人类口头和非物质文化遗产与中国文明

从2000年开始,联合国教科文组织增加了一项人类口头和非物质文化遗产代表作评选。中国的昆曲首次进入2001年第一批保护名录,2003年联合国发布的第二批代表作名录,中国的古琴艺术也获当选。两年一次的评选工作得到世界各国的认同和欢迎。据悉,中国各地对于申报的热情非常大,以至于各地仍在发掘、征集、论证新的人类口头和非物质遗产的保护项目。在这种热情的背后是否真的是对于文化的保护,抑或是有着其他利益的驱动?笔者拟从人类口头和非物质遗产的概念以及延伸出来的文化人类学的诸问题,跟中国文明的关系作一个探讨。目的在于:不要将这个有意义的申报工作变得庸俗化。

Human unwritten and nonmaterial cultural heritage: its relation with Chinese civilization

From 2000, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) included a group of human unwritten and nonmaterial cultural properties in the World Heritage List. Chinese Kunqun opera was included in the first group of protected heritages in 2001and the art of Chinese guqin music was included in the second group of heritages. China’s declaration has been recognized and welcomed, which consequently brings about great enthusiasm throughout the country. Is this motivated by the protection of the heritage or by material interests? The author here intends to make an analysis from the relationship between Chinese civilization and cultural anthropology derived from the notion of human unwritten and nonmaterial cultural heritage. The purpose is to avoid debasing the meaningful declaration.