The UNESCO-Designated Intangible Cultural Heritage of Korea, China, Japan, and India:A Comparative Study of their Preservation and Transmission

The purpose of this essay is to compare the preservation and transmission of Korea s Royal Ancestral Rite and Ritual Music in Jongmyo Shrine, Japan s Nogaku Theatre, China s Kunqu Opera, and India s Kutiyattam SanskritTheatre, all of which have been designated by Unesco as items of World Intangible Cultural Heritage.The South Korean and Japanese governments have a legally instituted protection and transmission system that supports the best performers of designated intangible cultural assets, who are known as Living Human Treasures in Korea and Living National Treasures in Japan. Japan also has numerous amateur performers who provide additional financial support and encouragement to its Living National Treasures. Though the Chinese government has no formally instituted protection system, it has provided some support for intangible asset performances. After its Kunqu was designated by Unesco as part of the world s Intangible Cultural Heritage, Chinese national and provincial governments became more actively involved in preserving and transmitting their nation s intangible cultural assets.India s Kutiyattam festival had been supported by religious temples, but with declining temple support, the continued existence of this cultural performances became endangered. Even after its designation as an Intangible cultural asset, the Indian government has shown less interest than that of China in providing financial support.