Insight Into Intangible Cultural Heritage

Amidst the globalization of the 21st century, China is undergoing unprecedented social and cultural changes. Intangible cultural heritage as a media of traditional culture is faced with the shock of modernization. How to protect and utilize intangible cultural heritage has become a public concern. Intangible cultural heritage is what we term as traditional culture or folk culture. To protect it means to consolidate the basis of our nation's cultural tradition and development and plays a major role in ensuring the uniqueness of Chinese culture and its revitalization. Great importance has been attached to this urgent issue.Focusing on Lu Brocade—an intangible cultural heritage at the provincial level of Shandong, this thesis carries out a detailed study on the brocade art in the household culture of Southwestern Shandong, with regard to its conservation, research and development. It starts with the concept and significance of intangible cultural heritage, introducing the definition, origin, history and custom of Lu Brocade. For the purpose of protection, it sheds light on loom machines, materials, process, technique, patterns and women weavers. Through comparison with Yun Brocade, Song Brocade and Shu Brocade—the three famous schools of brocade in China, the article explains the features of Lu Brocade in terms of artistic design: patterns and color. The paper finally provides a review on the development and current state of Lu Brocade, and summarizes the problems that confront this art style.Is it possible that Lu Brocade would integrate into modern life? Its miserable situation today is a result of many factors: defects of earlier products, unhealthy marketing mechanism, shortage of skilled workers, failure in handing down of techniques, confusion of brands, and poor market targeting. The paper puts forward ideas revolving around promotion of traditions, study of deigns and techniques, and development of new products.Conservation of intangible cultural heritage is an issue that demands urgent attention. Proper understanding of the principles we should abide or abandon is key to the protection of Chinese traditional culture and provides a basis for its further development.