Priceless culture: The treasures engraved in history

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Foreigners on their first visit to China may easily get confused by what they see or hear on a tour around the country.

The melodious and yet ancient tunes of Kunqu or Peking Opera, the wooden structures that form the frame of a huge palace without using a single nail, the diversified brocades and silks…combine to form the flowing light and color of China's traditional culture.

However, while talking about the details of an ancient art form, even Chinese people are sometimes unable to give you a precise answer.

Much of the ancient culture which was once vibrant have been left to gather dust, even while being passed on through the generations.

As is defined in the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), UNESCO's list of ICH is aiming to protect the mainspring of humanity's cultural diversity. The oral expressions, performing arts, social practices and rituals, though lacking a tangible form, have formed the spirit or cultural history of a community or a nation.

As of 2016, China has 39 ICH projects, covering a wide range that includes music, performing arts architecture, handicrafts, art, rituals and more. Being enlisted has also helped bring vitality to the ancient cultural forms.

We selected 31 out of the enlisted projects for a special series titled “Priceless Culture” which we have covered in 2017 and 2018. With videos and a brief explanations of the cultural forms, characteristics, rises and falls, their rejuvenation and the dilemmas they have been faced in the modern society, we hope to give our readers a glimpse of the ancient Chinese culture.

If the articles inspire even just one more person to look into China's ancient history, then we are satisfied.

Please click "Priceless Culture" to find all our pieces.