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National Intangible Cultural Heritages in Yunnan

Yunnan, known for its diverse ethnic cultures, is home to a wide range of national intangible cultural heritages that have been preserved and passed down through generations. These heritages include traditions such as folk literature, music, dance, drama, art, traditional skills, medicine, and customs. The province is known for its 20 ethnic minorities, each contributing unique cultural elements to the national heritage list. These traditions are vital to Yunnan’s identity and are celebrated across the region through festivals, performances, and exhibitions.

The national intangible cultural heritages in Yunnan are classified into ten main categories, covering various aspects of cultural practices and skills. These heritages play a significant role in maintaining the cultural diversity of the province while promoting local identity and tradition.

Categories of National Intangible Cultural Heritages in Yunnan

Yunnan’s national intangible cultural heritages are classified into the following ten categories:

Folk Literature
Traditional Music
Traditional Dance
Traditional Drama
Folk Art
Traditional Sports, Entertainment, and Acrobatic Arts
Traditional Skills
Traditional Medicine
Folk Customs

Each category represents a unique aspect of the region’s rich cultural fabric. These traditions are deeply embedded in the lives of the local people and reflect the cultural diversity and ethnic richness of the province.

Regional Distribution of National Intangible Cultural Heritages in Yunnan

Yunnan’s intangible cultural heritages are spread across the province, with 16 cities and regions hosting various practices and traditions. Below is a table highlighting the key regions and their contributions to the national heritage list.

Regional Distribution Table

Region	Key Intangible Heritages
{Baoshan	data-start:2160;data-end:2180;data-col-size:sm}	{Traditional skills, folk customs, and tea-related practices	data-col-size:md;data-start:2180;data-end:2259}
{Chuxiong	data-start:2260;data-end:2280;data-col-size:sm}	{Yi embroidery, Yi music, Yi opera, and folk arts	data-col-size:md;data-start:2280;data-end:2358}
{Kunming	data-start:2359;data-end:2379;data-col-size:sm}	{Traditional dance, Puer tea-making, Yi ethnic music	data-start:2379;data-end:2457;data-col-size:md}
{Dehong	data-start:2458;data-end:2478;data-col-size:sm}	{Achang knife forging, Hani customs, music, and dance	data-start:2478;data-end:2556;data-col-size:md}
{Diqing	data-start:2557;data-end:2577;data-col-size:sm}	{Tibetan cultural practices, including music, dance, and traditional arts	data-col-size:md;data-start:2577;data-end:2655}
{Honghe	data-start:2656;data-end:2676;data-col-size:sm}	{Hani polyphonic songs, traditional dance and music	data-col-size:md;data-start:2676;data-end:2754}
{Lijiang	data-start:2755;data-end:2775;data-col-size:sm}	{Naxi Dongba painting, Naxi music, traditional drama	data-start:2775;data-end:2853;data-col-size:md}
{Lincang	data-start:2854;data-end:2874;data-col-size:sm}	{Ethnic crafts, tea customs, and folk traditions	data-start:2874;data-end:2952;data-col-size:md}
{Nujiang	data-start:2953;data-end:2973;data-col-size:sm}	{Nu ethnic customs, music, and festivals	data-col-size:md;data-start:2973;data-end:3051}
{Pu’er	data-start:3052;data-end:3072;data-col-size:sm}	{Puer tea-making, folk literature, tea-related crafts	data-col-size:md;data-start:3072;data-end:3150}
{Qujing	data-start:3151;data-end:3171;data-col-size:sm}	{Yi embroidery, Yi opera, Yi folk music	data-col-size:md;data-start:3171;data-end:3249}
{Wenshan	data-start:3250;data-end:3270;data-col-size:sm}	{Bronze drum dance, ethnic music and dance	data-start:3270;data-end:3348;data-col-size:md}
{Dali	data-start:3349;data-end:3369;data-col-size:sm}	{Bai opera, Bai traditional painting, Bai embroidery	data-start:3369;data-end:3447;data-col-size:md}
{Yuxi	data-start:3448;data-end:3468;data-col-size:sm}	{Folk dance, folk music, Lantern song and dance	data-col-size:md;data-start:3468;data-end:3546}
{Zhaotong	data-start:3547;data-end:3567;data-col-size:sm}	{Yi music, Yi traditional art	data-start:3567;data-end:3645;data-col-size:md}
{Xishuangbanna	data-start:3646;data-end:3666;data-col-size:sm}	{Dai folk customs, music, and the Water Splashing Festival	data-start:3666;data-end:3744;data-col-size:md}
{Tengchong	data-start:3745;data-end:3765;data-col-size:sm}	{Tengchong traditional crafts and ethnic customs	data-col-size:md;data-start:3765;data-end:3843}

