China's "24 Solar Terms" inscribed on UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list

Xinhua News Agency

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The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has adopted a decision that China's "The Twenty-Four Solar Terms" be inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The decision for the Chinese heritage, knowledge in China of time and practices developed through observation of the sun's annual motion, came here on Wednesday during the 11th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

Presenting China's request, Chairperson of the Evaluation Body Yonas Desta said, "The evaluation body is pleased to find that the traditional Chinese calendar which has provably influenced the people's way of thinking and code of conduct continues to be an important carrier of Chinese cultural identity. It continues to provide the time frame for the everyday life and communal events to this date."

During the UNESCO meeting, the representatives of 24 States Parties to UNESCO's Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, had 37 requests to be examined for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Speaking on the occasion, Zhang Ling, an official of Chinese Delegation, expressed delight at the meaningful recognition.

"On behalf of the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China, my delegation would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all the community members, evaluation body and the secretariat for your great effort on the examination and inscription of the 24 Solar Terms," she said.

"As a traditional knowledge system of time that enjoys thousands of years of intergenerational transmission, the 24 Solar Terms clearly embodies the concepts of respect for nature, and harmony between man and nature," she added.

This is the third inscribed element submitted by China that falls in the domain of knowledge and practices concerning nature and universe as defined in the 2003 convention, according to her.

"We believe that the inscription of the 24 Solar Terms on the Representative List will not only enhance cultural identity of communities and groups concerned, but also contributes to ensuring visibility and awareness of the significance of the ICH in general," she noted.

(APD)