Source: CCTV.com

04-18-2007 10:13

Special Report:   Cultural Heritage Day

China is demonstrating its commitment to protecting cultural heritage at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. A host of hallowed artistic traditions from a government sponsored encyclopedia published just a few days ago are on display.

With performances and exhibitions, the festival of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of China covers a wide spectrum including handicrafts, music and dance, ethnic customs and festival celebrations.

Highlights are the four items recognized by the UNESCO as " Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" since 2001. The largest number from just a single country. They are the 500-year-old Kunqu Opera, music for the guqin, a 3000-year-old seven-string zither, Uygur Mukam music and the Pastoral Songs of Mongolia.

The rest of the displayed items were a selection from China's first national intangible heritage list. In 2006, the government announced 518 items that made this list. They include the Spring Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, Legend of Madame White Snake, Wuqiao Acrobatics and Shaolin Kungfu.

All are given detailed interpretation in a new encyclopedia, the result of years' of nationwide research. The book provides invaluable data for further protection.

UNESCO created its first charter for intangible heritage protection in October 2003. China signed up to it in 2004 and has since then been continually strengthening its efforts to safeguard the nation's treasure house of traditions and arts.

 

Editor:Liu Fang