China is currently reviewing more candidates for the world's
Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) list. From a preliminary set
compiled this year, the Chinese government will make a final
selection and recommendations to the United Nations, according to
Vice-Cultural Minister Zhou Heping.
"Each provincial government can introduce two candidate items to
the preliminary list, which aims to better protect our heritage
from the impact of urbanization and globalization," said Zhou at
Tuesday's national conference of cultural departments.
According to UNESCO, "intangible cultural heritage" refers to
practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, and skills that
communities, groups, and in some cases, individuals recognize as
part of their cultural heritage.
As a member of the UNESCO 18-member inter-governmental committee
to safeguard ICH, China has been strengthening efforts in ICH
protection over the past few years.
Since 2001, items proclaimed by UNESCO as Masterpieces of the
Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity include: Kun Qu, one of
the oldest forms of opera in the country; Chinese zither, the
Guqin, a solo musical instrument dating back 3,000 years; Xinjiang
Uygur Muqam, a blend of song, dance, and folk and classical music;
and, Long Song, a type of Mongolian lyrical chant.
The Chinese State Council published its first batch of
state-level intangible heritages last June, including the Spring
Festival, Peking Opera, acupuncture, the Legend of Madame White
Snake, and Shaolin Kungfu.
(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2007)