Living Human Treasure

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A Living Human Treasure is, according to UNESCO, a person who possesses to a high degree the knowledge and skills required for performing or re-creating specific elements of the intangible cultural heritage. [1] [2] This title or a form of it is awarded by the nation's government to a person who is regarded as a national treasure while still alive. The title is also known as Living National Treasure.

Contents

History

In 1950, the government of Japan began to designate certain individuals or groups who embodied intangible national cultural values as living human treasures. This was supplementary to buildings or places of great cultural and historical value that were designated as national treasures. Living Human Treasures thus became eligible for special protection and government support. [3] Some of the ancient protected crafts initially were pottery, music, handmade paper, dolls, and swordmaking, but have been expanded to also include song, dance, cuisine, and other categories.[ citation needed ]

Several countries have followed suit with their own official programmes of recognition for intangible cultural values and the people who embody them, including France, Philippines, Romania, [4] South Korea and Thailand.[ citation needed ]

In 1993, the government of South Korea proposed to the UNESCO Executive Board the establishment of a codified "Living Human Treasures" program for all member states. The board adopted a decision and invited member states to establish and promote such national systems. Through its Intangible Cultural Heritage section, UNESCO introduced definitions and guidelines for supporting such living human treasure programmes. [5]

Definitions

The member states at the 32nd UNESCO General Conference in October 2003 agreed to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The definitions of what a Living Human Treasure constitute are: [5]

(i) Living Human Treasures are persons who possess to a very high degree the knowledge and skills required for performing or re‐creating specific elements of the intangible cultural heritage. Each Member State should choose an appropriate title to designate the bearers of knowledge and skills, the title of "Living Human Treasures" proposed by UNESCO being indicative. Among the systems in existence, there are already a variety of titles: Master of Art (France), Bearer of Popular Craft Tradition (Czech Republic), National Living Treasure (Republic of Korea), Holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property (Japan and Republic of Korea).

(ii) Intangible cultural heritage, or living heritage, consists of practices and expressions, as well as the knowledge, skills and values associated therewith, that communities and groups recognize as part of their cultural heritage.
This heritage is transmitted from generation to generation, for the most part orally. It is constantly recreated in response to changes in the social and cultural environment. It provides individuals, groups and communities with a sense of identity and continuity and constitutes a guarantee of sustainable development.

(iii) "Intangible cultural heritage" is manifested inter alia in the following domains, on the understanding that the expressions of intangible cultural heritage can simultaneously belong to several of these domains:

" (a) oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage;
(b) performing arts;
(c) social practices, rituals and festive events;
(d) knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe;
(e) traditional craftsmanship." (Article 2.2 of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage).

(iv) Safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage means:
"measures aimed at ensuring the viability of the intangible cultural heritage, including the identification, documentation, research, preservation, protection, promotion, enhancement, transmission through formal and non‐formal education, as well as the revitalization of the various aspects of such heritage." (Article 2.3)

List of countries


Others

In some countries modern artists can also receive the title of National Artist, however this is not considered an intangible cultural heritage since it does fulfill criteria i and ii.

Related Research Articles

The Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity was made by the Director-General of UNESCO starting in 2001 to raise awareness of intangible cultural heritage and encourage local communities to protect them and the local people who sustain these forms of cultural expressions. Several manifestations of intangible heritage around the world were awarded the title of Masterpieces to recognize the value of the non-material component of culture, as well as entail the commitment of states to promote and safeguard the Masterpieces. Further proclamations occurred biennially. In 2008, the 90 previously proclaimed Masterpieces were incorporated into the new Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as its first entries.

An intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is a practice, representation, expression, knowledge, or skill considered by UNESCO to be part of a place's cultural heritage. Buildings, historic places, monuments, and artifacts are cultural property. Intangible heritage consists of nonphysical intellectual wealth, such as folklore, customs, beliefs, traditions, knowledge, and language. Intangible cultural heritage is considered by member states of UNESCO in relation to the tangible World Heritage focusing on intangible aspects of culture. In 2001, UNESCO made a survey among States and NGOs to try to agree on a definition, and the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was drafted in 2003 for its protection and promotion.

Living National Treasure is a Japanese popular term for those individuals certified as Preservers of Important Intangible Cultural Properties by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as based on Japan's Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties. The term "Living National Treasure" is not formally mentioned in the law, but is an informal term referencing the cultural properties designated as the National Treasures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intangible Cultural Heritage (South Korea)</span> Traditions and customs in Korea designated for official preservation

The Intangible Cultural Heritage are aspects of intangible culture that the government of South Korea has officially designated for preservation in accordance with the 1962 Cultural Property Protection Law. They are proclaimed and maintained by South Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists</span>

UNESCO established its Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage with the aim of ensuring better protection of important intangible cultural heritages worldwide and the awareness of their significance. This list is published by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the members of which are elected by State Parties meeting in a General Assembly. Through a compendium of the different oral and intangible treasures of humankind worldwide, the programme aims to draw attention to the importance of safeguarding intangible heritage, which UNESCO has identified as an essential component and as a repository of cultural diversity and of creative expression.

