The Wayang Puppet Theatre (2003)

"Renowned for its elaborate puppets and complex musical styles, this ancient form of storytelling originated on the Indonesian island of Java. For ten centuries wayang flourished at the royal courts of Java and Bali as well as in rural areas. Wayang has spread to other islands (Lombok, Madura, Sumatra and Borneo) where various local performance styles and musical accompaniments have developed.

While these carefully handcrafted puppets vary in size, shape and style, two principal types prevail: the three-dimensional wooden puppet (wayang klitik or golèk) and the flat leather shadow puppet (wayang kulit) projected in front of a screen lit from behind. Both types are characterized by costumes, facial features and articulated body parts. The master puppeteer (dalang) manipulates the swivelling arms by means of slender sticks attached to the puppets. Singers and musicians play complex melodies on bronze instruments and gamelan drums. In the past, puppeteers were regarded as cultivated literary experts who transmitted moral and aesthetic values through their art. The words and actions of comic characters representing the “ordinary person” have provided a vehicle for criticizing sensitive social and political issues, and it is believed that this special role may have contributed to wayang’s survival over the centuries. Wayang stories borrow characters from indigenous myths, Indian epics and heroes from Persian tales. The repertory and performance techniques were transmitted orally within the families of puppeteers, musicians and puppet-makers. Master puppeteers are expected to memorize a vast repertory of stories and to recite ancient narrative passages and poetic songs in a witty and creative manner.

The Wayang Puppet Theatre still enjoys great popularity. However, to compete successfully with modern forms of pastimes such as video, television or karaoke, performers tend to accentuate comic scenes at the expense of the story line and to replace musical accompaniment with pop tunes, leading to the loss of some characteristic features."

Source UNESCO ICH website http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?pg=00011&RL=00063

The Royal Ancestral Ritual in the Jongmyo Shrine and its Music (2001)

"The Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul is the setting for a Confucian ritual dedicated to the ancestors of the Joseon dynasty (14th to the 19th century) that encompasses song, dance and music. The ritual is practised once a year on the first Sunday in May and is organized by the descendants of the royal family. It offers a unique example of a Confucian ritual, which is no longer celebrated in China. The tradition is inspired by classical Chinese texts concerning the cult of ancestors and the notion of filial piety. It also includes a prayer for the eternal peace of the ancestors’ spirits in a shrine conceived as their spiritual resting place.

The order of the ceremony was defined in the fifteenth century and most elements have remained unchanged until today. During the rite, the priests, dressed in ritual costume with a crown for the king and diadems for the others, make offerings of food and wine in ritual vessels. The Jongmyo Jerye is music played to accompany the rituals and is performed on traditional instruments, such as gongs, bells, lutes, zithers and flutes. The dances are performed by 64 dancers in 8 lines representing the opposing yet complementary forces of Yin and Yang as set out in the Confucian texts.The Munmu dance, accompanied by the harmonious and soothing Botaepyong music, is characterized by a first step to the left. While the Munmu dance symbolizes the force of the Yang, the Mumu dance, accompanied by Jeongdaeeop music and characterized by a movement to the right, represents the force of the Yin.

The ancestral ritual is nowadays often considered to be devoid of meaning, especially in the context of the growing importance of Christianity. However, the ritual and its music are protected through the National List of Intangible Heritage and the 1982 Law for the Protection of Cultural Property."

Source UNESCO ICH website http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?pg=00011&RL=00016

Courtesy of elbe from postcrossing forum

Complete List

The program was established in 2008, when the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage took effect. Prior to this, a project known as the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity has already been active in recognizing the value of intangibles such as tradition, custom and cultural spaces and the local actors who sustain these forms of cultural expressions through a Proclamation. Started in 2001 and held biennially until 2005, a total of three Proclamations occurred, encompassing 90 forms of intangible heritage around the world.

The 90 previously proclaimed Masterpieces have been incorporated into the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as its first entries, to be known as elements. 76 more elements were added on 30 September 2009, during the fourth session of the Committee.

