The Committee

1. Takes note that China has nominated Raosanling, a ritualized cultural space of the Bai people in Dali for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, described as follows:

Raosanling is an annual three-day festival celebrated by the Bai ethnic group of Dali, Yunnan Province, China. The name refers to the synthesized religion and belief system comprising Buddhism, Taoism, veneration of Benzhu (local deities) and ancestor-worship, traditionally centred on three sacred places in the Erhai lake basin: the Chongsheng Buddhist Temple, the Qingdon Benzhu Temple, and the Erhe Benzhu Temple. From the 23rd to the 25th of the fourth lunar month, thousands of Bai converge, walking from their residential communities day and night to the three sacred places to make sacrifices to their village patron gods. Celebrating nature, participants wear hats decorated with flowers representing good harvests, decorate sun-like patterns on their foreheads, and hold gourds indicating fertility. In each village, at every temple, and in the woods and along the river banks, groups of men and women dance and sing ballads and folk songs. The festival is also the occasion for courtship, and dancers and singers celebrate human procreation. Regardless of social status, wealth or clan groups, Raosanling reflects equal communication and a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, humans and gods, as well as humans themselves.

2. Decides that, from the information provided in nomination file 00427, Raosanling, a ritualized cultural space of the Bai people in Dali satisfies the criteria for inscription on the Representative List, as follows:

R.1:   Transmitted from generation to generation, Raosanling is a ritual and festive event integrating diverse cultural expressions, which unites the communities of the Bai people and stresses the coexistence of humans and nature, and humans and their gods;

R.2:   Its inscription on the Representative List could contribute to raising awareness of the intangible cultural heritage, while promoting intercultural dialogue and mutual respect among groups and communities practising similar festive events;

R.3:   Ongoing and proposed safeguarding measures highlight the efforts of the community, together with the local and State authorities, to promote the transmission of Raosanling and sustain its viability;

R.4:   The nomination was elaborated with participation of the community and contains evidence of its free, prior and informed consent.

3. Further decides that the information provided in nomination file 00427, Raosanling, a ritualized cultural space of the Bai people in Dali, is not sufficient to allow the Committee to determine whether the criterion for inscription on the Representative List is satisfied, as follows:

R.5:   The State is requested to provide further information to demonstrate that the element is included in an inventory of the intangible cultural heritage present in its territory, as defined in Articles 11 and 12 of the Convention, as required in criterion R.5 of paragraph 2 of the Operational Directives.

4. Decides to refer the nomination of Raosanling, a ritualized cultural space of the Bai people in Dali to the submitting State Party and invites it to resubmit the nomination providing the additional information specified as regards criterion R.5, with a view to its reexamination and potential inscription of the element by the Committee in a subsequent cycle.