When the law was established, Japan was in the midst of
chaos and poverty after the Second World War. In 1949, just after the war, a
fire broke out in Horyu-ji, the oldest existing wooden structure in Japan,
leading to the loss of its world famous mural paintings. The incidence shocked
people and raised awareness for the safeguarding of cultural properties.
However, this was not limited to buildings and art work. The fading interest in
traditional performing arts under the influx of Western culture after the
war heightened a sense of crisis among enthusiasts and other people involved
with them.
In 1989, UNESCO produced its Recommendation on the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and Folklore, initiating a project that aim to preserve traditional culture and folklore around the world.
The concept of ICH emerged globaly in the 1990s, as a counterpart to the World Heritage (1972) that focuses mainly on tangible aspects of culture.
In 1989, UNESCO produced its Recommendation on the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and Folklore, initiating a project that aim to preserve traditional culture and folklore around the world.
The concept of ICH emerged globaly in the 1990s, as a counterpart to the World Heritage (1972) that focuses mainly on tangible aspects of culture.
On May 18, 2001, for the first time, UNESCO proclaimed 19
of the world’s most remarkable examples of the oral and intangible heritage.
Selected by a 18-member jury, the winning entries were chosen for their
outstanding value as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The global proclamation emphasizes the importance of protecting this
outstanding but endangered heritage - cultural spaces and forms of popular and
traditional expression - and of preserving cultural diversity.In
2001, UNESCO made a survey among States and NGOs to try to agree on
a ICH definition.
In October 2002, the International Council
of Museums (ICOM) adopt the
Shanghai Charter: “Museums, intangible heritage and globalisation” at the
end of the 7th Regional Assembly of ICOM Asia-Pacific Regional Alliance.
October 2003, UNESCO adopt the "Convention for the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage " but this convention just enter into force on April 2006 after its ratification by thirty States.
Continuation of the "Masterpieces", UNESCO launched in 2008 the "Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage" incorporating the masterpieces from the earlier proclamation.
Today, 213 elements of the World ICH are included in this list.
October 2003, UNESCO adopt the "Convention for the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage " but this convention just enter into force on April 2006 after its ratification by thirty States.
Continuation of the "Masterpieces", UNESCO launched in 2008 the "Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage" incorporating the masterpieces from the earlier proclamation.
Today, 213 elements of the World ICH are included in this list.