Riding the wind of rebirth

"Actually, UNESCO adopted the Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage as early as 1972." Minister Liu seemed to be an expert on this issue and continued: "Of course, due to historical reasons , our country did not join this convention until 1985.”

"This convention will include relics, ruins, cultural landscapes and natural heritage of special value in the World Heritage List, thereby confirming them as the heritage of all mankind. Of course, the protection content of the convention at this time does not include intangible culture It’s a legacy, but it’s a good start.”

“Since the 1980s, the world has realized that with the social changes brought about by economic globalization and the changes in the human living environment, intangible cultural heritage is more fragile than tangible cultural heritage and more susceptible to natural or man-made damage. damage."

"That's why the "Recommendations on the Protection of Traditional and Folk Culture" was issued in 1989."

“The Recommendations require state parties to adopt legislative means or other necessary measures to protect traditional culture and folk culture in accordance with their respective legal provisions.” Minister Liu said: “It needs to be pointed out here that the Recommendations mainly focus on the protection of heritage. Recording, preservation and research still do not place intangible cultural heritage on the same level as tangible cultural heritage.”

"Last year, South Korea proposed to the UNESCO Executive Board the creation of a 'Living Treasures of Humanity' system. The 142nd session of the UNESCO Executive Board made a resolution to encourage its member states to establish similar protection systems in their respective countries."

"This system is actually similar to the island country's 'National Treasure' protection system. Although our country does not yet have such a system, it has always been committed to 'national folk culture'. In recent years, there has been a craze for martial arts, calligraphy and painting, and national music. Fever, Go fever, etc. are actually realistic responses to the effects of protection and promotion.”

"Of course, it is difficult for this system to unify 'elegant and fine culture' as well as ancient palace art, traditional religious culture and other categories. It is also difficult to integrate the recently proposed 'human oral heritage' such as Mongolian, XZ and other epic folk songs such as "King Gesar", "Danjul", etc. are covered."

"In general, the definition of cultural heritage proposed by various countries around the world and approved by the United Nations is difficult to apply to a country with a long history, numerous ethnic groups, extremely rich cultural diversity, and extremely diverse cultural heritage categories. The richness of our country.”

"At least from the current point of view, the separation of tangible cultural heritage and intangible cultural heritage that you proposed is the most scientific, the most reasonable, and the most suitable for our country's national conditions."

Zhou Zhi said: "We need new normative tools to protect our cultural heritage. And I also believe that from decades of protection work by the international community, the value of intangible heritage will continue to be understood and gradually deepened, and the value of intangible heritage will gradually deepen. The scope of intangible cultural heritage will continue to expand, and the depth and intensity of protection will continue to be strengthened.”

"The new classification method must meet the requirements of the times, comply with historical development, and have practical significance." Zhou Zhi said seriously: "I think we can first develop our own 'national standards' based on the characteristics of our own cultural heritage, and then At UNESCO, make our own recommendations.”

"I see that you also recorded some general information in the report?"

"I have written everything I can think of into the report." Zhou Zhi smiled: "Folk literature, traditional music, traditional dance, traditional drama, folk arts, traditional sports, entertainment and acrobatics, traditional fine arts, traditional skills, traditional medicine, folk customs ”

"If it doesn't work, how about we add another one?"

"It doesn't matter. As you just said, your classification is based on the characteristics of our country's cultural heritage." Minister Liu smiled and said: "If we want to make suggestions to UNESCO, then we need to What’s the best way to replace our country’s products with those from the world? Do you have any good suggestions?”

“Then let’s translate our twelve major categories: Intangible cultural heritage refers to various traditional cultural expressions that are passed down from generation to generation by people of all ethnic groups around the world and regarded as part of their cultural heritage, as well as those related to these expressions. Relevant objects, tools and places.”

“Specifically, it should include—traditional oral literature and the language as its carrier;

Traditional arts: art, calligraphy, music, dance, drama, folk arts and acrobatics;

Traditional Crafts: Craftsmanship, Medicine and Calendar;

Traditional rituals: etiquette, festivals and other folk customs;

traditional sports and entertainment;

and other intangible cultural heritage. "

"Is this statement more in line with the way foreigners understand it?"

"Is this what you are thinking now?" Minister Liu took out a pen and notebook: "I have to remember this, it was not in your previous report."

While recording, he added: "By the way, I would also like to thank you for donating the statue of the Three Saints in Dry Lacquer and Ramie Huayan to the country. There will be a donation ceremony at the National Museum later. Can we go there together?"

"I really can't afford this." Zhou Zhi waved his hands repeatedly: "The three holy statues were rescued from the foundation... um, sorted out from the material cultural heritage."

Minister Liu showed an understanding expression. The Three Holy Statues were originally three mouth-swallowing Bodhisattvas. Those things are not qualified to be defined as cultural relics, nor are they qualified to be defined as building components. They are not qualified to be defined as antiques. Now with this new term, It's really useful, right?

"At the beginning of the establishment of the foundation, an agreement has been made. Everything that can reach the level of cultural relics should be handed over to the state. Therefore, the Three Saints statues originally belong to the state." Zhou Zhi said: "So the handover ceremony will be held by us. Sister Wan Qiu, secretary-general of the foundation, serves as the representative. I am just an ordinary staff member in the foundation and my level is not high enough.”

"Hahahaha..." Minister Liu couldn't help laughing: "Stop talking nonsense here. When did directors become ordinary employees?"

"Why are you the key party, the discoverer of the national treasure, and you really don't know the story of Zilu Shou Niu? You must show your face in this matter."

Zhou Zhi had no choice but to smile: "The main reason is that I'm afraid that the plane will be delayed and I won't be able to make it back, and I have to go to class tomorrow. Since you said so, I must obey."

In fact, this type of national treasure donation handover ceremony is not complicated at all, because the amount of information itself can easily attract the attention of the whole country, so there is no need to create a huge pageant to receive the media.

Donors are often very influential people. Although today's media reporters are known as the "uncrowned kings," units like the National Museum do not need to please them at all. They have a good cooperative relationship with the Central Government, so it is natural to send a notice. They will rush to cooperate with the work. (End of chapter)