefrompromotingsuperstitiousideasandpracticingdeceptionattemplefairs; orusingthetraditionalculturalheritageascarrierstospreadadvancedsocialistcultureoroutstandingculturefromothercountriesetc. Inshort, emphasisshouldbeplacedonpromotingtheexcellenthistoricalandculturalcomponentsofthetemplefairs, andguidingthepublictounderstandhistoricalandculturalknowledgeandimprovetheirscientificliteracy. Asanimportantpartoftheruralpublicculturalecosystem, theholdingoftemplefairscultivatesalargenumberoflocalvernacularculturaltalents, attractspeoplefromallwalksoflifetojointheconstructionofruralcultureandimprovestheruralculturalecosystem. Tofindthesoulofthecountrysidewithcultureandtopromoteculturalrevitalizationofthecountrysideinacomprehensivemanner[17.
- 5. Acknowledgements
- 1. Aphased Shanxi Drum Music Culturein Contemporary Chinaandthe World(2020 Departmentof Shanxi Provincial Party Committee. Projectleader: Prof. Ji Lingzhu.
- 2. Aphasedachievementoftheresearchprojectof Teaching Researchon Shanxi Drum Music Culture(J20231097\, sponsoredby Shanxi Provincial Departmentof Education. Projectleader: Prof. Ji Lingzhu. Aphasedachievementoftheproject, Researchand Practiceonthe Integrationof Foreign Language Talent Cultivationand Shanxi Economicand Social Development---Exemplifiedby Spreading Shanxi Drum Music Culturein English, sponsoredby Taiyuan Normal University. Project Leader: Prof. Ji Lingzhu.
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