What are the measures to protect culture after the founding of our country

State Council sets China's cultural heritage day

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The State Council recently issued the "Circular on Strengthening the Protection of Cultural Heritage" (hereinafter referred to as the "Circular"), which calls for further strengthening the protection of cultural heritage and decides that the second Saturday of June each year, starting from 2006, will be China's "Cultural Heritage Day ".

The Notice said that cultural heritage includes tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Tangible cultural heritage is cultural relics of historical, artistic and scientific value, including ancient ruins, ancient tombs, ancient buildings, grottoes and temples, stone carvings, murals, important historical sites and representative buildings of modern times and other immovable cultural relics, and important objects of various eras of history, works of art, documents, manuscripts, library materials and other movable cultural relics; as well as in the architectural style, uniform distribution or combination with the environment and scenery with outstanding universal Intangible cultural heritage refers to all kinds of intangible cultural heritages which are not based on the cultural heritage of the people, but on the cultural heritage of the people of the world. Intangible cultural heritage refers to all kinds of traditional cultural expressions in intangible form that are closely related to the life of the masses and have been inherited from generation to generation, including oral traditions, traditional performing arts, folklore activities and rituals and festivals, traditional folklore knowledge and practices relating to nature and the universe, and traditional craftsmanship skills, as well as the cultural spaces associated with the above-mentioned traditional cultural expressions.

The Circular pointed out that the importance and urgency of protecting cultural heritage should be fully recognized. China's cultural heritage contains the unique spiritual values, way of thinking and imagination of the Chinese nation, embodies the vitality and creativity of the Chinese nation, and is the crystallization of the wisdom of all nationalities, as well as the treasure of the civilization of all mankind. The protection of cultural heritage and the preservation of national cultural heritage are important cultural foundations for linking national emotions, promoting national unity and maintaining national unity and social stability, as well as a prerequisite for preserving the world's cultural diversity and creativity, and for promoting the development of humankind*** together. Cultural heritage is a precious, non-renewable resource. With the trend of economic globalization and the accelerating process of modernization, China's cultural ecology is undergoing great changes, and cultural heritage and its living environment are under serious threat. The overall appearance of many famous historical and cultural cities (neighborhoods, villages and towns), ancient buildings, ancient ruins and scenic spots has been damaged. Illegal trade in cultural relics, theft and excavation of ancient sites and tombs, as well as the smuggling of cultural relics, have not been effectively curbed in some areas, and a large number of valuable cultural relics have been lost outside the country. As a result of over-exploitation and irrational utilization, many important cultural heritages have perished or been lost. In areas inhabited by ethnic minorities where cultural heritage is relatively abundant, the disappearance of ethnic or regional cultural characteristics has accelerated as a result of changes in people's living environments and conditions. It is therefore imperative to strengthen the protection of cultural heritage. Local people's governments at all levels and relevant departments should, from the height of being responsible for the country and its history, and from the height of safeguarding the country's cultural security, fully recognize the importance of protecting cultural heritage, further enhance the sense of responsibility and urgency, and effectively do a good job of protecting cultural heritage.

The Circular puts forward the guiding ideology, basic policy and overall goal of strengthening the protection of cultural heritage. The guiding ideology is: adhere to Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents" as the guidance, comprehensively implement and realize the scientific concept of development, increase the protection of cultural heritage, build a scientific and effective cultural heritage protection system, raise the awareness of cultural heritage protection of the whole society, and give full play to the role of cultural heritage in the inheritance of Chinese culture, improve the quality of ideology and morality and the quality of science and culture of the people. It will also give full play to the important role of cultural heritage in passing on Chinese culture, improving the quality of people's ideology and morality as well as their scientific and cultural qualities, enhancing national cohesion, promoting the construction of an advanced socialist culture and building a harmonious socialist society. The basic guidelines are: the protection of tangible cultural heritage should follow the guidelines of "protection first, rescue first, rational utilization and strengthening management"; the protection of intangible cultural heritage should follow the guidelines of "protection first, rescue first, rational utilization and development through inheritance". It insists on protecting the authenticity and integrity of cultural heritage, adhering to the law and scientific protection, correctly handling the relationship between economic and social development and cultural heritage protection, comprehensive planning, classified guidance, highlighting the key points, and step-by-step implementation. The overall goal is: by 2010, a relatively complete cultural heritage protection system will have been initially established, and the protection of cultural heritage will have been significantly improved. By 2015, a more complete cultural heritage protection system will be basically formed, and cultural heritage with historical, cultural and scientific value will be comprehensively and effectively protected; the protection of cultural heritage will be y rooted in people's hearts, and will become the conscious action of the whole society.