An Intangible Cultural Property, as defined by the Japanese government's Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties (1950), is a part of the Cultural Properties of high historical or artistic value such as drama, music, and craft techniques. The term refers exclusively to human skills possessed by individuals or groups which are indispensable to produce Cultural Properties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine Registry of Cultural Property</span>

The Philippine Registry of Cultural Property, abbreviated as PRECUP is a national registry of the Philippine Government used to consolidate in one record all cultural property that are deemed important to the cultural heritage, tangible and intangible, of the Philippines. On June 11, 2018, the entries in the newly updated PRECUP was at 3,921. Additionally, 1,259 out of 1,715 LGUs, or 73 percent of LGUs have established local cultural inventories (LCI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage</span> UNESCO treaty

The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is a UNESCO treaty adopted by the UNESCO General Conference on 17 October 2003.

A Living National Treasure, literally meaning human cultural asset, is a South Korean popular term for those individuals certified as Holders of Important Intangible Cultural Properties, also known as keepers, by the Ministry of Education as based on South Korea's Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties. The term "Living National Treasure" is not formally mentioned in the law, but is an informal term referencing the cultural properties designated as the National Treasures.

Song Deok-Gi ; was a Martial artist from Korea. One of the last practitioners of the ancient martial art of Taekkyon, he helped convey the art during the Japanese Occupation of Korea (1910-1945) and the Korean War (1950-1953). Based on his efforts, the South Korean government acknowledged Taekkyon as the 76th Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea and recognized him as a Human Cultural Asset (Ingan-munhwage). He used Hyeonam as a pen name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Living Treasures Award (Philippines)</span> Conferred to a person or group of artists recognized by the Government of the Philippines

The National Living Treasures Award, alternatively known as the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan, is conferred to a person or group of artists recognized by the Government of the Philippines for their contributions to the country's intangible cultural heritage. A recipient of the award, a National Living Treasure or Manlilikha ng Bayan is "a Filipino citizen or group of Filipino citizens engaged in any traditional art uniquely Filipino, whose distinctive skills have reached such a high level of technical and artistic excellence and have been passed on to and widely practiced by the present generations in their community with the same degree of technical and artistic competence."

Ichpedia is an online encyclopedia for the intangible cultural heritage in Korea and international arenas. It was created by a group of scholars and practitioners with the support of the Cultural Heritage Administration of the Republic of Korea. The ultimate goal is to enhance the significance of traditional cultures and cultural diversities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heritage preservation in South Korea</span> Preservation of historical items in South Korea

The heritage preservation system of South Korea is a multi-level program aiming to preserve and cultivate Korean cultural heritage. The program is administered by the Cultural Heritage Administration, and the legal framework is provided by the Cultural Heritage Protection Act of 1962, last updated in 2012. The program started in 1962 and has gradually been extended and upgraded since then.

Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) includes traditions and living expressions that are passed down from generation to generation within a particular community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lahıc copper craft</span> Traditional folk art of Lahıc, Azerbaijan

Lahıc copper craft is a traditional folk art of Lahıc, Ismailli in Azerbaijan. It includes the production of copper crockery and other products. It was added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015.

Hudhud ni Aliguyon is a famous epic that came from the Ifugao province of Luzon in the Philippines. It narrates events about the culture and traditions of the Ifugao people and their hero, Aliguyon. Belonging in the genre of Hudhud di Ani for harvesting in the fields, this heroic epic has three functions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schools of Living Traditions</span> Schools in the Philippines

The Schools of Living Traditions (SLTs) are education institutions in the Philippines dedicated to indigenous arts, crafts and other traditions.

References

  1. ↑ "Encouraging transmission of ICH : Living Human Treasures – intangible heritage – Culture Sector". unesco.org. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "Definition of Intangible Heritage", UNESCO
  3. ↑ Abe, Patricia (May 30, 1999). "Treasures of Japan – Its Living Artists". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Former furrier to the Romanian royalty named 'living human treasure' by UNESCO". romania-insider.com. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Guidelines for the Establishment of National 'Living Human Treasures' Systems", UNESCO, undated
  6. ↑ "Folk Tradition Bearers".
  7. ↑ "Nomination of 17 Masters of Living Human Treasures - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". unesco.org. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
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