World Heritage as discourse: knowledge, discipline and dissonance in Fujian Tulou sites

Fujian Tulou's official World Heritage discourse, while emphasizing harmony between human habitat and nature, functions similarly to Western heritage narratives by privileging expert knowledge and governmental authority over local voices. This study reveals that the harmony discourse, despite its intent to foster societal cohesion, creates significant dissonance among inhabitants by marginalizing local residents' roles in conservation and legitimizing governmental power through framing non-heritage practices like public health and moral norms. The research compares Fujian Tulou's discourse with authorized heritage discourse using textual analysis, highlighting the hegemonic nature of both narratives.

Yan, H. (2014). World Heritage as discourse: knowledge, discipline and dissonance in Fujian Tulou sites. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 21(1), 65–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2014.894930