Local Government's Liability In The Protection Of Intangible Cultural Heritage

The intangible cultural heritage is the image and carrier of various traditional cultures closely related with local livelihood and passed by from generations.It is the identity,cultural essence,wisdom and spirit,but also the cradle for the sustainability for the cultural spirit.With the economic globalization,the intangible cultural heritage is increasingly challenged by the economic growth,and impacted to be homogenization.Therefore,the international community has attached the conservation and development of intangible cultural heritage with great importance.Since the signing of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2004,the government has been playing the leading role.The publication of the law on intangible cultural heritage by the Chinese government in 2011 symbolized the protection was into a legitimate process.At present,in the specific work of the protection,the governments have increased the investment and enhanced the administration for compete law enforcement;the protection and inheritance tasks have achieved new progress.However,the governmental protection is a sword of two blades,lacking in protection while overacting in administration.Therefore,this thesis is taking the responsibility and function of the government as the entry point to provide suggestions on the positioning and function of the government with the aim of changing from passive actor to active performer.Due to the living and working place,the author has conducted a large number of field research and participated in the local protection of the intangible cultural heritage.For instance,the Tujia Sayerhuo folk dance,one intangible cultural heritage of Chyangyang Tujia Minority Autonomous County,where the author is currently living and working,is threatened with extinction.The reason might be various,but the less effective protection of the local cultural government might be an important reason.Against this situation and perspective,this thesis has taken the Tujia Sayerhuo folk dance as a case study on the over-administration,mal-function and mis-operation of local governments in the current trend of intangible cultural heritage protection.By re-examining the folk culture,the thesis is seeking for a better understanding of local government's functions and responsibilities,discussing an appropriate means of protection for the sustainable development of Tujia Sayerhuo folk dance.It is also the wish of the author to provide theoretical and methodological references for the protection and inheritance of other minority local traditional culture.This thesis firstly analyzes the responsibility of local government and its loss in in the protection of intangible cultural heritage.The protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage is beneficial to the local economic growth and cultural development for a harmonious society.The protection of intangible cultural heritage should be implemented according to the law and directed by the basic principle of the man comes first.This thesis,take a case study of the Tujia Sayerhuo local dance,gives a briefing of the basic situation and current challenges in the protection of the intangible cultural heritage in Changyang county.In conclusion,this thesis pointed out the issues that the local government should address,proposed working suggestions for local government:enhance the scientific research and education in the protection,partnership with non-government organizations and local communities,promote the cultural system reforms,and increase the investment in the protection of intangible cultural heritage.