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UPDATED: September 30, 2007 NO.41 OCT.11, 2007
一场艰难的保卫战
Cultural Resurrection
One of the ways we preserve memories of the past is through our cultural heritage that has been passed on from generation to generation
张志萍 By ZHANG ZHIPING
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"我们是谁?我们从哪里来?"这是人类自诞生那天起就开始思考的一个问题。而能够让我们不丧失对自己的记忆的就是人类世代流传下来的文化遗产。 这当中非物质文化遗产与物质文化遗产共同承载起人类社会的文明。

自联合国教科文组织2001年公布首批"人类口头和非物质遗产代表作"以来,中国已经有昆曲艺术、古琴艺术、新疆维吾尔木卡姆艺术和蒙古族长调民歌相继入选,成为全球入选人类口头和非物质遗产代表作最多的国家之一。

相对于中国浩如烟海般散落在民间的文化艺术来说,入选UNESCO的这几项只不过是沧海一束。5000多年文明史、56个民族多元文化生态,造就了中国多姿多彩的非物质文化遗产。2006年5月,中国公布了第一批国家级非物质文化遗产名录共518项。目前,全国各省、自治区、直辖市都已建立了省级非物质文化遗产名录,据统计共有3832项。目前第二批国家级非物质文化遗产名录正在征集中。

非物质文化遗产又称无形文化遗产,主要指人类以口头或动作方式相传,具有民族历史积淀和广泛、突出代表性的民间文化遗产,它曾被誉为历史文化的"活化石","民族记忆的背影"。它包括民间传说、习俗、语言、音乐、舞蹈、礼仪、庆典、烹调以及传统医药等。

中国非物质文化所蕴含的是中华各民族特有的精神价值、思维方式、想象力和文化意识,是维护中国文化身份和文化主权的基本依据。可以说它是中国各民族智慧与文明的结晶。

正如联合国教科文组织2003年颁布的《保护非物质文化遗产公约》(Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage)说的,"这种非物质文化遗产世代相传,在各社区和群体适应周围环境以及与自然和历史的互动中,被不断地再创造,为这些社区和群体提供持续的认同感,从而增强对文化多样性和人类创造力的尊重。"

然而随着全球化趋势的增强,经济和社会的急剧变迁,中国非物质文化遗产的生存、保护和发展面临严峻的形势。受新兴娱乐活动冲击,传统娱乐活动受众减少,逐渐消失;许多传统技艺濒临消亡;一些掌握绝活的艺人年龄老化,后继乏人,一些依靠口传心授传承的文化遗产正在不断消失;许多具有深厚历史积淀和文化价值的古民居在推土机的轰鸣声中消失了,随之一起消亡的还有传统民俗与生活方式等非物质文化。有人说,在中国,每分钟都可能有一位老艺人、一门手艺或一首民歌消失,每秒钟都可能会有一幢老房子被拆掉。

好在近年来在政府的推动和许多民间人士的努力和呼吁下,社会各界对"非物质文化遗产"这个以往颇感陌生的概念的认知度越来越高。但是相对于它们衰退的速度,我们仍需争分夺秒。众所周知,中国的非物质文化遗产保护依然面临非常严峻的挑战,它不但要和时间赛跑,还要与城市化和全球化的进程进行一场艰巨的抗争。对此我们应该有充分的认识,这是一场必须坚持而又不可能赢得完全胜利的战役。

"Who are we? Where are we from?" Humans have been pondering these questions since the day they first came into being. One of the ways we preserve memories of the past is through our cultural heritage that has been passed on from generation to generation. Intangible cultural heritage, as well as tangible cultural heritage, is essential to the continuity of human civilization.

Since the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) unveiled the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001, China has had Kunqu opera, Guqin and its music, the art of Uygur Muqam of Xinjiang and the traditional Mongolian folk song Long Song added to UNESCO's protection list. It is now one of the countries with the largest number of such inclusions in the world.

Those listed by UNESCO represent only a small fraction of China's numerous forms of folk art. An ancient civilization with a history of over 5,000 years enjoying cultural diversity created by its 56 ethnic groups, China boasts a wide variety of intangible cultural heritage. It released its first national intangible cultural heritage list in May 2006, incorporating 518 entries. To date, 3,832 kinds of intangible cultural heritage have been included on lists compiled by its provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government. The second national list is being formulated.

Intangible cultural heritage mainly refers to broadly representative historical folk cultural heritage that is passed down by word of mouth or by demonstration. Known as the "living fossil of historical culture" and the "representation of the national memory," it includes folklores, customs, languages, music, dance, etiquette, rituals, cuisine and traditional medicine.

China's intangible cultural heritage exemplifies the values, thinking patterns, imagination and cultural awareness of the Chinese nation. Deemed as the crystallization of the wisdom of all ethnic groups in China, it is crucial to the country's cultural identity and cultural sovereignty.

China faces a daunting task to protect its intangible cultural heritage at a time when globalization is gathering momentum with rapid economic and social transition. Fewer people today choose to take part in traditional entertainment activities given the flourishing options with modern appeal. Many traditional crafts are on the verge of extinction. Some master craftsmen are getting old with few successors, resulting in the loss of some cultural heritage passed on by example. Many old residential complexes disappeared under the wheels of roaring bulldozers, along with traditional customs and lifestyles. It is believed that China suffers the loss of a senior craftsman, a craft or a folk song every minute and an old residence every second.

Thanks to the concerted efforts of the government and civil society, "intangible cultural heritage," a once strange concept, has gained increasing currency in China in recent years. However, we have to seize the moment to prevent its extinction. We also need to balance its protection against the growing trends of urbanization and globalization.



 
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