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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Top-down rural heritage

revitalization strategies, they overlook its potential as a lens and intangible cultural heritage projects to showcase the
for analyzing the mindset of national or local governments village’s historical and cultural significance. In addition,
regarding rural revitalization measures. To address this it examines how the reorganization of the village’s daily
gap, this article aims to re-examine the factors contributing functions reflects the impact of China’s economy-driven
to Tangwei village’s revitalization approach from a different rural tourism activities on the preservation of historical
perspective. villages. Through this multimethod approach and
As Wen (2020) posits, heritage-making is a process in-depth analysis, the research aims to provide a nuanced
that reorganizes everyday traditions and practices to align understanding of the complex dynamics between local
with local economic strategies. Wen examines the interplay governance and rural space preservation in China, as
between cultural heritage and economic development exemplified by the heritage revitalization efforts in Tangwei
in Dongkeng of Dongguan, Guangdong, during village.
China’s transition from the reform era to the “new era.” 2. Tangwei village: Historical context and
Confronted with the need for industrial restructuring in
the early 2000s, Dongkeng’s local government strategically current conditions
reconstructed the folk singing tradition of muyuge According to records from the State Council, Tangwei village
(木魚歌) as an intangible cultural heritage. By establishing currently preserves 268 houses, 21 ancestral halls, 19 study
muyuge as a local cultural brand and integrating it into rooms (in the context of this article, “study room” refers
economic and cultural development initiatives, Dongkeng to a house traditionally used for scholarly activities), three
demonstrates how local governments in China repurpose jiadian (家墊; family shrines), and four village gates from
traditions and cultural resources to reshape socioeconomic the Ming (1368 – 1644) and Qing (1644 – 1911) dynasties.
development. This process emphasizes traditional culture These features make it one of the most well-preserved
and consolidates a nationalistic cultural identity. This historical villages in Lingnan (岭南; a geographical
heritage-making process in Dongkeng provides valuable and cultural region in southern China traditionally
insights into the complex dynamics between cultural encompassing Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and parts
preservation, local governance, and economic imperatives of southern Fujian, and northern Vietnam, bounded by
in contemporary China. the Nanling Mountains in the north and the South China
This article builds on Wen’s concept of the relationship Sea to the south) (Jiang & Cheng, 2014). The history of
between heritage-making and economic development, Tangwei village can be traced back to the Southern Song
utilizing the revitalization and preservation of Tangwei dynasty (1127 – 1279). Li Kui (李魁, 1265 – unknown
village in Dongguan, Guangdong, China, as a case study. death date), also known as Li’an Gong, was a descendant of
The research adopts a qualitative methodology, drawing on the Neo-Confucian scholar Li Yong (李用, 1198 – 1279),
multiple data sources collected during field investigations who is noted for spreading Confucianism to Japan (Luo,
conducted in Tangwei village in 2024. 2003). At the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, Li Kui
moved from Baima Village (白馬村) in Dongguan to settle
Data collection methods include: in Tangwei village, where he established a school. Li Yong’s
(i). Visual documentation: Photographs and videos son, Li Chunsou (李春叟, 1219 – 1298), was a juren (举人;
were captured to document the village’s physical an individual who passed the provincial-level imperial civil
environment, architectural features, and cultural service examination) during the Southern Song dynasty. Li
activities Kui’s son-in-law, Xiong Fei (熊飛, unknown birth date–
(ii). Oral histories: Semi-structured interviews were 1276), led troops in response to Wen Tianxiang’s (文天祥,
conducted with villagers, artists, and local officials to 1127 – 1279) call to resist the Yuan dynasty (1271 – 1368)
gather their perspectives on the revitalization process, but ultimately died in the battle. Before Li Kui’s relocation,
traditional practices, and the impact of government no written records of Tangwei village existed, but it is
initiatives. A total of five interviews, each lasting believed to have been a mixed-surname settlement. During
between 30 and 60 min, were completed the Ming dynasty, the Li clan began compiling genealogies.
(iii). Textual analysis: Official documents, village records, In the Kangxi era (1661 – 1722) of the Qing dynasty,
media reports, and academic literature related to they built new ancestral halls, study rooms, and village
Tangwei village and rural revitalization policies walls, reflecting improvements in the village’s economic
were reviewed. This analysis provided context and and cultural conditions. From the late 19 century to the
th
triangulated findings from the visual and oral data. early 20 century, members of the Li clan expanded their
th
The research focuses on how local government and economic activities to Shilong, Hong Kong, and other
village representatives strategically utilize artistic symbols places. Village records indicate that during this time, the

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2025) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.5029