What is the fundamental difference between tangible and intangible cultural heritage?

Tangible culture: heritage that is preserved in the form of concrete objects embodying cultural aspects, such as the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Terracotta Warriors and Horses in Xi'an, are visible and tangible to us.

Intangible cultural heritage refers to the social practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills, tools, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces associated with communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals, which are recognized as part of their cultural heritage.

This intangible cultural heritage is transmitted from generation to generation and is constantly recreated by different communities and groups in the process of adapting to their surroundings and nature, and in interaction with their history, providing them with an ongoing sense of identity and enhancing respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.

Extended information:

Scope of tangible cultural heritage

Tangible cultural heritage is defined by the United Nations Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Definition of cultural heritage The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage states that cultural heritage may be classified as belonging to one of the following categories:

1. Cultural objects: buildings, sculptures and paintings of outstanding and universal value from the point of view of history, art or science, components or structures of archaeological significance, inscriptions, caves, settlements and complexes of various kinds of cultural objects;

2. Complexes: separate or interconnected groups of buildings of outstanding, universal value from a historical, artistic or scientific point of view, because of their architectural form, homogeneity and their place in the landscape;

3. Sites: zones of manmade works or masterpieces of man and nature***similar to each other, as well as zones of archaeological sites of outstanding, universal value from a historical, aesthetic, ethnographic or anthropological point of view.

Content of Intangible Cultural Heritage

According to the Law of the People's Republic of China on Intangible Cultural Heritage, intangible cultural heritage refers to the traditional cultural expressions that have been handed down from generation to generation by the peoples and are regarded as an integral part of their cultural heritage, as well as the physical objects and places associated with the traditional cultural expressions.

These include:

1. traditional oral literature and the language used as its carrier;

2. traditional fine arts, calligraphy, music, dance, drama, performing arts and acrobatics;

3. traditional skills, medicine and calendars;

4. traditional rituals, festivals and other folklore;

5. traditional sports and games;

6. traditional culture and culture; and

7. traditional culture and culture.

6. Other intangible cultural heritage.

For objects and places that are part of the intangible cultural heritage and are cultural relics, the relevant provisions of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics shall apply.