Total 166 elements as of 2010.

http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=en&pg=00011

Albania
Albanian Folk Iso-polyphony (2008)

Algeria
The Ahellil of Gourara (2008)

Argentina
The Tango (2009) Argentina – Uruguay

Armenia
The Duduk and its Music (2008)

Azerbaijan
Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz, Nevruz (2009) Azerbaijan – India – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Kyrgyzstan – Pakistan – Turkey – Uzbekistan
The art of Azerbaijani Ashiq (2009)
The Azerbaijani Mugham (2008)

Bangladesh
Baul Songs (2008)

Belarus
Rite of the Kalyady Tsars (Christmas Tsars) (2009)

Belgium
Procession of the Holy Blood in Bruges (2009)
Processional Giants and Dragons in Belgium and France (2008) Belgium – France
The Carnival of Binche (2008)

Belize
Language, Dance and Music of the Garifuna (2008) Belize – Guatemala – Honduras – Nicaragua

Benin*
The Oral Heritage of Gelede (2008) Benin* – Nigeria – Togo

Bhutan
The Mask Dance of the Drums from Drametse (2008)

Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
The Andean Cosmovision of the Kallawaya (2008)
The Carnival of Oruro (2008)
Aymara communities in Bolivia, Chile and Peru (2009) Bolivia (Plurinational State of) – Chile – Peru

Brazil
Oral and Graphic Expressions of the Wajapi (2008)
The Samba de Roda of the Recôncavo of Bahia (2008)

Bulgaria
Nestinarstvo, messages from the past: the Panagyr of Saints Constantine and Helena in the village of Bulgari (2009)
The Bistritsa Babi – Archaic Polyphony, Dances and Rituals from the Shoplouk Region (2008)

Cambodia
Sbek Thom, Khmer Shadow Theatre (2008)
The Royal Ballet of Cambodia (2008)

Central African Republic
The Polyphonic Singing of the Aka Pygmies of Central Africa (2008)

Chile
Aymara communities in Bolivia, Chile and Peru (2009) Bolivia (Plurinational State of) – Chile – Peru

China
Qiang New Year festival (2009)
Traditional design and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges (2009)
Traditional Li textile techniques: spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidering (2009)
China engraved block printing technique (2009)
Chinese calligraphy (2009)
Chinese paper-cut (2009)
Chinese traditional architectural craftsmanship for timber-framed structures (2009)
Farmers’ dance of China’s Korean ethnic group (2009)
Gesar epic tradition (2009)
Grand song of the Dong ethnic group (2009)
Hua’er (2009)
Manas (2009)
Mongolian art of singing: Khoomei (2009)
Nanyin (2009)
Regong arts (2009)
Sericulture and silk craftsmanship of China (2009)
The art of Chinese seal engraving (2009)
The craftsmanship of Nanjing Yunjin brocade (2009)
The Dragon Boat festival (2009)
The Mazu belief and customs (2009)
The traditional firing technology of Longquan celadon (2009)
The traditional handicrafts of making Xuan paper (2009)
Tibetan opera (2009)
Xi’an wind and percussion ensemble (2009)
Yueju opera (2009)
Kun Qu Opera (2008)
The Guqin and its Music (2008)
The Uyghur Muqam of Xinjiang (2008)
Urtiin Duu - Traditional Folk Long Song (2008) China – Mongolia

Colombia
Carnaval de Negros y Blancos (2009)
Holy Week processions in Popayán (2009)
The Carnival of Barranquilla (2008)
The Cultural Space of Palenque de San Basilio (2008)

Costa Rica
Oxherding and Oxcart Traditions in Costa Rica (2008)

Côte d'Ivoire
The Gbofe of Afounkaha - the Music of the Transverse Trumps of the Tagbana Community (2008)

Croatia
Annual carnival bell ringers’ pageant from the Kastav area (2009)
Lacemaking in Croatia (2009)
Procession Za Krizen (‘following the cross’) on the island of Hvar (2009)
Spring procession of Ljelje/Kraljice (queens) from Gorjani (2009)
The festivity of Saint Blaise, the patron of Dubrovnik (2009)
Traditional manufacturing of children’s wooden toys in Hrvatsko Zagorje (2009)
Two-part singing and playing in the Istrian scale (2009)

Cuba
La Tumba Francesa (2008)

Cyprus
Lefkara laces or Lefkaritika (2009)

Czech Republic
Slovácko Verbuňk, Recruit Dances (2008)

Dominican Republic
The Cocolo Dance Drama Tradition (2008)
The Cultural Space of the Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit of the Congos of Villa Mella (2008)

Ecuador
The Oral Heritage and Cultural Manifestations of the Zápara People (2008) Ecuador – Peru

Egypt
The Al-Sirah Al-Hilaliyyah Epic (2008)

