In 2002, Nha Nhac was nominated and in 2003 was inscribed on the List of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. On the same occasion, the UNESCO General Conference adopted the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage - an international legal instrument of significance for global culture.
The strong commitment of the country and the results of the action program to protect Nha Nhac under the Law on Cultural Heritage in the first 3 years have affirmed the prestige of Vietnam with UNESCO member countries. At the General Assembly on the Convention held in Paris in 2006, Vietnam was elected to the Intergovernmental Committee for the first term (2006-2010). The achievements and lessons learned in protecting Nha Nhac have had a positive impact, promoting the successful nomination of the following heritages: Cultural Space of Gongs of the Central Highlands, Quan Ho Bac Ninh , Ca Tru, Giong Festival, Xoan singing, Hung King worship...
The first performance of Nha Nhac after its heritage was honored in 2004 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Photo: TL
After 5 years of implementing the urgent safeguarding action program (2003-2008), Nha Nhac was transferred to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2008). That was the time when the heritage was more fully recognized and more vital. The next 5 years were a series of major activities in research, documentation, restoration and teaching to ensure that Nha Nhac was being protected by the state and practiced by the community. From 2013 - 2023: with the difficulties of climate change and natural disasters, epidemics and economic recession, Nha Nhac protection activities became much more difficult. Adapting to the circumstances and conditions, the determination to protect the heritage of the Thua Thien Hue provincial government once again affirmed the path of Nha Nhac development in contemporary life. The strategy of sustainable human resource development through artistic heritage education initiated and implemented by the Hue Monuments Conservation Center in recent years is a significant achievement contributing to the results of 20 years of protecting the Nguyen Dynasty's Royal Court Music.
From a cultural management perspective, the article will evaluate these results based on reference to UNESCO criteria.
2003: Heritage listed, 5-year action plan
It can be said that Nha Nhac was given priority as the first heritage nominated for UNESCO's list because it simultaneously meets two important criteria: " representative " and "urgent ".
Once a famous performing art form of the royal court, Nha Nhac was also the soul of the rituals, customs and festivals of the Nguyen Dynasty. In Nha Nhac, we can see elements distilled from Vietnamese culture, creating identity and representation. The decline of Nha Nhac began in 1945 after the state system changed, the practice space no longer existed and cultural subjects had to leave their profession to find other jobs to make a living. Nha Nhac declined even faster due to nearly 30 years of war and several decades of economic recovery of the country.
By the end of the 20th century, along with the comprehensive renovation of the country, research on Nha Nhac returned with great efforts from domestic and international scientists (Japan), especially the efforts and vision of Thua Thien Hue province. Nha Nhac had a place to return to and gradually revived. That was the restoration and re-establishment of the Hue Royal Traditional Arts Theater. The establishment of a dossier to nominate Nha Nhac for the UNESCO Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity Program is an extremely important policy for the protection of Nha Nhac in particular and for representative intangible cultural heritages of Vietnam in general.
Over the past 20 years, 14 intangible cultural heritages have been successively recorded in the UNESCO lists. The beginning of Nha Nhac was fortunate, fateful and sustainable. From 2003 to 2008, Nha Nhac projects focused on teaching, restoring the practice of the host community and rapidly training the next generation while simultaneously establishing new spaces and environments for performance. This is the most important and fundamental group of solutions required by the 2003 Convention. In addition, " the role of the community " is the most important criterion to evaluate the results of this group of solutions. The Hue Monuments Conservation Center and its affiliated organization, the Hue Royal Traditional Arts Theater, have done very well with these programs with the mission of a heritage protection management institution.
Delegation of Vietnamese cultural officials and Nha Nhac artists and artisans at UNESCO headquarters in 2004. Photo: TL
2008: No longer “emergency”, transformed into Representative Heritage
In 2008, at the Intergovernmental Committee Meeting in Istanbul, Türkiye, Nha Nhac was re-listed and transferred to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The nature of this title is to recognize the value of identity, representing the heritage of each country to contribute to the common cultural diversity of humanity. After 5 years from 2008 - 2013, Nha Nhac has made new steps in the protection process with the steadfastness of the next generation of artisans, the young musicians are quickly passed on through a number of special projects with the support of UNESCO.
The Hue Monuments Conservation Center has focused on documenting and restoring some Nha Nhac pieces. With a special regime to care for and promote two "Living Human Treasures", the artisans Lu Huu Thi and Tran Kich, the last two musicians of Nha Nhac during the Nguyen Dynasty, who had time to pass on their pieces to the next generation before passing away. Passing on the profession and quickly passing on the skills to children and grandchildren, to the younger generation is the job of the artisans, while employing young musicians, giving them the opportunity to practice and make a living from their profession is the job of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, the job of the state. Teaching is one of the important protection solutions to meet the requirements of "sustainable development ". The criteria cover all criteria.
2013: Reinventing and reaching out to the public
The most difficult problem of any performing arts heritage is developing the audience. With Nha Nhac, it is much more difficult because this art form has fewer potential audiences than other folk performing arts. Bringing Nha Nhac into life has been set as a strategic goal and has been persistently implemented over the past 20 years.
Nha Nhac performance program at Duyet Thi Duong theater relic, Hue Imperial City. Photo: S. Thuy
With many experiments, including some unsuccessful ones, the problem of Nha Nhac has finally been solved with the criterion of " re-innovation " so that the heritage can live in modern society. Nha Nhac, along with Royal Tuong, Royal Dance, Hue Ca and some other performing arts, has been integrated smoothly and dynamically to reach the public, other spaces to introduce, promote, communicate and hope to gradually permeate and one day become the taste and demand of the public.
Intangible cultural heritage is life, always developing. “Re-creation” based on core values is the principle and also the key to open the path to success on the path of heritage protection. Nha Nhac is on that path. Identity , creativity and emotion , are these the keywords and goals that Nha Nhac is aiming for?
2023: For sustainable development
It can be said that among the intangible cultural heritages recognized by UNESCO, Nha Nhac is exported the most. When there is an opportunity, we go on the road, when there is an opportunity, we develop. The names of artists and artisans are still mentioned in special tours with Prof. Dr. Tran Van Khe from nearly 20 years ago, with friends from Korea and Japan. Integrating to introduce ourselves, to share cultural diversity and to cooperate for development. The noble philosophy from the 2003 Convention of which Vietnam is an active member has been and is being put into practice with the case of Nha Nhac over the past 20 years.
Royal music has been smoothly integrated with the art of Royal Tuong, Royal Dance,... Photo: S.Thuy
What is the upcoming royal music? What criteria to evaluate the future? Looking at the 2021, 2022 work report, 2023 plan of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, a UNESCO vision is being implemented, which is " intangible cultural heritage integrated into primary and secondary education ". This is an important responsibility, a strategic task whose implementation requires in-depth research, expertise in museology, heritage education; requires basic investment; requires close cooperation with the education sector. This work is not only about outstanding events but also a persistent, elaborate and challenging process. However, human resources for heritage are the decisive factor for all success. "Heritage city" or "creative city"? "Cultural heritage" and "cultural industry". It all starts here.
30 years of the World Heritage Complex of Hue Monuments (1993-2023) and 20 years of Royal Music (2003-2023). Looking back on a long journey, I love the heritage, Hue and the people here even more.
According to Culture Newspaper
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/di-san/20-nam-bao-ve-di-san-nha-nhac-nhin-tu-tieu-chi-cong-uoc-2003-4979.html
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