Rural Culture

Rural culture refers to the collection of ideological concepts, moral ethics, legal consciousness, scientific knowledge, educational practices, and cultural and recreational activities related to the production mode and way of life of rural areas and catering to the needs of local peasants. It reflects the development and changes in the economic, political, and social life of rural areas. The development of rural culture reflects the improvement of the level of civilization in rural society and drives the all-round development of peasants in the new era. The development and prosperity of rural culture is not only an essential driving force for the economic and social development of rural areas but also an effective way to meet the spiritual and cultural needs of the vast rural population. It is an important part of building a new socialist countryside. Both intangible and tangible cultural heritage bear the civilization of human society and represent the diversity of world cultures. The intangible cultural heritage, created and inherited by the people of various ethnic groups in China through long periods of production and daily life, embodies the unique values, aesthetic aspirations, and emotional memories of the Chinese nation. It is a reservoir of wisdom and civilization of the Chinese nation, signaling the cultural identity of the descendants of the Yellow Emperor and the Yan Emperor, and connecting the past and future of Chinese culture. It serves as an important cultural foundation for strengthening emotional ties among ethnic groups, promoting ethnic unity, and maintaining national unity and social stability. It is also an important resource for the development of today’s socialist cultural undertakings and cultural industries. Based on this understanding, we have conducted research on contemporary Chinese rural culture and intangible cultural heritage. Through a historical review of the development of rural culture, we summarize its achievements to identify successful experiences for further progress. By analyzing the existing problems, we explore the causes and propose corrective measures. From a theoretical perspective, we elaborate on the significance of rural cultural development, analyze various relationships that need to be managed in rural cultural construction, and suggest ways to protect and utilize rural culture and intangible cultural heritage. Against the broad background of rural culture and with a focus on intangible cultural heritage, this chapter examines the development of rural culture from various theoretical perspectives. Through macro-historical reflection and theoretical elaboration, as well as micro-level observations and practical discussions, this chapter aims to accurately grasp the historical pulse of contemporary rural cultural development, closely examine the current state of rural cultural development today, predict the basic trends of future rural cultural development, and propose preliminary strategies for the future development of rural culture in a more objective and scientific manner.