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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
New Delhi, December 11 (Xinhua) — The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage decided at its 20th session to transfer the Imakan epic of the Hezhe (Nanai) people of China from the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
At the same time, considering the effectiveness of the protection of this heritage, the committee decided to include the program for the protection of the Imakan epic in the Register of Best Practices for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage.
As a reminder, in 2024, three Chinese elements, including textile technologies of the Li people, were transferred from the List of Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding to the Representative List. The Imakan epic became another example of China's success in protecting intangible heritage. This is also the first time an element has been transferred between lists while simultaneously being included in the Register of Best Practices for Safeguarding Intangible Heritage.
"Imakan" is an ancient oral tradition passed down from generation to generation by the Hezhe ethnic group. The narrative is told in the Nanai language and includes both poetry and prose. The epic tells the story of the Hezhe people and their folk heroes, fishing and hunting customs, rituals, and moral norms. The tradition has been preserved from century to century, fulfilling such functions as documenting history, educating the younger generation, and providing community recreation.
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