Intangible Cultural Heritage: UNESCO inscribes 3 new Chinese cultural elements, practices to Intangible Cultural Heritage List

UNESCO adds 3 additional items to its Intangible Cultural Heritage List, traditional Li textile techniques, traditional Chinese wooden arch bridges, and the Qiang New Year festival. 

NANCY OVELAR DE GOROSTIAGA Chairperson, 19th Session of Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage "Great efforts were made to have the three items upgrade from the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It manifests how China attaches importance to the protection of intangible cultural heritage."

LUBNA MARIUM Representative of a Bangladeshi NGO "It shows that China has the good will to maintain cultural diversity."

The traditional textile from the Li ethnic group epitomizes China's earliest textile practices from over 3-thousand years ago. The key procedures of Li textile technique are spinning, dying, weaving, and embroidering. The textiles play a vital role in the ethnic group's social and cultural occasions, especially in weddings. Wooden arch bridges are a prominent feature in China's east coastal provinces, particularly Fujian and Zhejiang. As for the Qiang New Year, our reporter Tao Yuan has more. 

Traditions that have been passed down for thousands of years. 

Tucked away in the mountains of Southwest China's Sichuan province, the Qiang people have developed their unique New Year traditions and rituals. 

Held each year on the first day of the tenth month of the lunar calendar, it's an occasion to celebrate harvest, and give thanks to nature and the spirits. 

Professor Li Jin of Sichuan University is a scholar of Qiang culture. 

PROFESSOR LI JIN School of History and Culture, Sichuan University "Its core essence lies in offering sacrifices to the heavens, the earth, and all the deities, as well as to the ancestral spirits of the family, as a way of expressing gratitude and fulfilling our vows. Since it's a time of abundance, everyone gathers to enjoy delicious food, dress in festive attire, and sing and dance. This makes the festival rich in traditional customs and vibrancy."

The Qiang New Year was placed on UNESCO's Urgent Safeguarding List in 2009, shortly after a huge earthquake hit China's Sichuan province. 

The disaster destroyed Qiang villages and their sacred sites. 

PROFESSOR LI JIN School of History and Culture, Sichuan University "The Qiang people were a minority group with a population of about 300-thousand. After experiencing such a devastating disaster, they faced the challenges of rebuilding their homes and even population relocation. Globally, the rebuilding of homes and population displacement are often significant causes of cultural loss. During that period, many were deeply pessimistic, wondering if Qiang culture might never have the chance to survive again."

China's State Council took immediate action to revive the heritage, followed by UNESCO's recognition. 

Professor Li Jin says this ignited the most essential aspect of cultural preservation: the Qiang people's deep sense of pride. 

PROFESSOR LI JIN School of History and Culture, Sichuan University "We know that cultural preservation is often threatened by gradual erosion, losing a little today, a bit more tomorrow, and eventually, it disappears. However, this disaster made the Qiang people realize they must take the preservation of their culture seriously."

The transfer of the Qiang New Year to UNESCO's General List of Intangible Cultural Heritage is a recognition of the efforts of preservation, making sure the festival continues to shine as a symbol of tradition, unity, and hope for a better future.