Beijing hosts intangible heritage exhibition

A woman of Li ethnic group from south

China's Hainan Province showcases brocade-weaving skills at an exhibition,

intending to showcase the country's progress in protecting intangible

cultural items, in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2009. Some 2,322

precious items and activities such as paper-cutting paintings, printing,

pottery, carvings, tea brewing, embroidery and traditional medicine were

showed on the exhibition. (Chinese media/Chen Xiaogen)
Photo Gallery

BEIJING, Feb.11 -- A massive collection of folk

arts and craftsmanship has come alive in Beijing in a huge exhibition of China's

intangible heritage. The practitioners of various arts are in the Chinese

capital to demonstrate the techniques of creating their art. The exhibition

opened at Beijing's Agricultural Exhibition Hall on Monday as China celebrated

the Lantern Festival.

This is the first time for Macao's religious Figure

Carving to be demonstrated in Beijing. The woodwork technique was added to the

national intangible cultural heritage list in June last year.

Tsang Tak Hang, a craftsman from Macao said, "I'm

glad to have brought Macao's special craft to Beijing. I never expected to see

so many elite craftsmanship come together in one single exhibition. The

religious figure carving has preserved and followed a beautiful woodcarving

tradition in China up to the present day. It is an intangible cultural heritage

that truly deserves our special attention and protection."

Being the largest of its kind in the country, the

exhibition gathers examples of China's most exquisite traditional techniques and

artworks. The show involved activities such as paper-cut, printing, pottery,

carving and embroidery.

A Chinese boy takes photos for exhibits

at an exhibition intending to showcase the country's progress in

protecting intangible cultural items in Beijing, capital of China, Feb.

10, 2009. (Chinese media/Chen Xiaogen)
Photo Gallery

The exhibition includes 133 items of folk arts and

crafts on the state- and province-level intangible heritage lists. Fourteen

state-level masters and 130 representative heirs to those arts and crafts,

including those from different ethnic minorities were invited to give live

performances.

China initiated the Intangible Cultural Heritage

protection project in 2005. The list has been updated twice and now includes

more than a thousand items.

Organizers say the event is intended to showcase the

progress in protecting intangible cultural items.

Zhou Heping, the vice minister of culture said, "The

exhibition is intended to showcase the varied and profound traditional Chinese

culture and raise public awareness of cultural heritage protection."

Two Chinese girls view exhibits at an

exhibition intending to showcase the country's progress in protecting

intangible cultural items in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2009.

(Chinese media/Chen Xiaogen)
Photo Gallery

One of the highlights is traditional Chinese herbal

medicine. Organizers have set up a special section to showcase the ancient

Chinese medicine god-- Shennong, as well as the ancient drug jars, prescriptions

and seals from old drugstores.

Bai Yang, the curator of traditional Chinese medicine

museum, said, "I hope visitors will get some idea of just how advanced and

splendid our country's medical science is when they see the exhibits here.

Traditional Chinese medicine is now enhancing its influence around the globe.

This exhibit will allow visitors to sample the rich culture behind the ancient

trade."

Admission to the intangible cultural heritage

exhibition is free. It will run at the National Agricultural Exhibition Hall

until February 23rd.

(Source: CCTV.com)

A Chinese takes pictures for a

dragon-boat-shaped lamp from east China's Zhejiang Province at an

exhibition intending to showcase the country's progress in protecting

intangible cultural items in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2009.

(Chinese media/Chen

Xiaogen)