China's "intangible cultural heritage" should be better protected under moves being made to preserve endangered art.

State Councilor Chen Zhili said at the weekend that nine ministries and departments would launch joint efforts to safeguard certain forms of heritage.

Defined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as "the practices, representations, expressions, as well as the knowledge and skills, that communities... recognize as part of their cultural heritage," these art forms are particularly susceptible to extinction.

And their protection is drawing increasing attention from China's senior leadership.

"Over the next five years, the Chinese Government is to allocate 50 million yuan (US$6.1 million) to preserve Kunqu -- an art form already on UNESCO's protection list," Ministry of Finance official Wang Jiaxin said at a two-day working conference on heritage protection in Beijing.

The other Chinese art form on UNESCO's list is Guqin, and Uygur Mukam, a centuries-old form of music from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is preparing to apply for recognition by the world body.

Since 2003, the Chinese Government has earmarked 46 million yuan (US$5.6 million) for a special project designed to preserve important cultural forms. But it has not yet been decided which cultural art forms are most in need of funds for protection. 

Vice-Minister of Education Zhang Xinsheng urged at Saturday's conference that intangible cultural heritage should be covered in education for elementary and middle school students.

"Lessons such as geography, history and Chinese literature need to give students an insight into intangible cultural heritage," Zhang said during the conference, which drew more than 130 delegates from provincial culture departments.

Zhang also demanded universities and colleges function as advisory bodies for cultural protection while institutions involved in art education should train people to practice endangered art forms.

Apart from the culture, finance and education ministries, several other departments are expected to join the effort.

Tong Mingkang, deputy chief of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, called for museums across the country to play important roles in preserving endangered art.

"The management of museums should be open-minded and they should improve their understanding of intangible cultural heritage," Tong said.

Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng also stressed at the conference that local culture departments should undertake preservation in good faith instead of with the sole goal of fuelling local tourism or enhancing publicity.

"Protecting intangible culture in China is of great importance to maintaining a diversified world," Chen said. "It's also part of China's efforts to safeguard the nation's cultural identity."

She said the demolition of Beijing's old city walls was a blunder that erased the city's unique style and diversity.

"It's the most critical time for China to preserve both tangible and intangible cultural heritage," Chen said, as historical villages in remote areas disappear and numerous uncharacteristic buildings take their place.

(China Daily June 13, 2005)