Living Inheritance and Industrial Synergy: A Study on the Multi-stakeholder Governance Mechanism for Foshan ‘Kung Fu’ and ‘Lion Dance’ IP Empowering the Integration of Culture, Commerce, and Tourism

Abstract

Against the backdrop of the national strategy for cultural confidence and the deep integration of culture and tourism, how to achieve the living inheritance and industrial value transformation of local characteristic cultural IP has become a significant issue of our time. As cultural symbols with global influence, Foshan's "Kung Fu" and "Lion Dance" face practical dilemmas in their integrated development of culture, commerce, and tourism, including the erosion of cultural authenticity, the lack of an industrial linkage mechanism, and an imbalance of rights and responsibilities among multiple stakeholders. Traditional single-governance models led by the government or driven by the market are no longer adequate to meet the developmental needs of this complex system. Based on the theory of multi-stakeholder governance and integrating the intrinsic requirements of industrial synergy and the living inheritance of cultural IP, this paper systematically analyzes the interaction logic and governance imbalances among the three main stakeholders—government, enterprises, and social communities—in the process of Foshan's "Kung Fu" and "Lion Dance" IP empowering the integrated development of regional culture, commerce, and tourism. The study posits that the key to resolving the current dilemmas lies in constructing a new paradigm of multi-stakeholder governance centered on synergistic co-existence. The core of this mechanism is to promote the precise repositioning of each stakeholder's role: the government should shift from being a "leader" to a "guide" and "regulator," focusing on top-level design, platform construction, and market order maintenance; enterprises should transform from "developers" to "innovators" and "co-constructors," assuming social responsibility for cultural inheritance while pursuing economic benefits; and social communities must evolve from "passive inheritors" to "active participants" and "supervisors," becoming the guardians of cultural authenticity and proactive forces in value co-creation. To ensure the effective operation of this mechanism, it is imperative to establish regular platforms for negotiation and dialogue, innovative mechanisms for benefit distribution and incentives, a dynamic evaluation and feedback system, and to improve corresponding policies, regulations, and intellectual property protection systems. This research aims to provide a theoretical reference and practical guide for the protective development and sustainable growth of similar local characteristic cultural IPs in Foshan and across the nation.