Journal of Daesoon Thought and the Religions of East Asia (대순사상과 동아시아종교)

DAOS(The Daesoon Academy of Sciences) (대진대학교 대순사상학술원)
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The Modern White Horse Temple and Online Reconfiguring of a Buddhist Heritage Space

  • Received : 2023.07.22
  • Accepted : 2023.09.20
  • Published : 2023.09.30
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Abstract

Recent research shows that since the early 2000s, the Chinese Communist Party has increasingly used various cultural heritage sites, including Buddhist sites, as soft power agents. Furthermore, in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, launched by the People's Republic of China, Buddhist temples, representatives, and practices have been harnessed to play a role in the state's agenda. In this context, White Horse Temple, as a feature of cultural tourism in Henan Province, is facing new opportunities and challenges. The article examines the material particularities of reconstructing the temple in light of this trajectory, building on materials retrieved at the site, and online representations of the temple. The author explores how the temple's unique spatiality and characteristics stress the use of soft power which harnesses online and offline cultural and popular trends for state agenda.

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Acknowledgement

This research was partially carried out with the help of Collaborative Research Fund of the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (C7052-18G).

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