The Place Reconstruction, Government Practice, and Ethnic Identity of Chinese Folk Song Zhangjiachuan Hua'er

This paper attempts to applied Tuan's (1977) theory of place and space in order to present the perspective of human beings' understanding of place, space, and reconfiguration of place, and to explore the ecological view of folk music's survival in place. Based on this theory, this study examines what can be found in the Northwest Chinese folk song Zhangjiachuan Hua'er: 1)The local knowledge embedded in Zhangjiachuan Hua'er exhibits diachronic development. Characterized by ethnic integration, folklore, lyrical content, and symbolic elements, Zhangjiachuan Hua'er exemplifies local features that evoke a "sense of place," grounded in experiences, self, and ethnic traits. 2)Owing to the role transformation of Zhangjiachuan Hua'er, the local distinct identity of Zhangjiachuan Hua'er has been brought outstanding via the creation of cultural symbols as well as Innovative practices of local government, which achieved acceptance and recognition from local government, ethnic group, and so forth and so on. Thus, the traditional symbol meaning of Zhangjiachuan Hua'er has been extended through synchronic exploration. 3) The crux of ethnic groups' shifting identification with Zhangjiachuan Hua'er lies in the interaction and integration of "Self" and "The other" within the local context. This research extends the theoretical understanding of the dynamic evolution of human-land relationships through the interplay of diachronic and synchronic mechanisms in local reconstruction. It also offers practical guidance for the preservation, transmission, and development of ethnic intangible cultural heritage (ICH). Based on place and space theories, this study aims to further explore through discussions on folk music and interdisciplinary dialogues.