Transmission strategies and success factors of intangible cultural heritage - A case study of Taiyuan Luogu drum music art

Oct 15, 2026

This study examines transmission strategies and success factors of Taiyuan Luogu Drum Music Art, a National Intangible Cultural Heritage facing existential risk amid rapid urbanization. A qualitative case study focuses on the Tai Zhong Luogu Performing Art Troupe in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province. Data were collected through four phases of fieldwork, including semi-structured interviews with key transmitters and direct observations of rehearsals. Results show a shift from informal family transfer to troupe professionalization, driven by positioning, standardized pedagogy, and a modern administrative framework, supported by symbolic capital and multicultural integration.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Background and cultural significance

Succession crisis under urbanization

Academic gap and research objective

African Educational Research Journal Vol. 14(1), pp. 177-183, March 2026 ISSN: 2354-2160 Full Length Research Paper Transmission strategies and success factors of intangible cultural heritage: A case study of Taiyuan Luogu drum music art Yuanyue Liu, Narongruch Woramitmaitree* and Tawanchai Suanmonta College of Music, Mahasarakham University, Thailand. Accepted 24 February, 2026 | ABSTRACT
This study examines the transmission strategies and success factors of Taiyuan Luogu Drum Music Art, a National Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) facing an existential crisis due to rapid urbanization. The research was conducted to address the academic gap between historical documentation and the practical organizational management required for the art form's contemporary survival. Utilizing a qualitative case study design focused on the Tai Zhong Luogu Performing Art Troupe in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, data were collected through four phases of fieldwork, including semi-structured interviews with key transmittersand direct observations of rehearsals. The findings reveal a significant shift from informal, family-based transmission to a professionalized model of an art troupe. Key results indicate that success is driven by three pillars: professional positioning that rebrands folk ritual as high-value art, a standardized pedagogical system for technical precision, and a modern administrative framework that separates management from artistic execution. Additionally, the strategic use of ICH status as symbolic capital and the integration of multicultural elements were critical to market adaptation. These findings are important because they provide a replicable framework for cultural administrators and educators to transform fading traditions into sustainable, professionalized enterprises. The study concludes that the survival of ancient rhythms in the 21st century depends on balancing historical integrity with strategic organizational innovation.
Keywords: Taiyuan Luogu, intangible cultural heritage, transmission strategies, professionalization, Shanxi folk music. | | --- | | *Corresponding author. Email: [narongruch.w@msu.ac.th](narongruch.w@msu.ac.th). | INTRODUCTION Taiyuan Luogu, a profound ensemble of traditional folk percussion instruments including the Tanggu, Nao, and Bo, stands as a majestic cornerstone of Chinese musical heritage. Inscribed on the second batch of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2008, it is more than a mere musical performance; it is a cultural totem primarily popular in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province (Beibei, 2024; Howard, 2016) . Historically, this art form, often hailed asthe best Gu (drum) in the world, served as an indispensable medium for expressing communal identity, joy, and spiritual devotion during major festivals and agricultural rites. The Sanjin land, known as the cradle of Chinese drum culture, has nurtured Taiyuan Luogu into a sophisticated representative of the Jin cultural spirit (Xu et al. , 2018; Zhang and Moonsuwan, 2025) . However, as the pulse of the traditional farming era fades amid the rapid rhythms of modern urbanization, this vibrant heritage confronts an unprecedented existential crisis. A precarious crisis of succession characterizes the contemporary landscape for Taiyuan Luogu. Despite its esteemed reputation and national recognition, the transition from a traditional agrarian society to a market- Afr Educ Res J 178 driven industrial economy severed many of the organic ties that once sustained folk arts. Younger generations, driven by the pressures of modern career paths and the allure of globalized pop culture, are increasingly distancing themselves from the rigorous, time-consuming mastery required for traditional percussion (Frenneaux, 2025; Linaberry, 2021; Mitchell, 2024) . Such an attitude has resulted in a significant loss of talent and an aging practitioner base, with the average age of skilled performers continuing to rise while

FAQs

What problem does the study address about Taiyuan Luogu drum music art?

The study addresses an existential crisis driven by rapid urbanization, which weakens succession as younger generations move away from time-intensive traditional training.

How was the research conducted?

The study used a qualitative case study design with four phases of fieldwork, including semi-structured interviews with key transmitters and direct observation of rehearsals.

What are the key success factors identified by the findings?

Success is driven by three pillars: professional positioning that rebrands folk ritual as high-value art, a standardized pedagogical system for technical precision, and a modern administrative framework that separates management from artistic execution.

Oct 15, 2026

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