UNESCO recognition sought for for Dong Ho folk painting
Authorities in northern Bac Ninh Province are planning to compile a dossier on the Vietnamese folk art of Dong Ho painting in a bid to secure UNESCO recognition.
Artisan Nguyen Dang Che finishes a Dong Ho painting called Ca Chep Trong Trang (Moonlight Carp) (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Authorities in northern Bac Ninh Provinceare planning to compile a dossier on the Vietnamese folk art of Dong Hopainting in a bid to secure UNESCO recognition.
The proposal of the People’s Committee of Bac Ninh to compile the dossier togain UNESCO recognition as an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgentsafeguarding has been ratified by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.The provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has been tasked tocollaborate with related organisations to finish the dossier before it issubmitted to the provincial People’s Committee for approval.
The effort to secure UNESCO recognition of Dong Ho painting as an intangiblecultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding is expected to have asignificant impact in the preservation and promotion of Vietnamese traditionalvalues as well as in improving communities’ awareness in the protection of suchvalues.
Vietnam currently has 12 cultural elements inscribed in the UNESCO-recognisedlist of intangible cultural heritages, including Nha Nhac (Vietnamese RoyalMusic), Space of gong culture, Quan Ho Bac Ninh folk songs, and Ca Tru singing,as well as the Giong Festival, Worship of Hung Kings, the art of Don Ca Tai Tu musicand folk songs, and the Vi and Giam folk songs of Nghe Tinh. Tugging ritualsand games, practices related to Vietnamese belief in Mother Goddesses, Xoansinging, and the art of Bai Choi singing have also been recognised by theUNESCO.
Dong Ho painting originated in Dong Ho Village in the Thuan Thanh District ofthe northern province of Bac Ninh. For centuries, the paintings were used asprecious decorations to celebrate the Tet festival. People bought the paintingsto hang on their walls for a year, which are then replaced with new ones forthe next New Year.
Dong Ho painting was inscribed in the list of national intangible culturalheritages by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in December 2012.-VNS/VNA
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Artisan Nguyen Dang Che finishes a Dong Ho painting called Ca Chep Trong Trang (Moonlight Carp) (Photo: VNA) 
