Modern Development Of Intangible Cultural Heritage

The papermaking handicraft of Dai is a fixed-mould papermaking method which is very scarce all over the world and could be a "Living fossil" of papermaking technology. This handicraft and papermaking handicraft of Naxi are labeled as1st National Intangible Cultural Heritage of China in2006, whose name is "papermaking handicrafts of Dai and Naxi". The labeled places of Dai are Mangtuan village in Mengding, Gengma county and Mangshi village, Yongde county, which are located in Lincang city, Yunnan.This thesis chose the papermaking handicraft of Dai in Mangtuan village as an example,in order to explore the modern fate of traditional culture which is intangible cultural heritage, and to reveal the significance of intangible cultural heritage policy, and then, to think the development means of intangible cultural heritage.In Mangtuan, there are48papermakers who often do handmade papermaking work average year.All of them are women and most of them are "the aged" in Dai society. Handmade papers of Dai are often supplied for Dai people in Mengding and Gengma. After the boom of Pu’er tea industry, the handmade paper of Dai is also used as wrapping paper. The conservation of this handicraft in Mangtuan results from the religious cultural and firm foundation of Dai society. Considering the material culture of this handicraft, Dai people who believe Theravada will use handmade papers of Dai to write Theravada Scripture and Dai scrip. The handmade papers of Dai are still used to make ritual artifacts and paper-made animals. Because of the merits concept of Theravada and social age structure in Dai society, the aged who already quit dominant livelihood work in Dai family joined handmade papermaking work for good deeds.Apart from firm religious foundation, the social relationship which is formed during handmade papermaking period of Mangtuan still based on Dai society. There are several social organizations among different parts of handmade papermaking period, such as purchasing bark of paper mulberry trees; papermaking practice and selling papers. The relationship of these organizations is constructed with the foundation of blood relationship; kinship and geographic relationship. The handmade papermaking life which based on Dai society integrates social relationships in Mangtuan village; between Mangtuan village and other Dai villages or other ethnic groups.After this handicraft in Mangtuan became national cultural heritage, this village faced rapid and board changing. The practice of labeling inheritance people challenged the cultural understanding of Mangtuan people, and was result in some conflicts in Mangtuan. Lots of cultural industrial projects were building, even still did not success. The Mangtuan people and government had different requirements from cultural and economic resources which attributed to intangible cultural heritage policy, and the difference resulted in profit conflicts. The handmade papermaking life in Mangtuan is becoming industrialization, and everyday life is infected by marketization of handmade paper.As a culture item, the papermaking handicraft of Dai faces a problem:how traditional culture develops in modern era. However, it is an intangible cultural heritage, this fact will be the fate of development in the circumstance of modernity. Traditional culture can not get rid of modernity and globalization, which is a development opportunity with tradition change and it is the destiny of traditional culture.In the field of intangible cultural heritage, the papermaking handicraft of Dai conserves and develops very well. Traditional handicraft not only conserves better, but also has some creation, and social relationship of handmade papermaking life expands. Moreover, according to culture holder, culture of Dai has profound spread.According to this case study, we could know that traditional culture can be developed in modern society. Traditional culture should embedded in dominant society and follow the step of nation system or market economy development, at the same time, the culture holder may keep cultural consciousness during these processes. Then, traditional culture can be conserved in modern society. The thinking of embedded is significant.