Objective/Meaning  The living inheritance of intangible cultural heritage is an important proposition of cultural construction in the new era, and the emergence of new quality productive forces provides a new breakthrough for its living inheritance. Empowered by the new quality productive forces, the living inheritance of intangible cultural heritage can help continue the Chinese cultural context, strengthen the foundation of cultural confidence, stimulate the economic momentum, expand the paths for rural industrial revitalization, nourish people’s spiritual life, and respond to their expectations for a better life.

Methods/Procedures  By using the methods of literature analysis, case analysis and field investigation, the internal logic and contemporary value of empowering the living inheritance of intangible cultural heritage through new quality productive forces were analyzed. And then the practical paths were put forward, with the aim of providing ideas and references for the protection, inheritance, and innovative development of intangible cultural heritage in the new era.

Results/Conclusions  The study showed that the new quality productive forces were characterized by high technology, high efficiency, and high quality, which could promote the precise upgrading of intangible cultural heritage protection, the modern transformation of intangible cultural heritage inheritance, and the value transition of intangible cultural heritage development. Therefore, it was necessary to take technological innovation as the driving force, talent cultivation as the core, and government support as the foundation, so as to improve the effectiveness of intangible cultural heritage protection, activate the driving force of intangible cultural heritage inheritance, and promote the sustainable development of intangible cultural heritage.