Local-level social governance is fundamentally linked to societal harmony and stability and to the aspiration for a better life among the populace. It has been garnering increasing attention from all sectors of society. The 20th National Conference of the Chinese Communist Party proposed to "improve the local-level social governance system, promote the modernization of local-level governance, and ensure that society is both vibrant and well-ordered," highlighting that the new era's urban and rural governance system is an organic integration of self-governance, the rule of law, and moral governance. Simultaneously, as a nation with a long and rich history composed of multiple ethnic groups, China exhibits structural differences in geographical location, levels of economic development, and cultural practices. These disparities lead to the diversity and complexity of local-level social governance, providing fertile ground for extensive research in this field. Since the mid-20th century, social governance has gradually evolved into a focal topic within academic research, encompassing multiple disciplines such as sociology, political science, anthropology, law, and management. The interplay between institutions and culture in governance practice—and its impact on the effectiveness of local-level social governance—permeates related research across all these fields. The rise of new institutionalism since the 1980s has repositioned institutional factors at the forefront of social science research, considering cultural elements like values, norms, and beliefs as critical variables in institutions' formation, maintenance, and transformation. In anthropological studies, culture has consistently been considered an essential factor in understanding social behavior and organization. Cultural symbols and systems of meaning manifest differently across various societies, thereby shaping diverse social structures and governance models. This book explores the complexity of local-level social governance by examining cultural and institutional factors, using the endogenous motivation and real needs of local communities as a central theme.