From “folk culture” to “great cultural heritage of China”: the aporia of the quest for the essence of Chinese culture JUNG-A CHANG

In China, application to UNESCO for listing items as part of its cultural heritage has recently become an important topic. In particular, intangible culture has been highlighted as well as tangible culture. In 2006, interest was high enough for it to be called the year of cultural heritage. In 2006, Cultural Heritage Day in China was officially established, and a youth pledge to preserve cultural heritage proclaimed. In its eagerness to protect its intangible cultural heritage (ICH), the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center (CICHPC) was established in 2006 and the ICH Law of the People’s Republic of China was implemented in 2011.