Full Description
What do the Great Wall of China, Georgia's polyphonic singing, the Mediterranean diet and the Vanuatu sand drawings have in common? Despite their evident dissimilarity, they are all protected by UNESCO, the supranational organisation that is responsible for preserving the common cultural heritage of humanity, protecting it from disappearance and ensuring its conservation for future generations. The Great Wall of China is one of the natural and cultural sites that comprise the famous list of World Heritage Sites, compiled by UNESCO while the other three are part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage list that includes immaterial goods. In fact, in 2003, the UNESCO General Conference adopted the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage with the intent to safeguard the traditional cultures and folklore of our planet. Today, over 400 practices and expressions from more than 100 countries represent the riches and demonstrate the cultural diversity of the populations in the world. Appearing on this variegated list of traditions are the art of the 'pizzaiuoli' - the pizza makers of Naples, the Carnival of Basel, the Rebetiko music of Greece, Japanese kabuki theatre, Mexico's Day of the Dead celebration, the Brazilian capoeira, Chinese shadow puppetry and the mass Hindu pilgrimage of faith, Kumbh Mela. This book of photographs and splendid illustrations will guide you on your discovery of the Intangible Cultural Heritage list; a journey that will open your eyes to the cultural riches of our planet and to the importance of preserving them for future generations.
Contents
EUROPE
The Manufacture of Cowbells - Portugal 8
Flamenco - Spain 10
Human Towers - Spain 16
Fiesta of the Patios in Cordoba - Spain 20
The Valencia Fallas Festivity - Spain 26
Aubusson Tapestry - France 32
The Craftsmanship of Alençon
Needle Lace-making - France 36
Equitation in the French Tradition -
France 40
Processional Giants and Dragons -
Belgium, France 44
Shrimp Fishing on Horseback in
Oostduinkerke - Belgium 52
The Craft of the Miller Operating
Windmills and Watermills - Netherlands 56
Organ Craftsmanship and Music -
Germany 60
The Ride of the Kings - Czech Republic 64
Busó Festivities at Mohács: Masked
End-of-Winter Carnival Custom -
Hungary 68
Classical Horsemanship of the Spanish
Riding School - Austria 74
The Art of the Neapolitan 'Pizzaiuolo' - Italy 78
Celebrations of Big Processional
Structures - Italy 80
Traditional Violin Craftsmanship - Italy 84
Opera dei Pupi, Sicilian Puppet Theater -
Italy 90
Tinian Marble Craftsmanship - Greece 94
Cross-crafting and Its Symbolism -
Lithuania 96
AFRICA
The Cultural Space of Jemaa el-Fna Square
- Morocco 98
The Moussem of Tan-Tan - Morocco 102
The Makishi Masquerade - Zambia 108
The Woodcrafting Knowledge of the
Zafimaniry - Madagascar 110
ASIA
Falconry, a Living Human Heritage -
Various nations 112
The Semah Alevi-Bektas,i Ritual - Turkey 118
The Cultural Space of the Bedu in Petra
and Wadi Rum - Jordan 122
Traditional Wall Decoration in Asir -
Saudi Arabia 126
Lavash, the Preparation of Traditional Armenian
Bread - Armenia 128
Lahij Copper Craftsmanship - Lahij -
Azerbaijan 132
Traditional Skills of Carpet Weaving
in Fars - Iran 136
Yoga - India 138
The Kumbh Mela Ritual - India 144
Buddhist Chanting of Ladakh: Recitation
of Sacred Texts - India 154
The Art of Kyrgyz Traditional Felt
Carpets - Krgyzistan 158
Traditional Craftsmanship of the Mongol
Ger and Its Associated Customs -
Mongolia 162
Chinese Calligraphy - China 168
Sericulture and Silk Craftsmanship
of China - China 170
Acupuncture and Moxibustion of
Traditional Chinese Medicine - China 176
Kabuki Theater - Japan 178
Washi, Craftsmanship of Traditional
Japanese Handmade Paper - Japan 184
Ojiya-chijimi and Echigo-jofu - Japan 188
Wayang Puppet Theater - Indonesia 190
Three Genres of Traditional Dance
in Bali - Indonesia 196
Indonesian Batik - Indonesia 202
AMERICA
The Charrería Equestrian Tradition
in Mexico - Mexico 210
Mariachi, String Music, Song and Trumpet -
Mexico 218
The Festivity Dedicated to the Dead -
Mexico 220
The Traditional January Parachicos
Feast - Mexico 228
The Panama Hat - Ecuador 232
The Carnival of Oruro - Bolivia 238
Taquile and Its Textile Art - Peru 246
Skills and Rituals Related to the Annual
Renewal of the Q'eswachaka Bridge - Peru 248
Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Lord
of Qoyllurit'i - Peru 254
The Capoeira Circle - Brazil 260
Tango - Argentina, Uruguay 262
Authors and Photo Credits 266
Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage 268
