Source: CCTV.com

03-01-2008 10:29

Today, China faces the possibility that some of its ancient arts could be lost. The national government is doing all it can to prevent their loss.

China's ministry of Culture has added to its list of artists, to be honoured as protectors of the country's intangible heritage. To the original list of 226 names the ministry has added 551. These are people who are skilled in China's oldest, most traditional and most endangered folk arts. Most of the 777 artists have come to Beijing to accept the honours to which they have been named. On today's spotlight we look at China's "Inheritors."

Honoured by China's Ministry of Culture -- Yusupu Tuoheti is among the nearly 800 inheritors of China's intangible cultural heritage. He is 55 years old and comes from the northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. His art, "Twelve Muqams" dates back more than a thousand years.

Yusupu Tuoheti, Twelve Muqams Artist said "I learnt Muqam from my father. My father learnt Muqam from his father. Our family has helped to keep the ancient music alive. "

Tangible heritage exits in the form of physical artifacts. It can be viewed, visited and even touched. Intangible heritage deals with cultural traditions of music, dance, or storytelling --- communicated, by oral tradition from generation to generation. Intangible art also is more fragile.

Li Jianshu, Henan Opera Artist said "Some folk artists in the far regions are 80 or more. Few of them have apprentices. Their art will die with them. The elite of the intangible arts can be taught to students only face to face and heart to heart."

This reliance on oral tradition is among the key reasons China is making great efforts to protect the artists and their arts. Since the announcement of the first list of the inheritors last June, 80 million yuan has been committed to protect China's diverse, intangible heritage. With strong support from the government, these inheritors will record their beloved arts on paper or on video and carry them forward to the next generation through direct teaching.

Tang Qin, Prentice's mother said "My daughter is 14. She has been studying Kunqu opera for two years. It's a ten- year course supported by the government. Each year, the government pays about 60% of her tuition. On graduation, she will earn a Bachelor's degree. There never has been a policy like this before, favouring traditional opera singers."

On stage, the leading roles are slowly to be taken by rising young performers in their twenties and thirties. In the galleries, audiences no longer are dominated by people in their 50's and older. Many of those seated in the theatres for the first time have been exposed to the arts, thanks to the government initiative.

Chen Xiaoling, Audience Member said "I am a college student at the University of China Communication. The youth production of the classic Kunqu opera "The Peony Pavilion" is very popular in Beijing and Shanghai. It's fashionable to have seen it performed. I don't think Kunqu opera is out of time. Once you go into the theatre and hear the music, you fall in love with it."

The staging of more performances to give more people a chance to experience the arts which may seem far removed from modern life. People are coming and learning what previously had passed them by. And in this way, the intangible heritage remains vital -- to enrich audiences for generations to come.

 

Editor:Xiong Qu