Xiaotao Wang (Advanced Institute for Confucian Studies, Shandong University )
Due to government restrictions on religious activities, it has been difficult in recent years to study traditional temple festivals, in contrast to the actual willingness of people to undertake such activities in accord with their religious beliefs. However, with the rise in the promotion of intangible cultural heritage activities, people's folk beliefs have found a new outlet. At present, there are few discussions in the literature of how activities based in folk belief systems adapt to government intervention. This paper attempts to examine this adaptation process by focusing on the Liu-Wang Temple Festival（刘王庙会）, which is a classic example of an activity rooted in a folk belief system. This study uses the case investigation method to examine how folk beliefs adapt to the contemporary social environment, specifically with respect to cultural, sacrificial, and social functions.
Part of V3-05 The Diversity of Folk Religious Beliefs in Contemporary Chinese Society, Wednesday, October 11, 7:30 pm–9:30 pm