Inheriting a vast and unique cultural heritage, the people of Bac Ninh are always proud, cherish, and preserve and promote traditional cultural values in the process of construction and development. With its favorable geographical location, Bac Ninh is a place where cultures from various regions converge and transform, creating a unique cultural identity for the people of Bac Ninh - Kinh Bac.
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| Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, along with female heads of foreign representative offices in Vietnam, watched artisans making Dong Ho paintings. |
A vast and unique cultural treasure.
Bac Ninh - Kinh Bac, a land of "spiritual and talented people," is rich in historical, cultural, and revolutionary traditions. It is the birthplace of the Ly Dynasty, the dynasty that opened and developed the Dai Viet civilization. Originally the ancestral temple of Buddhism and the first center of Confucianism in the country, over thousands of years of history, Bac Ninh - Kinh Bac has forged, crystallized, and manifested a diverse, rich, and unique system of cultural heritage.
Currently, Bac Ninh has 1,589 outstanding historical and cultural relics, including 4 special national relics, 204 national relics, and 457 provincial relics; 18 artifacts and groups of artifacts have been recognized as national treasures. Bac Ninh is proud to have four intangible cultural heritage sites inscribed by the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk songs, Ca Tru singing, the practice of worshipping the Mother Goddess of the Three Realms by the Vietnamese people, and the tug-of-war ritual and game of Huu Chap village. In addition, Bac Ninh also has eight intangible cultural heritage sites included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Currently, the dossier on "Dong Ho folk painting craft" has been approved by the Prime Minister for submission to UNESCO for consideration for inclusion in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguard.
Not only rich in cultural heritage, this land is also known as the land of traditional folk festivals, with nearly 600 festivals of all sizes; 140 craft villages, including 62 traditional craft villages; many forms of folk performing arts such as: Tuong, Cheo, Trong Quan, water puppetry, folk games... In addition, thousands of rituals, customs, legends, anecdotes, folk songs, and stories surrounding historical figures, ancestors, and related to the human life cycle are preserved and passed down from generation to generation by the communities of Bac Ninh - Kinh Bac... The people of Bac Ninh are gentle, hospitable, value righteousness and affection, and always open their hearts to welcome tourists.
All of these elements combine to create a Bac Ninh rich in cultural heritage and traditions, a resource for the province's cultural tourism development. It can be said that the cultural heritage of Bac Ninh - Kinh Bac is a precious asset of the province's residents; a symbol of enduring existence, and a bridge connecting the past, present, and future of the nation.
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| Quan Ho folk songs from Bac Ninh have been recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. |
Preserving and disseminating heritage
Aware of the importance of protecting and promoting the value of cultural heritage, alongside focusing on socio-economic development, Bac Ninh province always pays attention to and invests resources in preserving and promoting various forms of cultural heritage with specific policies for each area of heritage preservation.
Propaganda and promotion efforts have been emphasized through various rich and diverse forms, contributing to raising awareness and responsibility among all levels of government and the community in the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage values. The province has pioneered the implementation of the Heritage Digitization Project to sustainably preserve the treasure trove of cultural heritage of the homeland, and has also completed the Project to produce films promoting typical cultural heritage, opening up opportunities for Bac Ninh's cultural heritage to "integrate" into modern society.
Annually, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism advises and proposes to the Provincial People's Committee to provide funding for the restoration and prevention of degradation of 50-70 state-ranked historical sites. In 2023 alone, the specialized agency completed the ranking dossiers for eight provincial-level historical sites, three national-level historical sites, one special national-level historical site, and one dossier for the recognition of a national treasure; guided the restoration procedures for 78 historical sites; and maintained inspection and guidance on the management, protection, and promotion of the value of historical sites in the province. It also developed a pilot project for designing and producing souvenir products for tourism based on cultural heritage values and national treasures.
In particular, Bac Ninh province is a leader nationwide in promulgating policies and mechanisms to reward artisans in the field of intangible cultural heritage, these "living human treasures" who have made important contributions to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage values.
A prime example of Bac Ninh's leadership's attention, guidance, and investment in preserving and promoting the value of its cultural heritage is the series of action programs to preserve and promote the value of Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk songs. Immediately after being recognized by UNESCO, the province implemented a series of practical policies and initiatives to give Quan Ho folk songs new vitality in contemporary life.
Besides fulfilling its commitments to UNESCO, the province is stepping up its efforts to promote Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk songs through various media channels; investing in and organizing many large-scale political, diplomatic, and cultural events to promote the heritage. Notable examples include the annual "Returning to the Quan Ho Region" Festival; organizing art exchanges and connecting the promotion of Quan Ho folk song heritage domestically and internationally; and maintaining the Quan Ho singing program on boats...
Many of the province's policies in recent years have had a meaningful and practical impact on the material and spiritual lives of the people. Typical examples include policies honoring and rewarding professional artisans and artists; supporting original Quan Ho villages, practicing Quan Ho villages, and exemplary Quan Ho clubs... These policies encourage and motivate artists, performers, and artisans to be more enthusiastic in their profession, actively contribute, teach, and promote the value of the heritage in community life; and encourage the next generation of artisans (young people) to actively participate and contribute more to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage in general and Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk songs in particular.
Alongside conservation efforts, the inventory and scientific documentation of intangible cultural heritage have consistently received guidance and attention from all levels of government, especially the consensus and support of the local people. Notably, in early spring 2024, the Bac Ninh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism proactively advised and proposed to the Provincial People's Committee to actively bring traditional folk performing arts to perform at several historical sites and tourist destinations in the province. This aims to improve the quality of destinations, stimulate tourism, and continue to promote the heritage and image of Bac Ninh, a cultured and developing homeland.
In the context of international integration, Bac Ninh province has always been at the forefront of spreading its cultural heritage to the international community. On May 31st, in Paris, the Provincial People's Committee, in coordination with Vietnamese representative agencies in France, organized the "Bac Ninh - Kinh Bac Cultural Night" to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk songs being recognized by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2009-2024). At the event, in addition to enjoying Quan Ho melodies, guests also heard a presentation about the unique Dong Ho folk painting art of Bac Ninh province.
These continuous efforts demonstrate Bac Ninh province's commitment to prioritizing the task of building culture and human resources, focusing resources and solutions on preserving and promoting cultural heritage values in conjunction with tourism development... contributing to ensuring that these cultural heritages endure through time and spread everywhere.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/di-san-van-hoa-niem-tu-hao-cua-bac-ninh-280990.html
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