Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Research - (2005. Suzhou) (Volumes 1 and 2)

Author: None
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: The protection of intangible cultural heritage should be carried out in accordance with the arrangements of the Central Committee and the State Council. During this process, we must not turn highly thoughtful work into something overly administrative, transform emotionally rich work into something dull and monotonous, or turn a vibrant, life-force-filled endeavor into rigid, mechanized statistical work. In these academic studies, experts and scholars play a very important role. At the same time, we should combine China's protection practices with international experiences, introducing successful examples from other countries in the field of intangible cultural heritage protection. The current trend is for countries worldwide to move toward openness, exchange, and integration. In this process, maintaining the independent character of national culture is particularly important. We must adhere to the principle of linking theory with practice and carry out academic research. In addition to studying intangible cultural heritage itself, we also need to research the problems that arise during its protection process. Furthermore, interdisciplinary collaboration should be fostered. Material and intangible cultural heritage cannot be entirely separated because many aspects are intertwined. These two areas of work, especially in cultural institutions, must be combined. For example, the Zhuang brocade of the Zhuang ethnic group is material, but it is now considered intangible cultural heritage because all its craftsmanship is embodied in the material form. One must see it to study its craftsmanship and then abstract it. Therefore, various disciplines—anthropology, sociology, law, communication studies, history, folklore, ethnology, geography, art history, museology, and others—should study the protection of intangible cultural heritage from different perspectives and angles. Strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-disciplinary research will promote theoretical research on the protection of cultural heritage with Chinese characteristics and the development of relevant disciplines.