On December 18, 2023, Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology decided to list "Shodo" as a candidate for registration as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The move not only sparked controversy in Japan, but also Chinese netizens. So what exactly is Japan's "calligraphy" and what does Japan want to do with this move?
Calligraphy, as part of traditional Japanese art,Calligraphy originated in China。During the Tang Dynasty, calligraphy was introduced to Japan along with Buddhism, and kanji and kana, which originated from kanji, spread and became part of Japanese writing and culture. Over time, calligraphy has evolved into a unique style and inheritance in Japan, and has become an art rich in Japanese culture.
According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, "calligraphy" is inseparable from traditional Japanese festivals and life cultureIn 2021, it became an intangible cultural heritage of Japan。The president of the Japan Calligraphy Culture Association saidI hope that calligraphy will be understood by the international community as a Japanese culture, and that it will flourish in Japan.
HopefullyThere is nothing wrong with promoting traditional culture, but it is not necessary to promote it through the application for World Heritage Status, which will only make people feel that they are "stealing" cultural inheritance
As early as 2009, UNESCO officially approved Chinese calligraphy as an "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity".It marks the high recognition of traditional Chinese art by the international community. It is not only the protection of calligraphy, but also the respect for Chinese civilization.
Chinese calligraphy has a long history, and the deeds and works of many calligraphers have also become classic educational stories passed down by word of mouthThe significance of inheritance is not only limited to calligraphy skills, but also a microcosm of traditional Chinese culture
Therefore, the behavior of Japanese calligraphy as a World Heritage Site has triggered a discussion among netizens about cultural inheritance and plagiarism.
On the one hand, calligraphy is a unique traditional Japanese art that has developed over the years and has developed its own characteristics.
On the other hand, the origin of calligraphy is in China, so after the successful application of Chinese calligraphy to the World Heritage SiteJapan's application for the World Heritage of Calligraphy is a sign of respect for and inheritance of Chinese culture or meaningless plagiarism
Japanese netizens also mentioned,Since Chinese calligraphy has been registered as an intangible cultural heritage, there is no need for Japanese calligraphy derived from it to be registered on the intangible cultural heritage list again, not to mention that kanji are not the "inherent culture" of Japan
Chinese netizens ridiculed Japan's nuclear sewage dischargeJapan should apply for an intangible cultural heritage as a "nuclear dump" for the discharge of nuclear wastewater
In today's globalized world, cultural exchange and inheritance are particularly important. However, for the inheritance of traditional culture, should we respect the historical origins more and avoid plagiarism caused by excessive imitation?This is not only an issue of cultural exchanges between China and Japan, but also a common challenge faced by global civilizations.
The inscription of Japanese calligraphy on the World Heritage List has sparked deep thinking about cultural inheritance and plagiarism. On this issue, we need more understanding, respect and dialogue, rather than simply seeing it as a clash of cultures.
What should really be concerned is the problem of Chinese traditional culture being preemptively registered by other countries. There have been too many lessons from the past, and the cultural and artistic treasures belonging to China have been preemptively registered by South Korea.
Instead of beating your chest and denouncing each other for being shameless, it is better to pay attention to traditional culture as early as possible to ensure that these precious cultural heritages can be properly protected and inherited.
What do you think about Japan's desire to apply for the World Heritage Site?Welcome to leave a message in the comment area to discuss.