Notable National Intangible Cultural Heritages in Yunnan

Yunnan is home to numerous national intangible cultural heritages that highlight the diverse cultures of its ethnic minorities. Below is a list of some significant items that have been officially recognized:

List of National Intangible Cultural Heritages in Yunnan

Order Number	Chinese Name	English Name	Classification	Declaration Place
{003	data-start:4507;data-end:4526;data-col-size:sm}	{遮帕麻和遮咪麻	data-col-size:sm;data-start:4526;data-end:4563}	{“Zhe Pama and Zhe Mima” – Ethnic Progenitor Myths	data-col-size:md;data-start:4563;data-end:4615}	{Folk Literature	data-col-size:sm;data-start:4615;data-end:4639}	{Yunnan	data-col-size:sm;data-start:4639;data-end:4664}
{004	data-start:4665;data-end:4684;data-col-size:sm}	{牡帕密帕	data-start:4684;data-end:4724;data-col-size:sm}	{Mupamipa	data-col-size:md;data-start:4724;data-end:4770}	{Folk Literature	data-col-size:sm;data-start:4770;data-end:4794}	{Yunnan	data-col-size:sm;data-start:4794;data-end:4819}
{027	data-start:4820;data-end:4839;data-col-size:sm}	{格萨(斯)尔	data-col-size:sm;data-start:4839;data-end:4880}	{The Tibetan Oral Epic King Gesar	data-col-size:md;data-start:4880;data-end:4926}	{Folk Literature	data-col-size:sm;data-start:4926;data-end:4950}	{Multiple locations	data-col-size:sm;data-start:4950;data-end:4975}
{048	data-start:4976;data-end:4995;data-col-size:sm}	{傈僳族民歌	data-col-size:sm;data-start:4995;data-end:5035}	{Folk Songs of Lisu Ethnic Minority	data-col-size:md;data-start:5035;data-end:5081}	{Traditional Music	data-col-size:sm;data-start:5081;data-end:5105}	{Yunnan	data-col-size:sm;data-start:5105;data-end:5130}
{061	data-start:5131;data-end:5150;data-col-size:sm}	{哈尼族多声部民歌	data-col-size:sm;data-start:5150;data-end:5187}	{"Transplant Seedling"- Hani Polyphonic Folk Song	data-col-size:md;data-start:5187;data-end:5238}	{Traditional Music	data-col-size:sm;data-start:5238;data-end:5262}	{Yunnan	data-col-size:sm;data-start:5262;data-end:5287}
{123	data-start:5288;data-end:5307;data-col-size:sm}	{锅庄舞	data-col-size:sm;data-start:5307;data-end:5349}	{Tibetan Guozhuang Dance	data-col-size:md;data-start:5349;data-end:5395}	{Traditional Dance	data-col-size:sm;data-start:5395;data-end:5419}	{Yunnan, Tibet, Qinghai	data-col-size:sm;data-start:5419;data-end:5444}
{128	data-start:5445;data-end:5464;data-col-size:sm}	{木鼓舞	data-start:5464;data-end:5506;data-col-size:sm}	{Wooden Drum Dance of Wa Ethnic Minority	data-col-size:md;data-start:5506;data-end:5552}	{Traditional Dance	data-col-size:sm;data-start:5552;data-end:5576}	{Yunnan, Guizhou	data-col-size:sm;data-start:5576;data-end:5601}
{230	data-start:5602;data-end:5621;data-col-size:sm}	{傣剧	data-col-size:sm;data-start:5621;data-end:5664}	{Dai Opera	data-col-size:md;data-start:5664;data-end:5710}	{Traditional Drama	data-col-size:sm;data-start:5710;data-end:5734}	{Yunnan	data-col-size:sm;data-start:5734;data-end:5759}
{312	data-start:5760;data-end:5779;data-col-size:sm}	{纳西族东巴画	data-col-size:sm;data-start:5779;data-end:5819}	{Dongba Paintings of Naxi Ethnic Minority	data-col-size:md;data-start:5819;data-end:5865}	{Traditional Art	data-col-size:sm;data-start:5865;data-end:5889}	{Yunnan	data-col-size:sm;data-start:5889;data-end:5914}
