The Canggung dance is an identity of the state of Perlis, originated from the Makyung Laut dance, first introduced during the Japanese occupation around 1941. This dance was first performed by two siblings of dancers in an entertainment festival for the Japanese soldiers and public in the city of Kangar. Since then Canggung expanded to all over Perlis and becomes a famous folk dance, performed during the harvest seasons and at wedding ceremonies and festivities. The dance movements have similarities with the Ronggeng dance, but with its own values. Its traditionality lies on the songs sung in exchanges of quatrains and in this way the audiences get the entertainment. The quatrains are synicals, attracting, teasing, as well as jestering and the like, in nature. The dancers dance in couples. A female dancer holds a handkerchief, dances and sings in rotation while spontaneously exchanging quatrains with a male dancer. The female wears batik sarong, long kebaya dress and plucked flowers on the hairbun. The male wears Malay attire and songkok as headgear.

Anggalang Magunatip, more well-known as “Bamboo Dance”, is considered as one of the most popular traditional dances in Sabah. This dance belongs to the Murut’s tribe. In the old days, Anggalang was performed in celebration of a successful battle or to welcome a successful headhunting party. Nowadays it is performed during weddings and other such occasions. The name “Magunatip” is derived from the word “apit”, which means “to press between two surfaces.” In the dance, dancers need good timing and agility to put their feet between the clapping bamboo poles, without being trapped.

All participants are allowed to join sakau drinking, which often continues until midnight in the community assembly house.

French cuisine became ICH in 2010 after french chefs declared that food is culture. Korean cuisine contains great food, one of which is jang (sauce). Fermented and matured on breathing onggi, jang is healthy and adds deep flavor to food.

Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is transnational in nature. It is necessary to spread the perception that ICH transcends geographical spaces and national borders, creating dynamic relations, connectedness, and continuity, which is why it is a timeless bearer of cultural diversity, the foundation of the heritage of humanity. However, as the modern structure of nation-state determines the boundaries of culture with national borders, forming the concept of “culture within the country”, subsequently led to the perception that the ownership of culture belongs to the state.\n\nThe concept of exclusive ownership of culture is often controversial in the UNESCO listing process, particularly in instances where cultural heritage and cultural domains have been shared for a long time by two or more nation-states. Such conflicts lead to excessive competition for nomination, overshadowing UNESCO’s fundamental purpose of contributing to peace and security in the world by promoting collaboration among nations, as well as the very spirit of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage that promotes international cooperation and assistance in the safeguarding of ICH as a matter of general interest to humanity.\n\nConsequently, UNESCO encourages multinational inscriptions of shared intangible cultural heritage to promote regional cooperation and international safeguarding activities, preventing conflicts among countries and coping with already existing ones. By emphasizing joint nominations of shared ICH, UNESCO revised its implementation guidelines three times to deal with conflicts between countries due to the cultural property rights. In addition, States Parties are encouraged to develop networks among relevant communities, experts, professional centres, and research institutes, particularly with regard to their ICH, to cooperate at the sub-regional and regional levels.\n\nAt the 13th Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in the Republic of Mauritius in November 2018, Traditional Korean Wrestling was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as the first joint designation by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Republic of Korea. This milestone in the life of the Convention demonstrates that ICH contributes to the peace-building, reconciliation, mutual understanding, and solidarity among peoples. Indeed, only when acknowledging that shared cultural values are empowering characteristics of ICH, the true perspective of the unifying agent of the cultural diversity can be achieved, and that it is the cornerstone of reaching peace among nations.\n\nCountries in the Asia Pacific region are deeply connected by a long history of interactions, exchanges, flows of people, goods, and ideas that have shaped shared values, practices, and traditions. Having a balanced view, advocating for cultural diversity, and recognizing the commonalities among individuals, communities, and countries as a strength are virtuous tenets in the present time.\n\nIn this regard, APHEN-ICH Secretariat, ICHCAP, and UNESCO Bangkok Office are inviting the APHEN-ICH member institutes and public to this seminar under the theme of Diversity and Distinctiveness: Looking into the Shared ICH in the Asia-Pacific, to re-assess that while fragile, intangible cultural heritage is an important factor in maintaining cultural diversity, connecting bounds, and enhancing international dialogue and peace.

