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FAN Shenshen
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DOI:10.17265/2159-550X/2026.10.004
Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou, China
Taihao Fuxi, revered as one of the mythological ancestors of the Chinese nation, occupies a vital position within the ritual landscape of Central China. This paper explores the ethnoreligious dimensions of Taihao Fuxi worship in Henan Huaiyang, where local folk devotion has evolved from spontaneous ritual practice to a form of officially recognized intangible cultural heritage. Drawing on fieldwork, participant observation, and semi-structured interviews conducted between 2022 and 2024, the study reveals how local ritual actors reinterpret ancient mythological symbols within a changing sociopolitical context. The paper argues that Taihao Fuxi worship functions as a cultural nexus between local identity, regional belonging, and national symbolism, serving simultaneously as a site of spiritual continuity and cultural reconstruction. From the perspective of ethnoreligious studies, this research highlights the dynamic negotiation between folk religiosity, state heritage policy, and communal memory. It contributes to broader discussions on how Chinese folk religions sustain moral order, identity expression, and social integration amid modern transformations.
Taihao Fuxi, folk religion, Huaiyang, ethnoreligious identity, intangible cultural heritage, ritual continuity, China
FAN Shenshen. (2026). The Ethnoreligious Dimensions of Taihao Fuxi Worship: Local Identity, Ritual Continuity, and the Sacred Heritage of Central China. History Research, October 2026, Vol. 8, No. 10, 599-604.
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