{355	data-start:5915;data-end:5934;data-col-size:sm}	{傣族慢轮制陶技艺	data-start:5934;data-end:5971;data-col-size:sm}	{Slow-wheel Pottery Making Skills of Dai Ethnic Minority	data-col-size:md;data-start:5971;data-end:6029}	{Traditional Skills	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6029;data-end:6053}	{Yunnan	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6053;data-end:6078}
{376	data-start:6079;data-end:6098;data-col-size:sm}	{白族扎染技艺	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6098;data-end:6137}	{Tie-dyeing Skills of Bai Ethnic Minority	data-col-size:md;data-start:6137;data-end:6183}	{Traditional Skills	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6183;data-end:6207}	{Yunnan	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6207;data-end:6232}
{456	data-start:6233;data-end:6252;data-col-size:sm}	{傣族泼水节	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6252;data-end:6292}	{Water Splashing Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority	data-col-size:md;data-start:6292;data-end:6342}	{Folk Custom	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6342;data-end:6366}	{Yunnan	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6366;data-end:6391}
{458	data-start:6392;data-end:6411;data-col-size:sm}	{火把节 (彝族火把节)	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6411;data-end:6447}	{Torch Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority	data-col-size:md;data-start:6447;data-end:6493}	{Folk Custom	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6493;data-end:6517}	{Yunnan, Sichuan	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6517;data-end:6542}
{489	data-start:6543;data-end:6562;data-col-size:sm}	{白族绕三灵	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6562;data-end:6602}	{Raosanling Ceremony of Bai Ethnic Minority	data-col-size:md;data-start:6602;data-end:6648}	{Folk Custom	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6648;data-end:6672}	{Yunnan	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6672;data-end:6697}
{1194	data-start:6698;data-end:6717;data-col-size:sm}	{彝医药（彝医水膏药疗法）	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6717;data-end:6750}	{Yi Traditional Medicine	data-col-size:md;data-start:6750;data-end:6796}	{Traditional Medicine	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6796;data-end:6820}	{Yunnan	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6820;data-end:6845}
{1208	data-start:6846;data-end:6865;data-col-size:sm}	{祭寨神林	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6865;data-end:6906}	{Hani "Ang Ma Tu" Sacrificial Festival	data-col-size:md;data-start:6906;data-end:6952}	{Folk Custom	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6952;data-end:6976}	{Yunnan	data-col-size:sm;data-start:6976;data-end:7001}

Yunnan’s national intangible cultural heritages are not only an essential part of the province’s identity but also a testament to the richness and diversity of its ethnic cultures. These traditions are safeguarded through various cultural practices, including festivals, performances, and exhibitions. With 16 regions across Yunnan hosting different intangible cultural heritages, the province continues to play a vital role in preserving and promoting traditional Chinese culture. Exploring these cultural treasures provides a deeper understanding of the province’s unique identity and the vibrant history of its people.