The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic GamesAugust 8-24 2008
(BEIJING, February 18) -- Twelve Beijing artists have been qualified as the inheritors of China's national intangible cultural heritage, bringing Beijing's total number to 27.
The 12 artists have passed an assessment conducted by the Culture Ministry, the Beijing Daily reported. Among them are 84-year-old Zhang Benxing, inheritor of Zhihua Temple music which features finger skills; Gao Hongwei, 38, inheritor of Taiping Drume Dance of West Beijing; inheritors of Kunqu Hou Shaokui, 68, and Yang Fengyi, 44; and 8 inheritors of Peking Opera, namely Mei Baojiu, 73, son of famous Peking Opera Qing Yi role actor Mei Lanfang (1894-1961); Tan Yuanshou, 78; Sun Shumin, 67; Zhao Yanxia, 79; Li Weikang, 60; Ye Shaolan, 64; Li Changchun, 66; and Yang Qiulin, 71.
In another development, the assessment of the intangible cultural heritage at the municipal level has begun in Beijing. 167 candidates representing 10 categories are undergoing an assessment process. The skills include folk literature, music, dance and fine arts; traditional Chinese medicines, sports and competitive skills, folk customs, operas and handicrafts.
The Ministry of Culture is formulating the policies to protect the national and municipal inheritors and support their activities to pass on the rare skills.
