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Entertainment in China has always held an ambivalent status due to moral and political concerns. Culturally speaking it sits uneasily within a tradition that allows only modest entertainment for the ruler who supposedly should set the model for all behavior. Prone to be associated with moral decadence and excessive living, entertainment has always come under the control of local as well as central governments. Entertainment is defined here as a socially mediated and often public activity. The am…

From a modern point of view, Chinese festivals may be grouped into two large categories: festivals based on the traditional lunar calendar (calendar and chronology) with religious elements woven into them; and festivals set up by the state, based on political considerations. The first category reflects the richness of traditional Chinese culture which highlights local custom, fantasy, and religious beliefs; it demonstrates how fundamental these festivals are in structuring the life of the people…

The invention of leisure and with it the concept of leisure time in China took place during the late 19th century. It was established culturally by being set off against another innovation, "work time." Leisure as a time free from urgent and purposeful work has been a core ingredient of a traditional cultivated life-style; it could be filled by a wide range of activities. Although all classes had their particular leisure activities, the notion is mostly associated with the life-style of the educated and wealthy classes. The new …