The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has added three Chinese cultural elements to its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on Thursday, highlighting the richness and diversity of China’s cultural traditions. One of the newly listed elements is the Qiang New Year Festival, celebrated by the Qiang people in southwest China’s Sichuan Province.
The Qiang New Year Festival, which falls on the first day of the tenth lunar month and lasts three to five days, is a significant occasion for the Qiang community. It is a time to celebrate the harvest, seek safety, and extend blessings. Families and communities come together to participate in traditional singing, dancing, and rituals that honor their ancestors and deities.
The inclusion of the Qiang New Year Festival in UNESCO’s list recognizes the cultural importance of the festival and the efforts to preserve and promote the intangible heritage of the Qiang people. This acknowledgment brings international attention to the unique traditions of the Qiang community and contributes to the broader appreciation of China’s diverse cultural landscape.
The other two Chinese cultural elements added to the list further demonstrate the depth and variety of the nation’s intangible cultural heritage, though specific details were not provided in the announcement.
UNESCO’s Representative List aims to protect important intangible cultural heritages worldwide and raise awareness of their significance. The addition of these Chinese traditions underscores the global recognition of Asia’s rich and influential role in cultural affairs.
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Three Chinese cultural traditions added to intangible heritage list
cgtn.com