Paglami-lamihan Soundscapes 1: Music by National Living Treasure Uwang Ahadas and the Ahadas Family Ensemble  Performed on the eve of the wedding when the pangantin, either the groom (pangantin lella) or bride (pangantin dende), is fetched from his or her house and brought to the groom or bride’s house where the ceremony will be held. The groom or bride will then leave his/her house and spend the night at a relative’s house. This will be performed again the next morning when it is time to fetch the groom or bride from the relative’s house. Played solo using two agung (lagnaan and laboan).  Performed by Uwang Ahadas on agung (lagnaan and laboan)

Paglami-lamihan Soundscapes 1: Music by National Living Treasure Uwang Ahadas and the Ahadas Family Ensemble  Traditionally played on the eve of the wedding to entertain guests as well as to accompany the pamansak and tumahik (war dance) performances.  Performed by Uwang Ahadas (kwintangan tumbaga), Nursima Ahadas (gandang), Sanira Ahadas (agung), anad Halim Ahadas (sulanting)

Paglami-lamihan Soundscapes 1: Music by National Living Treasure Uwang Ahadas and the Ahadas Family Ensemble  Performed by an ensemble during weddings, paggunting ritual, pagtammat (Quranic graduation), and pagtimbang ritual. One musician plays two agung (lagnaan and laboan); solo agung (larukan), kwintangan tumbaga, and gandang. Performed by Uwang Ahadas(agung-larukan), Nursima Ahadas (gandang), Sanira Ahadas (agung-lagnaan and laboan), and Halim Ahadas (kwintangan tumbaga)

Paglami-lamihan Soundscapes 1: Music by National Living Treasure Uwang Ahadas and the Ahadas Family Ensemble  Traditionally played on the eve of the wedding to entertain guests as well as to accompany the pamansak and tumahik (war dance) performances.  Performed by Uwang Ahadas (kwintangan tumbaga), Nursima Ahadas (gandang), Sanira Ahadas (agung), and Halim Ahadas (sulanting)

As part of the Cultural Partnership Initiative of 2016, ICHCAP invited ICH professionals from Malaysia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka and Tonga. Each participant researched ICH topics of interest that relate to comparative studies, sustainable development, traditional medicine, and safeguarding organizations. These reports were compiled into a bound publication and is now made available as an online download.

When we were young, we were told a lot of stories. Everyone hated the big, vicious, evil, and cunning animals. However, seen through grown-up eyes, there are no bad animals in the world. Animals personified in stories convey a message to the human world-that of peace and harmony. At a time when a message of peace is desperately needed, let’s enjoy some stories featuring various animals, from tigers to birds, rabbits, monkeys, and more.

East Asian region is developed a rich of variety in the intangible heritage manifests, from oral traditions, performing arts, customs, and rituals to festivals, clothing, crafts, and food throughout the centuries. However, as with other counties in the Asia-Pacific region, which is a treasure house of ICH, traditional cultural heritage of East Asia was in a crisis of extinction due to shifts in industrial structures and the population outflow of younger generations to urban areas. In response, the Republic of Korea and Japan introduced the concept of intangible cultural heritage in policies related to safeguarding cultural heritage more than fifty years ago. Mongolia, with the support of its respective government, followed suit by establishing an institutional foundation for national ICH inventory making and ICH safeguarding after ratifying the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003). Moreover, in relation to ICH safeguarding activities, UNESCO Category 2 Centres, which support ICH safeguarding activities, have been simulataneously going through the establishment process in the Republic of Korea, China, and Japan. As a well-intentioned objective for the future activities, the three centres are making efforts to build a cooperative mechanism among themselves. Another effort made in the region is the establishment of the ICH safeguarding system in Mongolia. The government of Mongolia has drawn up a national ICH inventory and identified bearers as well. The countries in East Asia have been very active in safeguarding, and their participation at regional and international levels. Therefore, countries in the region need to build trust and collaborative relationships while safeguarding ICH at national, regional, and international levels.\n\n- Ratified the ICH Convention in 2004; conducted survey in 2014.\n- As of March 2018, has 31 ICH elements on the RL, 7 elements on the USL, 1 element as GSP, and 2 accredited NGOs.

ICH Courier is the quarterly magazine on ICH in the Asia-Pacific region issued by ICHCAP since 2009. Every issue has its own theme under the title of the Windows to ICH, and the theme of the Vol 32 is 'Lacquerware Arts.'