Cultural resilience in urbanization and the repercussion of tradition: a case on the Putian Plain, Fujian Province, China

Abstract

Rapid urbanization during the past decades have turned southeastern coastal China from traditional brick settlements into concrete forests. However, studies in Putian Plain reveal that apart from the physical appearances, local popular religion welcomed repercussions in these decades, even during the pandemic years. This paper looks at contemporary ritual practices and points out how social, cultural and ecological system of a unique ritual alliance system (Qijing) actives. Through practicing a ritualized everyday life, local communities managed to maintain certain indolence in different political and economic circumstances and achieve cultural resilience through various challenges brought by urbanization.

Keywords

• urbanization
• china
• popular religion
• cultural resilience
• pandemic