Indigenising Intangible Cultural Heritage: Comparison and Interpretation of the Concept of ICH in China

Understanding the concept of intangible cultural heritage is a theme currently attracting a lot of attention in academic circles. Based on the definitions in UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and on the Interim Measures for Applying for the National Representative Works of Intangible Cultural Heritage issued by the Chinese State Council, this article attempts to give an in-depth interpretation of the primary meaning and localised transformation of intangible cultural heritage. On the basis of this analysis, the concept of intangible cultural heritage is placed in a Chinese context and a comparison is made with the present academic conceptual framework so as to facilitate an understanding of the validity of the ICH concept for the Chinese.The study of intangible cultural heritage has become a focus of research in the field of cultural study, particularly since the adoption by UNESCO of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in October, 2003. However, these theories are not well understood in Chinese academic circles: literature study in China started late and no basic concept or theoretical system has been established. The construction of theoretical systems should be based on an accurate understanding of concepts. Therefore, the meaning of intangible cultural heritage is worthy of discussion.