UNESCO intangible cultural heritage at risk of fading and transformation

After being recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), intangible cultural heritage (ICH) has many opportunities to promote, spread in the community and exploit its value. However, many heritages are at risk of fading away, having their values ​​distorted or being dramatized.

Risk of fading and transforming heritage

Nine years after being listed by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, the Vietnamese practice of worshiping the Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms has tended to become a "climax of opening a palace and serving a spirit medium", so it is inevitable that there will be limitations such as: "Theatricalization of heritage", uncontrollable practice of beliefs, and the movement of "self-proclaimed as a spirit medium".

Sharing about this issue, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Tat Kim Hung (head of Nguyen Khiet Linh Tu Temple, Hang Bac Street, Hanoi ) said that recently, many non-governmental organizations have been established with names that claim to protect and develop the Mother Goddess worship belief. However, these organizations often organize exchanges and festivals of Hau Dong rituals, and mediums contribute a lot of money to carry out programs that are not in accordance with the beliefs, customs, and practices of the heritage and issue certificates of merit, certificates of honor. "Many mediums and new mediums have not spared a large sum of money, following the trend to perform their beliefs outside the temple space, and receiving certificates and certificates of honor for their achievements in preserving and promoting the Mother Goddess worship belief, but in fact, they are distorting and falsifying the belief," Meritorious Artist Nguyen Tat Kim Hung worried.

The ritual of spirit mediumship must be performed in a sacred space in accordance with regulations. Photo: THANH TUNG

In contrast to the uncontrolled development of the practice of worshipping the Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms, the fate of Ca Tru art is quite difficult. After being recognized by UNESCO in 2009, Ca Tru art has not been able to escape the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection.

According to researcher, Dr. Nguyen Duc Mau (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences ), the main reason why listeners do not come to Ca Tru (or only come once) is because they listen but do not understand. Therefore, there is a great need for performances with presentations on the art of Ca Tru with the nature of "enjoyment instructions". "Ca Tru is a smooth combination of music and poetry. To build an audience for Ca Tru, it is necessary to have people who understand poetry and love music to be able to appreciate the melodiousness, the lingering, the entwining breath of the female singer, or the deep, deep sound of the Dan Day and the crisp, clacking sound of the Chau drum", researcher, Dr. Nguyen Duc Mau said.

Up to now, UNESCO has listed 16 intangible cultural heritages of Vietnam (including 14 representative heritages of humanity and 2 heritages in need of urgent protection), distributed in many provinces and cities with many subjects being people of different ethnic groups. Along with that, Vietnam is preparing a dossier of intangible cultural heritages to submit to UNESCO for registration, such as: Cheo art, Binh Dinh traditional martial arts, Mo Muong art, Vovinam-Viet Vo Dao, Vietnamese pho cooking... Each intangible cultural heritage listed by UNESCO is a source of pride, enriching the cultural identity of Vietnam, while posing many challenges in preserving and promoting heritage according to the Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage adopted by UNESCO in 2003.

Heritage ethics must be followed.

UNESCO's recognition of PVT cultural heritage aims to preserve and promote the value of spiritual products associated with the community, expressing the cultural identity and traditions of a community. The recognition also helps raise awareness of the importance of PVT cultural heritage and promote mutual respect among communities. Therefore, in addition to implementing the regulations under the 2003 UNESCO Convention, it is necessary to promote to the community the significance of PVT cultural heritage being recognized by UNESCO, avoiding misunderstandings and distortions in the process of preserving and promoting cultural heritage.

Ca Tru art is still on UNESCO's list of urgent protection.

According to Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Hien, Head of the Heritage Studies Group, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Sciences (Hanoi National University), due to incomplete understanding, there is still a view that UNESCO's registration is of international and national scope, so some localities have considered the registration as an "international brand" to be used for different purposes such as promoting tourism development or setting records. UNESCO warns against activities of exploitation and promotion for the sake of the title without the purpose of protecting heritage for the community. The most important thing for sustainable development based on PVT cultural heritage is to comply with ethical issues about heritage. The community must benefit from their own heritage.

Any PVT cultural heritage is valuable to the community, group of people, or individual who created it. The recognition, honor, and ownership of heritage belongs to the community or group of people who have continuously transmitted and recreated it in the development process. Therefore, it is impossible to rank PVT cultural heritage or compare that this heritage is more important or more valuable than another. To preserve and promote PVT cultural heritage after being recognized by UNESCO, Professor, Dr. Nguyen Chi Ben, Member of the PVT Cultural Heritage Council (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) said that it is necessary to clearly define the responsibilities of each entity performing management work, such as the State, community, and researchers. Thoroughly resolve the relationship between regions and provinces and cities, emphasize the role of industry management agencies, from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to the People's Committees of provinces and cities, avoid the situation of considering PVT cultural heritage as only belonging to their locality without realizing that this is a PVT cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO for the community.

According to People's Army

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the-unesco-truoc-nguy-co-mai-mot-bien-tuong-a422053.html