The Notice requires that efforts be made to solve the outstanding problems facing the protection of tangible cultural heritage. First, we must effectively do a good job of cultural relics investigation and research and immovable cultural relics protection planning and implementation. Strengthen the survey and research of cultural relics resources, and registration and archiving in accordance with the law. On the basis of careful mapping, the classification of cultural relics protection planning, and seriously organize the implementation. The State Council administrative department of cultural relics to coordinate the preparation of the world cultural heritage, the national key cultural relics protection unit protection planning, the provincial people's government to organize the preparation of specific, reported to the State Council administrative department of cultural relics review and approval of the announcement of the implementation of the State Council administrative department of cultural relics. The State Council administrative department of cultural relics shall follow up and monitor the implementation of the plan, check the implementation. To timely and lawfully delineate the protection range of cultural relics protection units and construction control zone, set up the necessary protection management institutions, clear protection responsibility subject, establish and improve the protection management system. Other immovable cultural relics should also formulate protection plans and implement protection measures in accordance with the provisions of the Cultural Relics Protection Law. Resolutely avoid and correct excessive exploitation of cultural heritage, especially the illegal behavior of operating cultural relics as or disguised as corporate assets. Secondly, the protection of cultural relics in major construction projects should be improved and perfected. Strictly implement the approval, authorization and filing system for major construction projects. Where cultural relics involved in the protection of matters of capital projects, must be in accordance with the law in the project before the approval of the cultural relics administrative department for advice, in the necessary archaeological exploration, excavation and the implementation of cultural relics protection measures can be implemented only after the implementation of the project. Capital projects in the archaeological excavation to give full consideration to the actual needs of heritage protection, strengthen the unified management, implementation of the approval and supervision responsibilities. Third, we must effectively focus on key cultural relics maintenance projects. Coordinated planning, focusing on funding, the implementation of a number of key projects for the protection of cultural relics, remove major heritage risks, and strengthen the protection of important endangered cultural relics. The implementation of protection works must ensure the authenticity of cultural relics, resolutely prohibit the protection of cultural relics in the name of fake antiques. To the cultural relics "re-construction" to carry out strict restrictions on the limited human and material resources to the important cultural relics, especially major endangered cultural relics on the protection of the project. Strict project management, the implementation of cultural relics protection engineering team qualification system, improve the management system of practitioners, the establishment of all kinds of cultural relics protection technical specifications to ensure the quality of the project. Fourth, to strengthen the protection of historical and cultural cities (neighborhoods, villages and towns). Further improve the declaration and evaluation of historical and cultural cities (neighborhoods, villages and towns). Has been identified as a famous historical and cultural city (neighborhoods, villages and towns), the local people's government should carefully formulate protection plans and strictly implement them. In the process of urbanization, it is necessary to effectively protect the historical and cultural environment, make the protection of outstanding vernacular architecture and other cultural heritage an important part of the development strategy of urbanization, and incorporate the protection plan for historical cities (neighborhoods, villages and towns) into urban and rural planning. A public announcement system must be established for relevant major construction projects, and the opinions of all sectors of society must be widely solicited. The relevant departments of the State Council shall follow up and monitor the protection status and planning implementation of the historical and cultural cities (neighborhoods, villages and towns), and solve the relevant problems in a timely manner; if the layout, environment and historical features of the historical and cultural cities (neighborhoods, villages and towns) have been seriously damaged, the title shall be abolished according to law, and the relevant persons shall be held responsible. Fifth, to improve the level of protection and display of collections of cultural relics. Attach great importance to the construction of museums, strengthen the registration, archiving and safety management of collections, and implement the accountability system for the loss and destruction of collections. Implementation of the collection of cultural relics informationization and preservation of the environment to meet the standard construction, increase the collection of cultural relics science and technology protection. Improve the quality and level of displays and exhibitions, and give full play to the educational role of cultural relics in collections. Strengthen the training of museum professionals and improve the quality of museum teams. Adhere to the minors and other special social groups to reduce, free of charge, and constantly improve the quality and level of service. Sixth, to clean up and reorganize the circulation of cultural relics market. Strengthen the regulation of the cultural relics market and supervision and management, in accordance with the law to strictly grasp the market access conditions for the circulation of cultural relics, regulate the operation of cultural relics and folk cultural relics collection behavior, to ensure the healthy development of the cultural relics market. According to law to strengthen the sale of cultural relics store, cultural relics auction enterprises auction of cultural relics audit record work. Resolutely banning the illegal cultural relics market, and cracking down on theft, excavation, smuggling, dumping of cultural relics and other illegal and criminal activities. Strictly enforcing the system of examining and supervising the entry and exit of cultural relics, strengthening the construction of teams of appraisal organizations, and strictly preventing the loss of precious cultural relics. Strengthen international cooperation, the illegal loss of cultural relics outside the country should be resolutely pursued in accordance with the law.

