China releases lists of national intangible cultural heritage items

The fifth representative list of State-level intangible cultural heritage items (185 in total), and an extended representative list of State-level intangible cultural heritage items (140 in total) were approved by the central government, according to a circular released by the General Office of the State Council on June 10.

Both lists were submitted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The representative list consists of nine categorizations: folk literature; traditional music; traditional dance; traditional drama; quyi (a general term for Chinese folk vocal art forms, including ballad singing, storytelling, comic dialogue, clapper talk, cross-talk); traditional sports, entertainment and acrobatics; traditional fine arts; traditional craftsmanship; and folk customs. The extended list also covers traditional medicine, bringing the total to 10.

The State Council urged local authorities to protect intangible cultural heritage, and help assure their inheritance and development.