Abstract

This study investigates the contemporary transmission of Qitai Yangge (祁太秧歌), a folk operatic form from Shanxi (山西省), China, through a hybrid model that combines traditional apprenticeship with institutionalised teaching. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in Gulian Village (谷恋村) and interviews with national cultural bearers, it explores how intergenerational oral practices coexist with structured educational programmes. The research reveals that while apprenticeship fosters embodied knowledge and community integration, institutional instruction expands accessibility and offers pedagogical formalisation. This article argues that rather than replacing one approach with the other, the sustainable future of this intangible cultural heritage lies in negotiating between tradition and adaptation. This convergence through divergent transmission pathways illustrates how dynamic cultural practices can remain resilient in the face of modernity.

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