Documenting traditional tug of war as cultural heritage

Traditional tug of war is considered a cultural expression associated with rice-growing agricultural residents.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has issued Document No. 4034/BVHTTDL-DSVH reporting to the Prime Minister on participating in building a multinational dossier on the traditional tug-of-war heritage to submit to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Accordingly, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that this unit received a letter from the Korean Cultural Heritage Administration inviting Vietnam to participate in building a multinational dossier on the traditional tug-of-war heritage together with Korea and some countries in the East Asian region that have this type of intangible cultural heritage.

Tug of war competition during the Culture - Tourism Week of Tuyen Quang province at Tan Trao historical relic site (Photo: VNA)

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposes that the Prime Minister consider and allow the Ministry to coordinate with relevant ministries, branches and localities to cooperate with Korea and countries in the Asian region that have traditional tug-of-war intangible cultural heritage in: Building a multinational dossier to submit to UNESCO in 2014, to be considered for inclusion in the List of Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015.

In the report, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated: Tug of war is a unique form of intangible cultural heritage belonging to the category of social practices, rituals and festivals (according to UNESCO's classification), found in many countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including Vietnam.

In Vietnam, tug of war has been practiced by Kinh, Thai, Tay, Nung, Giay… communities in many localities across the country for a long time and passed down to this day.

As a cultural expression associated with rice-growing agricultural residents, this heritage represents the concept of life, worldview, beliefs and wishes of people, especially of the agricultural community, for favorable weather, good crops, a prosperous and happy life, fertility, and honors the power of solidarity.

According to UNESCO regulations, each country can only nominate one intangible cultural heritage dossier per year. However, participation in a multinational dossier does not count towards the submission of a dossier for consideration.

Along with that, UNESCO encourages member countries to cooperate in protecting intangible cultural heritage and respecting cultural diversity through building multinational dossiers.

A representative of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that the cooperation in building a multinational dossier will be a good opportunity for Vietnam to strengthen regional and international integration, helping to promote cultural heritage and the image of localities with heritage as well as the image of the country and people of Vietnam; Vietnamese officials will learn from Korea's experience in researching, documenting and preparing dossiers of intangible cultural heritage to submit to UNESCO./.

According to VOV