Cultural History

The following posts provide an introduction into debates about what constitutes SZ’s cultural history. The question interests because “Shenzhen lacks cultural history” has been a critique made by Chinese and Western visitors to the city. However, in the new post 30th anniversary era, constructing a history for SZ has become a key initiative at all levels of government. Whether imperial or state history should constitute Shenzhen’s core history defines these debates. Of note, the more tradition (especially neo-confucianism) gains momentum in Shenzhen, the more pre-Deng cultural history is valorized as a source of civic identity.

Shekou 30th Anniversary talks about changing political culture in SZ from the perspective of Shekou, the first Industrial Zone in China (1978).

大鹏所城 discusses the vexed question of what constitutes cultural history in SZ.

五湖四海 tracks how Maoist symbolism was initially incorporated into Shenzhen cosmography.

赤湾天后宫 introduces how the Ministry of Culture finesses contradictions between official culture and local belief at the Chiwan Tian Hou Temple.

226文化南山 takes a bus ride through Nantou peninsula, site of the first imperial settlements.

九街 charts failed efforts to build a walking museum within the remains of the Nantou walled city.

Bitao Alley the Morning After discusses the racialized gendering of Reform and Opening in SZ.

儒商 introduces the idea of mercantile Confucianism.

Cultural Homogenization in Shenzhen. And not. maps the City in terms of its three primary Han cultural zones – national Mandarin (within the second line), Cantonese (western Shenzhen – Baoan District), and Hakka (eastern Shenzhen – Longgang District).

Clicking either history or shenzhen identity in tag cloud on the right side of the screen will bring up many more posts.