Estonia
Seto Leelo, Seto polyphonic singing tradition (2009)
The Baltic Song and Dance Celebrations (2008) Estonia – Latvia – Lithuania
The Kihnu Cultural Space (2008)

France
The Cantu in paghjella: a secular and liturgical oral tradition of Corsica (2009)
Aubusson tapestry (2009)
Maloya (2009)
The scribing tradition in French timber framing (2009)
Processional Giants and Dragons in Belgium and France (2008) Belgium – France

Gambia*
The Kankurang, Manding Initiatory Rite (2008) Gambia* – Senegal

Georgia
Georgian Polyphonic Singing (2008)

Guatemala
Language, Dance and Music of the Garifuna (2008) Belize – Guatemala – Honduras – Nicaragua
The Rabinal Achí Dance Drama Tradition (2008)

Guinea
The Cultural Space of Sosso-Bala (2008)

Honduras
Language, Dance and Music of the Garifuna (2008) Belize – Guatemala – Honduras – Nicaragua
Hungary
Busó festivities at Mohács: masked end-of-winter carnival custom (2009)

India
Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz, Nevruz (2009) Azerbaijan – India – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Kyrgyzstan – Pakistan – Turkey – Uzbekistan
Ramman: religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas, India (2009)
Kutiyattam, Sanskrit Theatre (2008)
Ramlila - the Traditional Performance of the Ramayana (2008)
The Tradition of Vedic Chanting (2008)

Indonesia
Indonesian Batik (2009)
The Indonesian Kris (2008)
The Wayang Puppet Theatre (2008)
Education and training in Indonesian Batik intangible cultural heritage for elementary, junior, senior, vocational school and polytechnic students, in collaboration with the Batik Museum in Pekalongan (2009)

Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz, Nevruz (2009) Azerbaijan – India – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Kyrgyzstan – Pakistan – Turkey – Uzbekistan
The Radif of Iranian music (2009)

Iraq
The Iraqi Maqam (2008)

Italy
Opera dei Pupi, Sicilian Puppet Theatre (2008)
The Canto a tenore, Sardinian Pastoral Songs (2008)

Jamaica*
The Maroon Heritage of Moore Town (2008)

Japan
Akiu no Taue Odori (2009)
Chakkirako (2009)
Daimokutate (2009)
Dainichido Bugaku (2009)
Gagaku (2009)
Hayachine Kagura (2009)
Hitachi Furyumono (2009)
Koshikijima no Toshidon (2009)
Ojiya-chijimi, Echigo-jofu: techniques of making ramie fabric in Uonuma region, Niigata Prefecture (2009)
Oku-noto no Aenokoto (2009)
Sekishu-Banshi: papermaking in the Iwami region of Shimane Prefecture (2009)
Traditional Ainu dance (2009)
Yamahoko, the float ceremony of the Kyoto Gion festival (2009)
Kabuki Theatre (2008)
Ningyo Johruri Bunraku Puppet Theatre (2008)
Nôgaku Theatre (2008)

Jordan
The Cultural Space of the Bedu in Petra and Wadi Rum (2008)

Kenya
Traditions and practices associated to the Kayas in the sacred forests of the Mijikenda (2009)

Kyrgyzstan
Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz, Nevruz (2009) Azerbaijan – India – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Kyrgyzstan – Pakistan – Turkey – Uzbekistan
The Art of Akyns, Kyrgyz Epic Tellers (2008)

Latvia
Suiti cultural space (2009)
The Baltic Song and Dance Celebrations (2008) Estonia – Latvia – Lithuania

Lithuania
Cross-crafting and its Symbolism (2008)
The Baltic Song and Dance Celebrations (2008) Estonia – Latvia – Lithuania

Madagascar
The Woodcrafting Knowledge of the Zafimaniry (2008)

Malawi
The Gule Wamkulu (2008) Malawi – Mozambique – Zambia
The Vimbuza Healing Dance (2008)

Malaysia*
Mak Yong Theatre (2008)

Mali
The Sanké mon: collective fishing rite of the Sanké (2009)
The Manden Charter, proclaimed in Kurukan Fuga (2009)
The septennial re-roofing ceremony of the Kamablon, sacred house of Kangaba (2009)
The Cultural Space of the Yaaral and Degal (2008)

