Introducing China's lesser-known contributions to UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage lists

 

 

Source:Global Times     Published: 2016/12/12

 

Delving into China’s contributions to UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage lists

 

 

A musician plays a Muqam song in Hami City, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.Photo: IC

 

 

A woman stands before a giant abacus at the China Abacus Museum in East China's Jiangsu Province in August. Photo: IC

 

On Wednesday, China's 24 Solar Terms were officially included on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The terms were the 39th item from China to make it on one of UNESCO's lists dedicated to intangible cultural heritage. Currently, China has 31 items listed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanityseven items on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding and one item on the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.

Below, the Global Times would like to introduce a few of these intangible cultural heritages with which readers may be unfamiliar.

 

Chinese mathematics 

Chinese Zhusuan is the knowledge and practices of performing mathematical calculations with an abacus. The earliest known mention of Zhusuan appears in the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220) work Shushu Jiyi (Notes on Arithmetic Methods) by Chinese mathematician Xu Yue.  
       Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponential multiplication and many other calculations can be performed by moving the beads on an abacus in accordance to Zhusuan practices.

Each bead on the upper side of the abacus represents the number five, while each bead on the lower side represents one. Unique rhymes were developed to make Zhusuan formulas easy to remember.

It was included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013 by the eighth committee.

 

Mongolian singing - Khoomei

Khoomei, or throat harmony, is a unique Mongolian overtone singing style. The singer uses his or her vocal cords to produce two pitches at the same time.

Khoomei is thought to trace back to an ancient ethnic group, the Huns. To connect with nature, the Huns who lived on the Mongolian Plateau mimicked the sounds found in natural environments and was closely tied to this group's nomadic and hunting culture. A skilled singer can produce a continual harmony while also mimicking the sound of things like a waterfall or various wildlife.

It is still practiced by Mongolians around the world today, including in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and western Mongolia.

It was included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009 by the fourth Committee.

 

Uyghur Muqam
       Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam refers to the variety of Muqam practices, including songs, dances and folk music, that are prevalent among Uyghur communities.

The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Northwest China is home to one of the largest Uyghur communities in the country.

The songs and lyrics contain folk ballads, proverbs and folk narratives that all possess great cultural, historical and artistic value. Muqam in a sense is an encyclopedia of Uyghur culture.

Throughout history, Muqam was influenced by Persian and Arabic music. Although Muqam exists in many regions outside of China, such as the Middle East, Turkey, India and many regions in central Asia, the Muqam of Xinjiang has localized to fit the region and has its own unique style.

It has developed into four main regional styles - Twelve Muqam, Dolan Muqam, Turpan Muqam and Hami Muqaum.

It was included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008 by the third committee.

 

The sea goddess Mazu

Mazu is the name of the goddess of the sea in China. She forms the center of a series of beliefs and customs practiced by many people living in China's coastal areas.

Originating during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), these practices reached a peak during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and are still prevalent today. According to legend, Mazu was originally a woman who lived on Meizhou Island, East China's Fujian Province in the 10th century.

After dying while rescuing survivors from a shipwreck, local residents built temples dedicated to her. Before sailing, fishermen often make an offering to Mazu and pray to her for safety.

An integral part of costal culture in China, ceremonies involving various activities such as dance performances and floral tributes are held every year.

Mazu beliefs and customs were included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009 by the fourth committee.

 

China's inclusions on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
       1. The 24 Solar Terms, knowledge of time and practices developed in China through observation of the sun's annual motion (2016)

       2. Chinese Zhusuan, knowledge and practices of mathematical calculation through the  cacus (2013)

       3. Chinese shadow puppetry (2011)

       4. Acupuncture and moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine (2010)

       5. Peking Opera (2010)

       6. Art of Chinese seal engraving (2009)

       7. China engraved block printing technique (2009)

       8. Chinese calligraphy (2009)

       9. Chinese paper-cut (2009)

      10. Chinese traditional architectural craftsmanship for timber-framed structures (2009)

      11. Craftsmanship of Nanjing Yunjin brocade (2009)

      12. Dragon Boat Festival (2009)

      13. Farmer's dance of China's Korean ethnic group (2009)

      14. Gesar epic tradition (2009)

      15. Grand song of the Dong ethnic group (2009)

      16. Hua'er (2009)

      17. Manas (2009)

      18. Mazu belief and customs (2009)

      19. Mongolian art of singing, Khoomei (2009)

      20. Nanyin (2009)

      21. Regong arts (2009)

      22. Sericulture and silk craftsmanship of China (2009)

      23. Tibetan opera (2009)

      24. Traditional firing technology of Longquan celadon (2009)

      25. Traditional handicrafts of making Xuan paper (2009)

      26. Xi'an wind and percussion ensemble (2009)

      27. Yueju opera (2009)

      28. Guqin and its music (2008)

      29. Kun Qu opera (2008)

      30. Urtiin Duu, traditional folk long song (2008)

      31. Uyghur Muqam of Xinjiang (2008)