Henan Dog-Chasing-Rabbit Ritual Sparks Heritage Debate Over Wildlife Protection
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago6 MIN
Summary
Henan Province's Xinxiang City is facing public debate after authorities proposed listing the traditional "dog chasing rabbit" (狗攆兔) hunting technique as a city-level intangible cultural heritage item. The Fengquan District Education, Sports and Culture Tourism Bureau released its 7th batch of proposed intangible cultural heritage representative projects on October 9, with the hunting technique and its designated inheritor Chen Geng (陳耿) included in the list . Animal protection volunteers have raised strong objections, noting that the Mongolian hare—the primary rabbit species in Henan and North China—is classified as a "three-beneficial" protected animal under the Wildlife Protection Law, which prohibits hunting . Local officials responded that the heritage application aims to preserve traditional skills and cultural memory, not to revive contemporary hunting activities, and that if approved, all performances would be confined to enclosed venues without live wild animals . The Xinxiang City Culture and Tourism Bureau stated it would coordinate with forestry authorities for verification, with final results expected in December .
Key Points
- The proposed listing was announced on October 9 by Fengquan District authorities in Xinxiang City's 7th batch of intangible heritage applications .
- The practice involves trained "Xi Gou" (細狗), a native Chinese sighthound breed known for speed, chasing wild hares during winter slack season .
- Mongolian hares in Henan are protected under China's Wildlife Protection Law as "three-beneficial" species with ecological, scientific and social value .
- Fengquan District hosted a "dog chasing rabbit" folk sports competition in April 2026, demonstrating the activity's local popularity .
- Professor Gao Lihong (高利紅) of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law stated that heritage protection does not require preserving historical practices verbatim when they conflict with current laws .
Why It Matters
This controversy illustrates a broader tension between preserving folk traditions and modern wildlife protection laws across China. If approved, the application could set a precedent for how traditional hunting or animal-based customs are adapted for intangible heritage status while remaining compliant with current legal frameworks . The outcome may influence how other provinces handle similar cultural preservation dilemmas involving activities that once involved hunting protected species.
This controversy illustrates a broader tension between preserving folk traditions and modern wildlife protection laws across China. If approved, the application could set a precedent for how traditional hunting or animal-based customs are adapted for intangible heritage status while remaining compliant with current legal frameworks . The outcome may influence how other provinces handle similar cultural preservation dilemmas involving activities that once involved hunting protected species.