Mexico
Places of memory and living traditions of the Otomí-Chichimecas people of Tolimán: the Peña de Bernal, guardian of a sacred territory (2009)
Ritual ceremony of the Voladores (2009)
The Indigenous Festivity dedicated to the Dead (2008)

Mongolia
Mongol Biyelgee: Mongolian traditional folk dance (2009)
Mongol Tuuli: Mongolian epic (2009)
Traditional music of the Tsuur (2009)
The Traditional Music of the Morin Khuur (2008)
Urtiin Duu - Traditional Folk Long Song (2008) China – Mongolia

Morocco
The Cultural Space of Jemaa el-Fna Square (2008)
The Moussem of Tan-Tan (2008)

Mozambique
The Chopi Timbila (2008)
The Gule Wamkulu (2008) Malawi – Mozambique – Zambia

Nicaragua
El Güegüense (2008)
Language, Dance and Music of the Garifuna (2008) Belize – Guatemala – Honduras – Nicaragua
Nigeria
Ijele masquerade (2009)
The Ifa Divination System (2008)
The Oral Heritage of Gelede (2008) Benin* – Nigeria – Togo

Pakistan
Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz, Nevruz (2009) Azerbaijan – India – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Kyrgyzstan – Pakistan – Turkey – Uzbekistan

Palestine*
The Palestinian Hikaye (2008)

Peru
Taquile and its Textile Art (2008)
The Oral Heritage and Cultural Manifestations of the Zápara People (2008) Ecuador – Peru
Aymara communities in Bolivia, Chile and Peru (2009) Bolivia (Plurinational State of) – Chile – Peru

Philippines
The Darangen Epic of the Maranao People of Lake Lanao (2008)
The Hudhud Chants of the Ifugao (2008)

Republic of Korea
Cheoyongmu (2009)
Ganggangsullae (2009)
Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut (2009)
Namsadang Nori (2009)
Yeongsanjae (2009)
The Gangneung Danoje Festival (2008)
The Pansori Epic Chant (2008)
The Royal Ancestral Ritual in the Jongmyo Shrine and its Music (2008)

Romania
Doina (2009)
The Căluş Ritual (2008)

Russian Federation*
The Cultural Space and Oral Culture of the Semeiskie (2008)
The Olonkho, Yakut Heroic Epos (2008)

Senegal
The Kankurang, Manding Initiatory Rite (2008) Gambia* – Senegal

Slovakia
The Fujara and its Music (2008)

Spain
Irrigators’ tribunals of the Spanish Mediterranean coast: the Council of Wise Men of the plain of Murcia and the Water Tribunal of the plain of Valencia (2009)
Whistled language of the island of La Gomera (Canary Islands), the Silbo Gomero (2009)
The Mystery Play of Elche (2008)
The Patum of Berga (2008)
Centre for traditional culture – school museum of Pusol pedagogic project (2009)

Tajikistan
Shashmaqom Music (2008) Tajikistan – Uzbekistan

Togo
The Oral Heritage of Gelede (2008) Benin* – Nigeria – Togo

Tonga
The Lakalaka, Dances and Sung Speeches of Tonga (2008)

Turkey
Âşıklık (minstrelsy) tradition (2009)
Karagöz (2009)
Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz, Nevruz (2009) Azerbaijan – India – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Kyrgyzstan – Pakistan – Turkey – Uzbekistan
The Arts of the Meddah, Public Storytellers (2008)
The Mevlevi Sema Ceremony (2008)

Uganda
Barkcloth Making in Uganda (2008)

Uruguay
The Candombe and its socio-cultural space: a community practice (2009)
The Tango (2009) Argentina – Uruguay

Uzbekistan
Katta Ashula (2009)
Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz, Nevruz (2009) Azerbaijan – India – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Kyrgyzstan – Pakistan – Turkey – Uzbekistan
Shashmaqom Music (2008) Tajikistan – Uzbekistan
The Cultural Space of the Boysun District (2008)

Vanuatu*
Vanuatu Sand Drawings (2008)

Viet Nam
Ca trù singing (2009)
Quan Họ Bắc Ninh folk songs (2009)
Nha Nhac, Vietnamese Court Music (2008)
The Space of Gong Culture (2008)

Yemen
The Song of Sana’a (2008)

Zambia
The Gule Wamkulu (2008) Malawi – Mozambique – Zambia
The Makishi Masquerade (2008)

Zimbabwe
The Mbende Jerusarema Dance (2008)