The Notice requires that the protection of intangible cultural heritage be actively promoted. First, a census of intangible cultural heritage should be carried out. All regions should further improve the intangible cultural heritage of the census, identification and registration work, a comprehensive understanding and grasp of the intangible cultural heritage resources, types, quantities, distribution, living environment, protection of the status quo and existing problems, and timely publication of the results of the census to the community. 3 years the country basically completed the census work. Secondly, it is necessary to formulate plans for the protection of intangible cultural heritage. On the basis of scientific proof, the national and regional intangible cultural heritage protection plans should be formulated, the scope of protection should be clarified, and long-term goals and recent tasks should be put forward. Thirdly, the precious intangible cultural heritage should be rescued. Effective measures should be taken to collect objects and materials of intangible cultural heritage with historical, cultural and scientific value, and to improve the collection and storage system. Where conditions are conducive, databases, museums or exhibition centers of intangible cultural heritage can be established. Fourthly, a listing system for intangible cultural heritage should be established. Further improve the evaluation standards, strictly evaluate the work, and gradually establish the national and provincial, municipal and county intangible cultural heritage list systems. For items listed on the intangible cultural heritage list, scientific protection plans should be formulated, and the responsible parties for the protection concerned should be clearly defined for effective protection. For representative heirs of items listed on the ICH lists, financial assistance should be provided in a systematic manner to encourage and support them to carry out training activities, so as to ensure the inheritance of excellent ICH. Fifth, the protection of ethnic minority cultural heritage and cultural ecological zones should be strengthened. Emphasis will be placed on supporting the protection of intangible cultural heritage in ethnic minority areas. Regions with rich cultural heritage and where the traditional cultural ecology remains relatively intact should be systematically protected in a dynamic and holistic manner. Ethnic minority cultural heritage and cultural ecological zones that are indeed endangered should be put on the protection list as soon as possible, protective measures should be implemented, and rescue and protection should be carried out as soon as possible.

The Notice emphasizes the need to effectively strengthen the leadership of the protection of cultural heritage. First, we must conscientiously implement the leadership responsibility. Local people's governments at all levels and relevant departments should include cultural heritage protection in the important agenda, and into the economic and social development plan and urban and rural planning. It is necessary to establish and improve the responsibility system and accountability system for cultural heritage protection, establish a regular notification system for cultural heritage protection, an expert consultation system, and a public and public opinion supervision mechanism, and promote the scientific and democratic work of cultural heritage protection. Give full play to the role of relevant academic institutions, universities and colleges, enterprises and institutions, social organizations and other aspects of the *** with the work of cultural heritage protection. Secondly, we should speed up the construction of the legal system for the protection of cultural heritage, increase law enforcement, and promote the legalization, institutionalization and standardization of the protection of cultural heritage. To urgently formulate and draft departmental rules and regulations and local laws and regulations that are compatible with the law on the protection of cultural heritage. The relevant regulations on the protection of intellectual property rights of cultural heritage should be studied and formulated urgently. The protection of cultural heritage shall be carried out in strict accordance with the laws and administrative regulations, and no unit or individual shall make any decision that contradicts the laws and administrative regulations; administrative law enforcement authorities at all levels, such as the administrative departments of cultural relics, have the right to resist and stop the decisions and behaviors that violate the relevant laws and administrative regulations in accordance with the law. Cracking down on all kinds of illegal and criminal behaviors that damage cultural heritage, and focusing on the legal responsibility of those responsible for the destruction, theft or loss of cultural heritage due to poor decision-making or negligence in their duties. If cultural heritage is damaged due to ineffective law enforcement, the relevant law enforcement authorities and those responsible should be held accountable. Thirdly, special funds should be arranged to strengthen the construction of professional personnel. People's governments at all levels should incorporate cultural heritage protection funds into their own financial budgets, and guarantee funding for key cultural heritage. They should urgently formulate and improve policies and measures concerning social donations and sponsorships, and mobilize the enthusiasm of social groups, enterprises and individuals to participate in cultural heritage protection. Strengthen the construction of cultural heritage protection management institutions and professional teams, and vigorously cultivate all kinds of specialists required for cultural heritage protection and management. Strengthen the research, application and promotion of cultural heritage protection science and technology, and strive to improve the level of cultural heritage protection work. Fourth, we should increase publicity to create a good atmosphere for the protection of cultural heritage. Seriously organize "Cultural Heritage Day" series of activities to enhance people's awareness of the importance of cultural heritage protection, and enhance the awareness of cultural heritage protection in the whole society. Cultural heritage protection organizations at all levels and of all types should frequently hold exhibitions, forums, lectures and other activities to enable the public to learn more about the richness of cultural heritage. Education departments should incorporate the contents of excellent cultural heritage and knowledge of cultural heritage protection into teaching plans, compile them into teaching materials, organize visits and learning activities, and inspire young people to love the excellent traditional culture of the motherland. Various types of news media to open special topics, columns and other ways to introduce the cultural heritage and protection of knowledge, vigorously publicize the protection of cultural heritage of advanced models, timely exposure of the destruction of cultural heritage of illegal acts and incidents, play a role in public opinion supervision, in the whole society to form a good atmosphere for the protection of cultural heritage.

The Circular also requires the relevant departments of the State Council to effectively study and solve the problems in the protection of natural heritage, and to strengthen the protection of natural heritage