This paper presents UNESCO’s approaches and activities under two functions: 1) the standard‐setting function, which is mostly carried out at headquarters level through intergovernmental committees and in close collaboration with Member States; and 2) the “laboratory of ideas” function, which is implemented at the national level by UNESCO field offices. Capacity building, at both the institutional and individual levels, is a major focus that is integrated throughout all our work.

Lhamo’i Drubchen, or colloquially Lhamo’i Dromche (with a corrupted form drubchen), is a grand religious ritual and mask dance dedicated to Palden Lhamo, the principal female guardian deity of Mahayana Buddhism. It is conducted in Thimphu Dzong (Thimphu Fortress) by Zhung Dratshang (Central Monastic Body) and is the most highlighted annual event that takes place before the monastic body leaves for the summer residence in Punakha Dzong.

When I give lectures at the Institute for Unification Education, I often hear experts say they ‘do not know much about North Korea’. This reminds me of the confession made by many Germans after reunification, saying they ‘did not know much about East Germany’. The North Korean regime takes control of everything, including national statistics and laws, which are kept secret from the outside world. It is even claimed that by doing so, North Korea attempts to take an advantageous position in its negotiations with South Korea.

Human has made great progress beyond the speed of biological evolution by using tools. First, human used stones and wood as tools for hunting and gathering, and then invented earth-baked earthenware such as bowls for food, appropriate to farming life. The defects of woodenware and earthenware, however, were obvious. It was not able to contain liquid due to their moisture absorbency, and easily damaged. Earthenware has evolved into glazed ceramic but it required a high-tech kiln with high temperature, accompanied by a technology for metal refining as a key prerequisite. In East Asia, moisture proof and insect proof techniques to coat objects were invented much earlier. That is lacquer technique.\nProduction process of lacquer is delicate and complicated such as handling lacquer sap at the risk of skin disease, creating hot and humid environment for hardening process, etc. Nevertheless, in East Asia, people have used lacquer technique in many regions from the Neolithic Age, knowing its merits earlier on. Lacquer was used for adhesive and surface protection of leather, earthenware, ceramics and metalware. In particular, it has been inextricably linked to wooden objects. Whereas in West Asia and Europe various varnishes mixed with dry oil and resin has been used, in East Asia lacquer was used as a basic varnish in common. That shows that lacquer is great material and technique to represent the commonality of Asian culture.1) This article aims to briefly look into the origin of lacquer technique in Northeast Asia and share the information on it and its current status of transmission.

The joint inscription of Traditional Korean wrestling (Ssiruem/Ssirum) of 2018 was the first-ever and the only joint inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity between the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. This inscription was decided by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of ICH on an exceptional basis. It demonstrated “the extraordinary strength of cultural heritage for a vehicle of peace and dialogue.” The course of the joint inscription was neither smooth nor ordinary. The nominations were submitted and evaluated separately and submitted initially to different cycles. However, the apparent characteristics of a shared heritage were included in both nominations, leading to the joint inscription.

The ships of Joseon Tongsinsa (diplomatic mission to Japan), a symbol of cultural exchange between Joseon and Japan, became the subject of a study as part of an academic restoration project that examines government-built ships as a means to unveil the original form of Joseon warships, including the panok ship and turtle ship.

Folkland, International Centre for Folklore and Culture is an institution that was first registered on December 20, 1989 under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, vide No. 406/89. Over the last 16 years, it has passed through various stages of growth, especially in the fields of performance, production, documentation, and research, besides the preservation of folk art and culture.Since its inception in 1989, Folkland has passed through various phases of growth into a cultural organization with a global presence. As stated above, Folkland has delved deep into the fields of stage performance, production, documentation, and research, besides the preservation of folk art and culture. It has strived hard and treads the untrodden path with a clear motto of preservation and inculcation of old folk and cultural values in our society. Folkland has a veritable collection of folk songs, folk art forms, riddles, fables, myths, etc. that are on the verge of extinction. This collection has been recorded and archived well for scholastic endeavors and posterity. As such, Folkland defines itself as follows

Folkland, International Centre for Folklore and Culture is an institution that was first registered on December 20, 1989 under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, vide No. 406/89. Over the last 16 years, it has passed through various stages of growth, especially in the fields of performance, production, documentation, and research, besides the preservation of folk art and culture.