China's ancient Guqin music was proclaimed by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in Paris. Ever since UNESCO launched the project six years ago, the central and local governments in China have taken the best from their cultural storehouses to prepare them for the coveted list.

Kunqu Opera, China's oldest existing theatrical tradition, was among the 19 picks by UNESCO when it awarded the title of "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" for the first time in March 2001. The unexpected recognition brought the almost extinct art form to the stage once again. The whole country began to reevaluate its rich heritage of its history about 5,000 years.

For the long-awaited second selection this year, China submitted Guqin music. The ancient high-brow music, long regarded as the No.1 art by traditional scholars, won over the international jury and became a second source of national pride. But different opinions have emerged over the government's sponsoring of such elite art forms.

The Intangible Heritage Research Center at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, or CAFA, submitted paper-cutting as a future candidate for the UNESCO list. The center's director Qiao Xiaoguang says that the ancient folk art is declining as veteran paper-cutters pass away and few of the younger generation can compete with machine-produced work. Qiao Xiaoguang believes that society might be better served by promoting the folk arts that are still alive among ordinary people.

The ancient silk fabric, cloud brocade, was once only available to the royal family. The weaving technique, which cannot be duplicated by machinery, has long been in danger of disappearing. But since it has been considered for intangible heritage status, it has generated tourist income. But experts say that the purpose of applying for the list should not be fame or money, but to enlist international support for better protection of China's cultural heritage.

Although the next UNESCO selection is still two years away, dozens of intangible heritage items have been submitted to the central government. The waiting list includes the world-famous Shaolin kungfu and Sichuan Opera, known for its intricate face-changing skills. Hopefully it's a sign that China's cultural heritage will be better protected so they remain alive and well in the community and do not become merely exhibits in a museum.
 
(CCTV.com November 14, 2003)