Vision Of Civilization Process:Since The 21st Century,Academic Transition Of Chinese Folklore Towards Life Change

Since the beginning of the 21st century,as China’s modernization and the revival of Chinese civilization have entered a new phase,there has been a profound and comprehensive structural transformation in the daily lives of the Chinese population.In such a historical context,Chinese ethnology inevitably encounters significant challenges and opportunities.It must choose a research direction that is"oriented towards the present," thereby facilitating the transformation and development of its own academic theoretical framework,discourse system,and research practices,embarking on a new journey.While carrying out the protection of folk culture is undoubtedly rational,it is not the fundamental task of contemporary Chinese ethnology.The most significant expectation society has for contemporary Chinese ethnology is that it aligns with the demands of the era characterized by social transformation,cultural exchange,and integration.It should engage in the great practice of inheriting and innovating the cultural heritage of the masses,producing research achievements that are innovative and impactful.This awareness of responsibility has led some ethnologists,starting from the year 2000,to gradually make breakthroughs in the academic transformation towards a focus on the present.Particularly,they have achieved initial results in the study of "life changes," and in this process,have begun to develop new methods,new perspectives,new paradigms,and new theories,facilitating the profound academic transformation of ethnology that is attuned to the times.Centered around these fundamental issues that need to be clarified and understood,this article will delve into the retrospective,clarification,and reflection on the academic transformation process of folklore studies oriented towards the changes in daily life since the 21st century.The aim is to create a research text with a stage-specific summary and framework significance in understanding the academic history of contemporary folklore studies.The academic transformation of Chinese folklore studies oriented towards the changes in daily life is influenced by factors such as the practical challenges of life changes,the achievements in its own academic development,and dialogues with international folklore studies and other disciplines.Folklore studies focused on life changes directly consider life changes as the narrative object,focusing on the civilization embodied in each individual.This not only involves how folklore studies face life changes but also relates to the reevaluation of the traditional understanding of folklore studies.Based on this fundamental social reality,Chinese folklore studies have had to reinterpret the fundamental concepts of the discipline,such as "min"(people)and "su"(customs),expand the scope of research,explain the understanding of folklore,especially its profound connection with the public’s sense of ongoing changes in daily life.It is essential to address the relationship between the traditional inheritance and the trans-formative development of folklore studies.In this process,three new perspectives closely related to the civilization process have emerged:urban studies,group studies,and research on online lifestyles.The academic transformation of Chinese folklore studies towards the changes in daily life is more profoundly reflected in the innovation of indigenous theories.The introduction and application of important theories such as "labor patterns" and"ritual customs interaction" have demonstrated the innovative potential of indigenous theories in Chinese folklore studies.This article takes the construction process of labor patterns and ritual customs interaction as its research focus,discussing their current applications,academic value,as well as certain inherent and inevitable issues in indigenous theoretical innovation.It explores the theoretical growth points of contemporary folklore studies,emphasizing research based on the perspective of civilization process and focusing on the study of life heritage.This approach aims to deepen the understanding,cognition,and appreciation of our national culture.Research on the recognition of civilization in Chinese folklore studies is carried out from the perspective of local identity.Local folklore records have become essential research methods for studying and interpreting local cultural production,the identification with Chinese civilization,and the construction of meaning in people’s lives.Contemporary local folklore records advocate intervening in life changes through folklore recording,creating a two-way exchange process between academic production and popular cultural practices.This approach enables folklore studies to contribute significantly to the development of social and cultural understanding.Through an academic historical investigation focused on the changes in daily life,this study recognizes that the most significant aspect of the academic transformation in Chinese folklore studies since the 21st century lies in the research oriented towards these life changes.This academic transformation is primarily manifested in adopting the perspective of the civilization process and establishing close connections with the shifts in folkloric practices,thus giving rise to the development of the Chinese folklore school.Research oriented towards life changes is closely related to the awareness of civilization subjectivity and the perspective of the civilization process.It represents an inevitable choice for the contemporary transformation and development of Chinese folklore studies.