Seminar on Intangible Cultural Heritage

A seminar on intangible cultural heritage was held on Wednesday, March 5, at the COE Hall of Yangon University of Foreign Languages (YUFL). The event was organized by the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, China Media Group, and YUFL. The seminar was attended by representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, CMG (Yangon Bureau), YUFL’s Pro-Rector, faculty staff, and students as well as Chinese language students from various schools, representative from the Myanmar Cultural Heritage Trust and members of supporting organizations.

(Dr. May San Yee, Pro-Rector of YUFL)

The event began with an opening speech by Dr. May San Yee, Pro-Rector of YUFL, who welcomed the distinguished guests and officials. She gave a special acknowledgment to Daw Sanda Khin, Deputy Minister of Culture and Founder & Chair of the Myanmar Cultural Heritage Trust.

(Daw Sanda Khin, Deputy Minister of Culture and Founder & Chair of the Myanmar Cultural Heritage Trust)

Dr. May San Yee also spoke about the Chinese Embassy’s initiative to introduce Chinese Specialization students to YUFL, marking the beginning of a new academic chapter. She emphasized the importance of preserving and celebrating cultural heritage for future generations, highlighting how such initiatives enhance the university’s prestige. Following the welcome speech, Daw Sanda Khin delivered a talk on “UNESCO’s recognition of Myanmar’s Traditional New Year—Ata Thingyan Festival—as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.” She shared insights into the rigorous process involved in securing its place on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and noted that Myanmar has been part of the convention since 2013. She also revealed that over 2,200 Myanmar intangible cultural heritage items have been documented so far. Looking ahead, the Myanmar Cultural Heritage Trust plans to propose several other traditions for UNESCO recognition, including Thanakha culture, Laphat (fermented tea leaf salad), Myanmar Saung (harp), and Chinlone. Daw Sanda Khin also highlighted the long-standing cultural exchanges between Myanmar and China, reaffirming that such traditions will continue to strengthen ties between the two nations. Next, the Head of the Department of International Relations at YUFL delivered a speech on “Intangible Culture in Myanmar: YUFL Activities.” She discussed how the university actively celebrates and preserves various intangible cultures through annual cultural exchange programs aimed at fostering teamwork, mutual support, and student unity. Following this, Hnin Pwint Phyu, a representative from CMG (Yangon Bureau), gave a special presentation titled “China Travel with Chinese Films.”

(Hnin Pwint Phyu, a representative from CMG (Yangon Bureau))

The presentation featured the Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2, which received widespread critical acclaim and grossed over $2 billion worldwide. The representative showcased the film’s trailer, shared behind-the-scenes footage, and engaged the audience in a Q&A session, where attendees won prizes.

Lastly, a representative from the Culture section of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar spoke on “Intangible Cultural Heritage in China.” The discussion highlighted the shared cultural traditions between Myanmar and China, such as Thanakha and Chinlone in Myanmar and Tai Chi and Guzheng (the Chinese zither) in China, one of the most popular traditional instruments in Chinese culture.

The seminar provided an enriching platform for cross-cultural dialogue and emphasized the importance of preserving and promoting intangible heritage for future generations.