Cultural Heritage

In Xining, Cheng Shizhong is revitalizing Northwest China’s “Hua’er” folk music. He innovates performances, drawing large crowds and seeking new talent through the “Village Stage” initiative. As a Kuaishou influencer, he breaks barriers and spreads the musical heritage online. Cheng’s efforts, from outdoor live streams to talent searches, are aimed at preserving and promoting “Hua’er,” engaging youth & wider audiences, ensuring its future through community participation, talent discovery, and digital platforms.

South Korea’s UNESCO cultural heritage nominations, including Kimchi and the Gangneung Danoje Festival, face setbacks. Five nominations are on a “pending withdrawal” list due to insufficient evidence of unique Korean origin. China has challenged these claims, presenting historical evidence suggesting earlier origins for practices like pickling, Danoje rituals, and traditional carpentry. UNESCO has requested South Korea provide independent evidence, but reportedly, the submitted documentation was inadequate. This development raises questions about South Korea’s cultural origin claims.

Despite the internet’s vastness, significant media content is vanishing, termed “lost media.” This occurs due to factors like physical erasure from broadcast archives, copyright issues, and technological obsolescence. Dedicated communities actively search for and restore this content, combating digital oblivion and preserving cultural heritage. Their communal effort, not just technology, ensures these memories endure.