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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 18 (Xinhua) – The recognition of the Wangchuan ceremony, jointly nominated by Malaysia and China, on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Culture (UNESCO) reflected the strong ties between the two countries and would further promote the exchange of people, Malaysian government officials and participants in the joint efforts said.
During the online meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage on Thursday, “The Wangchuan ceremony and related practices to maintain the sustainable connection between man and the ocean” were included as elements of the intangible cultural heritage. on the UNESCO list.
Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Nancy Shukri, said the success was not only historic, as it was the first time Malaysia had achieved such recognition alongside other countries, but also a “testimony” to Malaysia’s relationship. with China, which has been intertwined for centuries. which contributes to the diversity and uniqueness of the cultural heritage of this country.
According to UNESCO lists, the Wangchuan ceremony and related practices are rooted in popular worship customs and developed in China’s Minnan region between the 15th and 17th centuries. The element is now targeting the coastal areas of Xiamen Bay and Quanzhou Bay, as well as Chinese communities in Malacca, Malaysia.
The item evokes the historical memory of ocean navigation of ancestors, reshapes social connections when faced with emergencies such as shipwrecks, and honors the harmony between man and the ocean. It also bears witness to the intercultural dialogue between communities.
“As someone who participated in the efforts, we are extremely proud that the Wangchuan ceremony has been listed as a UNESCO heritage site,” said Ronald Gan, who has been organizing the Wangchuan ceremonies in Malacca.
According to him, the Wangchuan ceremony was said to have been first celebrated in Malaysia in the mid-19th century, before it was celebrated in 1905 with written and photographic records. Since then, various ceremonies have been held, the most recent being held in Malacca earlier this year.
The idea of the joint nomination of Malaysia and China came about when a Minnan cultural society from Xiamen from China’s Fujian province visited Malacca in 2015 and found that the practice of the Wangchuan ceremony has left Malaysia, since then more than 30 societies from both countries have participated in the nomination, Gan told Xinhua.
Gan Tian Loo, Malacca’s special envoy to China, who has joined the nomination efforts, said that the Wangchuan ceremony is one of the most iconic events in Minnan culture and has been brought by the Chinese when they traveled and settled. in Southeast Asia, including today. Malaysia.
“Over the past four years, the governments of Malaysia and China, as well as the societies of the two countries, have been actively involved in the nomination, including holding the Wangchuan event, working on the nomination process, and even building platforms for academic exchanges. . Success cannot be achieved without these joint efforts, “he said.
Gan Tian Loo said the joint nomination demonstrates the cultural background shared by Malaysia and China, which will further facilitate people-to-people exchange and even cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative between the two countries. Final product
