Linking in preserving and promoting intangible cultural heritage

Among the 15 intangible cultural heritages of Vietnam recognized by UNESCO, the Tug of War Ritual and Game has similarities with the heritages of Korea, Cambodia, and the Philippines and has become a multinational cultural heritage of humanity. At the global level, the type of multinational and inter-regional intangible cultural heritage is a trend that is being strongly promoted by countries. Along with this trend, in recent times, the registration of inter-provincial and inter-regional heritage in our country has also begun, aiming to mobilize resources to better protect and promote heritage values.

“Sitting tug of war” ritual at Tran Vu Temple Festival 2023. Photo: NHAT QUANG

Coordination and close cooperation in protecting multinational intangible cultural heritage demonstrate a common trend in cooperation and efforts in protecting heritage at the global level.

From multinational cooperation efforts…

In 2013, Vietnam and the countries of Korea, Cambodia, and the Philippines joined together to build a multinational heritage dossier on Tug of War Rituals and Games. In 2015, this multinational intangible cultural heritage dossier was recognized by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This is also the only multinational heritage of Vietnam to date. Looking at other countries, in 2010, falconry techniques were recognized by UNESCO as a multinational heritage with the participation of 24 countries, spanning a large area, including Asia and Europe.

In 2013, UNESCO honored cuisine and recognized the Mediterranean Diet with the participation of Spain, Greece, Italy and Morocco as a cultural heritage of humanity... After being listed, many heritages continue to do well in preserving, promoting values ​​and expanding the community of practice, helping to better identify the heritage.

For multinational intangible heritage, there is a coordination between countries in building dossiers, so the number of annual reviews and votes is not limited.

Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van, Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to UNESCO

Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van, Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to UNESCO, said: Currently, the number of intangible cultural heritages proposed by countries for UNESCO to be listed is too large. Meanwhile, according to UNESCO regulations, within two years, each country can only propose one dossier for listing. However, for multinational intangible heritages, there is a coordination in building dossiers of countries, the consideration and voting is not limited to the number of years. From this regulation, many countries are coordinating and closely linking to build multinational intangible cultural heritage dossiers. That shows the general trend in cooperation and association together in efforts to protect heritage at the global level.

As one of the countries with a high number of intangible cultural heritages in the Asian region, Vietnam has shown its efforts in protecting national intangible cultural heritages and contributing to the diverse picture of intangible cultural heritages of humanity. Although Vietnam has only taken the first steps in linking to build multinational heritage dossiers, from the general trend and effective vision of linkage, we are aiming to build dossiers to recognize inter-regional, provincial and municipal cultural heritages, linking tangible and intangible heritages, linking conservation with promotion and creation from those heritage values ​​in an effective and sustainable manner.

… To the mechanism of building inter-provincial and municipal heritage records

In September 2023, Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh province) and Cat Ba archipelago (Hai Phong city) became world natural heritages recognized by UNESCO and the first inter-provincial tangible heritage in Vietnam. Regarding intangible heritage, we also have many inter-provincial heritages recognized by UNESCO, such as: Southern amateur music (found in 24 provinces and cities); Ca Tru (found in 14 provinces and cities); Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk songs (found in Bac Ninh and Bac Giang ); Then practice of the Tay, Nung, Thai people (found in the northern mountainous provinces)... Besides, Vietnam also owns a huge treasure trove of inter-regional and inter-provincial heritages such as Cheo, Mo Muong, and in the culinary field, there are pho, banh mi,...

Ms. Pham Thi Lan Anh, Head of Heritage Management Department (Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports) shared: Hanoi received a nomination to preside over a number of provinces to implement a project to build a culinary profile of Pho, requesting UNESCO to recognize it as a world heritage. This is a unique and difficult type of intangible cultural heritage. Hanoi has also built a profile to register Pho in the city in the field of folk knowledge. With the goal and desire that the Pho profile be submitted to UNESCO for consideration to recognize it as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, this depends on the policies and coordination between localities. Along with that, to honor the values ​​of Mo Muong and Cheo cultural heritage, Hanoi is building two national cultural heritage profiles, coordinating with Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Thai Binh ... to build a profile to submit to UNESCO to recognize Mo Muong and Cheo heritage.

Vietnam has experience in building cultural heritage dossiers in the fields of tangible and intangible cultural heritage at multinational and inter-provincial levels.

It can be said that Vietnam has experience in building cultural heritage dossiers in the fields of tangible and intangible heritage of multinational and inter-provincial levels. However, internally, the connection between communities in heritage protection is very loose; awareness of registration is not complete, leading to disadvantages for the community and heritage. An example is that in 2015, the Tug of War Ritual and Game was registered in the category of multinational dossiers with Cambodia, Korea and the Philippines, but in our country, each community knows its own community in protecting, transmitting and preserving heritage. Meanwhile, since 2018, the Korean Tug of War Preservation Association has proactively visited and exchanged about the tug of war ritual and game at Tran Vu Temple (Hanoi). After eight years of registration, in November 2023, for the first time, a festival of performance of Vietnam-Korea Tug of War Ritual and Game took place, with the participation of nearly 500 artisans and practitioners of Tug of War Ritual and Game (from localities: Lao Cai, Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Hanoi) and Gijisi Tug of War Association of Dangjin city (Korea).

From a local perspective on heritage protection, the case of Xoan singing in Phu Tho province is considered a typical example of the guidelines and policies for preserving and promoting heritage values. In 2011, Xoan singing in Phu Tho was listed as an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection by UNESCO. After only six years of efforts to implement many measures with the active participation of the community, by 2017, the Xoan singing heritage in Phu Tho quickly changed its title and moved to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Looking at the case of Ca Tru, in 2009 it was listed as a UNESCO list in need of urgent protection. This type of performing art is present in 14 provinces and cities across the country, including Hanoi. Since 2016, Hanoi has focused on developing young Ca Tru talents. Currently, Hanoi has 14 Ca Tru clubs practicing and operating well. Although ca tru has been revived, the number of ca tru clubs has increased, and festivals, promotions, and ca tru classes are held regularly, the result is that ca tru has not been removed from the list of urgent protection.

It can be seen that we have not invested adequately in the mechanism for building multinational dossiers and registering inter-regional and inter-provincial dossiers and have not paid attention to linking localities to better preserve and protect heritage. According to Dr. Le Thi Minh Ly, Vice President of the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association: “We are lacking a mechanism for inter-provincial and multinational heritages. The State does not have a mechanism, and research institutes have not developed a project to propose effective solutions to protect heritage. When the viewpoint and mechanism are not clearly defined, localities with heritage will be confused.”

Heritage protection needs to be viewed in the context of the relationship between communities that share the same heritage, cultural regions, and customs so that in the future there will be more multinational and inter-regional records. It is important to soon have specific regulations on criteria for making records, mechanisms for managing inter-regional and inter-provincial heritage, and regulations for expanding community participation according to UNESCO's provisions.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/lien-ket-trong-bao-ton-phat-huy-di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the-post796612.html

Source: https://baolangson.vn/van-hoa/644800-lien-ket-trong-bao-ton-phat-huy-di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the.html