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China’s "intangible cultural heritage" should be better protected under moves being made to preserve endangered art. This is according to State Council member Chen Zhili, who said in June that nine ministries and departments would launch joint efforts to safeguard certain forms of heritage. Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng also stressed at a two-day working conference on heritage protection in Beijing that local culture departments should undertake preservation in good faith instead of with the sole goal of fueling local tourism or enhancing publicity. "Protecting intangible culture in China is of great importance to maintaining a diversified world," Chen said. "It"s also part of China "s efforts to safeguard the nation"s cultural identity." The demolition of Beijing"s old city walls, she said, was a blunder that erased the city"s unique style and diversity. "It"s the most critical time for China to preserve both tangible and intangible cultural heritage," Chen said, as historical villages in remote areas disappear and numerous bland buildings take their place. Such heritage protection is drawing increasing attention from China"s senior leadership. "Over the next five years, the Chinese Government is to allocate 50 million yuan (US$6.1 million) to preserve Kunqu - an art form already on UNESCO"s protection list," Ministry of Finance official Wang Jiaxin said at the two-day conference. The other Chinese art form on UNESCO"s list is Guqin, while Uygur Mukam, a centuries-old form of music from Northwest China"s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is preparing to apply for recognition by the world body.

Since 2003, the Chinese Government has earmarked 46 million yuan (US$5.6 million) for a special project designed to preserve important cultural forms. But it has not yet been decided which cultural art forms are most in need of funds for protection. Vice-Minister of Education Zhang Xinsheng urged at the conference that intangible cultural heritage should be covered in education for elementary and middle school students. "Lessons such as geography, history, and Chinese literature need to give students an insight into intangible cultural heritage," Zhang said during the conference, which drew more than 130 delegates from provincial culture departments. He also demanded universities and colleges function as advisory bodies for cultural protection while institutions involved in art education should train people to practice endangered art forms. Apart from the culture, finance, and education ministries, several other departments are expected to join the effort. Tong Mingkang, deputy chief of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, called for museums across the country to play important roles in preserving endangered art. "The management of museums should be open-minded and they should improve their understanding of intangible cultural heritage," Tong said. Folk Artists Key to Preserving Cultural Heritage The Chinese Academy of Arts invited 30 folk artists to act as researchers in June, a move by the government seen as a big step towards the preservation of the country"s "intangible cultural heritage." The 30 are experts in Chinese folk arts such as paper cutting, clay molding, kite making, and Tibetan tongka making (silk or satin scroll painting ). These folk arts are part of the country"s intangible cultural heritage, according to Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng. Sun said that folk artists are important components of a country"s intangible cultural heritage because they play an important role in ensuring its survival. In a meeting that was held days after China"s 3,000-year-old musical instrument, the guqin, was internationally recognized as a masterpiece by UNESCO, Sun said China urgently needed to rescue and preserve its intangible cultural heritage. He promised to give more support, including funding, to help intangible cultural heritage such as folklore and customs survive and develop. Wang Wenzhang, president of the Chinese Academy of Arts, promised yesterday to take further measures to promote the works of these artists, such as holding exhibitions and setting up workshops for them. He said the academy plans to invite 70 additional folk artists within five years to become researchers. System Building to Protect Intangible Heritage Zhou Heping, deputy Culture Minister, said at a press conference in late April that China would set up a database and a detailed list of intangible cultural heritage at country, provincial, city, and county levels. The country will gradually form a safeguarding system with Chinese characteristics to protect intangible cultural heritage. Zhou added that in promoting traditional Chinese culture, the government has made many efforts and garnered significant achievements. In August 2004, China joined the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, becoming one of the few member countries included by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). According to Zhou, the General Office of the State Council had issued a document that gives some suggestions on the safeguarding of China"s intangible cultural heritage and calls for the establishment of the said safeguarding system. This year the government will complete the first list of intangible cultural heritage at the county-level. After that, China will begin to enrich the lists at provincial, city, and county levels. Link: Intangible Heritage The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage defines the intangible cultural heritage as the practices, representations, and expressions, as well as the knowledge and skills that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. It is sometimes called living cultural heritage, and is manifested among other things in the following domains: oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage; performing arts; social practices, rituals, and festive events; knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe; traditional craftsmanship. The intangible cultural heritage is transmitted from generation to generation, and is constantly re-created by communities and groups, in response to their environment, their interaction with nature, and their historical conditions of existence. It provides people with a sense of identity and continuity, and its safeguarding promotes, sustains, and develops cultural diversity and human creativity.