Nomination file No.

Decision

Periodic reporting

Submitting State has to report every 4 years after the inscription of an element on the Urgent Safeguarding List. Read more on periodic reports.

Concepts

Sustainable Development Goals

Biomes

Domains of the Convention

Traditional craftsmanship (435)

Threatening factors

Report on the status of an element inscribed on the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding

A. Cover sheet

A.1.

State Party

Name of State Party

China

A.2.

Date of deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession

This information is available online.

Date of deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession

2004-12-02

A.3.

Element inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List that is the subject of this report

Name of element

Traditional design and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges

Inscribed in

2009

Submitting State(s)

China

A.4.

Reporting period covered by this report

Please indicate the period covered by this report.

Reporting period covered by this report

01-10-2017 - 30-06-2021

A.5.

Other elements inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List, if any

Please list all other elements from your country inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List, together with the year of inscription; for multinational elements, please indicate the other States concerned.

Other elements inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List, if any

Hezhen Yimakan storytelling (2011)

Meshrep (2010)

Watertight-bulkhead technology of Chinese junks (2010)

Wooden movable-type printing of China (2010)

A.6.

Executive summary of the report

Please provide an executive summary of the report that will allow general readers to understand the current status of the element, any positive or negative impacts of inscription, the implementation of safeguarding measures during the reporting period and their possible update for the following years.

Executive summary of the report

The element consists a system of skills for building wooden arch bridges based on the bearers’ understanding of different environments and necessary structural mechanics, which combines the use of wood, traditional architectural tools, craftsmanship and the core technologies of “beam-weaving” and mortise & tenon joints. The practice of the element is directed by a master carpenter in close cooperation with many other craftsmen. Mainly practiced in northeastern Fujian Province and southwestern Zhejiang Province, the element is derived from the need for bridge building to improve local transportation. Therefore relevant knowledge, skills and customs are developed and regarded as an integral part of the local culture and intangible cultural heritage, and reflects the concept of harmony between man and nature. Functioning as both transport facilities and public cultural space, as well as an important cultural symbol, the wooden arch bridges have promoted emotional cohesion of local people and maintained their cultural identity.
The viability of the element has been further improved after three reporting cycles since its inscription, thanks to the joint efforts of multiple actors, especially the contribution from the communities. In the past decade in particular, remarkable achievements have been made in ecological conservation and rural development. The natural environment, infrastructure, basic public services, living conditions and economic development in local villages have been improved significantly, providing a solid guarantee for the transmission and development of this element. During this reporting period, the objectives proposed in the last report have been achieved: the population of the bearers and the frequency of practice have increased; the bearers have strengthened willingness and enhanced capacity of transmission; the element has been further respected and enhanced; people’s awareness of safeguarding the element has been raised further, and there has been a good momentum of coordination between the safeguarding of the element and conservation of its natural and cultural environment.
To consolidate these achievements and better promote the sustainability of the element, the safeguarding plan has been updated for the next four years (2022-2025), setting out the following goals:
—to enhance the inter-generational transmission capacity and increase the frequency of practice;
—to conserve natural resources, revitalize local villages, and promote safeguarding of the element and conservation of its natural and cultural environment in a holistic approach;
—to encourage more stakeholders to participate in the safeguarding activities through a joint practice mechanism and promote community-centered cooperation among diverse actors;
—to further enhance the visibility of the element and public awareness of the importance of intangible cultural heritage including the element through multi-level exhibitions, presentations and exchange activities.

A.7.

Contact person for correspondence

Provide the name, address and other contact information of the person responsible for correspondence concerning the report.

Title (Ms/Mr, etc.)

Family name

Given name

Xudong

Institution/position

Federation of Literary & Art Circles, Pingnan County, Fujian Province/ Director

Address

No. 2, Xianfu Road, Pingnan County, Ningde City, Fujian Province

Telephone number

0086-13055593111

E-mail address

1203032846@qq.com?

Other relevant information

B

B. Status of element inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List

Refer to the nomination file or to previous reports, if any, as the basis for reporting on the current status of the element, and report only on relevant changes since the date of inscription on the List or since the previous report. Nomination files, specific timetables and earlier reports, if any, are available at https://ich.unesco.org or from the Secretariat, upon request.

The State Party shall pay special attention to the role of gender and shall endeavour to ensure the widest possible participation of the communities, groups and, where applicable, individuals concerned as well as relevant non-governmental organizations during the process of preparing this report, and is asked to describe how it has done so in point D below.

B.1.

Social and cultural functions

Please explain the social and cultural functions and meanings of the element today, within and for its community, the characteristics of the bearers and practitioners, and any specific roles or categories of persons with special responsibilities towards the element, among others. Attention should be given to any relevant changes related to inscription criterion U.1 (‘the element constitutes intangible cultural heritage as defined in Article 2 of the Convention’).

Social and cultural functions

The element is a system of skills and knowledge created by local communities to adapt to the local topography and meet the local needs of production and life. It has become an organic part of the local village cultural ecosystem after hundreds’ years of transmission and development.
Wooden arch bridges still remain the functions as a means of local transportation and cultural space. The element is practiced to not only meet the basic living needs, but also accomplish the transmission of traditional culture. The covered arch bridge is not only the place for gatherings where community members drink tea, enjoy the cool air and socialize with each other, but also the core venue for ritual ceremonies and praying activities, like walking the bridge and bridge festival, which are held on such occasions as the Dragon Boat Festival and Qixi Festival every year. Although the traffic-bearing function of the covered bridge diminishes, its function as a public cultural space for promoting social cohesion and cultural identity remains unchanged. The communities still maintain the board, a voluntary organization for managing the construction and use of wooden arch bridges. The board makes collective decisions on the building and renovation of bridges, fund raising, purchasing of raw materials, project planning, employment of craftsmen, and formulation of related folk regulations. Engagement in the construction and use of wooden arch bridges is an important way to unite community members, and form and maintain their local cultural identity.
The master carpenters are of vital importance for the transmission and practice of the element due to their profound knowledge of bridge design, mastery of core techniques and their leading role on the construction site. The techniques are transmitted within families mainly or through apprenticeship. There are many old and well-known families, such as the Huang’s and Wei’s in Pingnan County, and the Zhang’s in Zhouning County. Carpenters who master bridge construction skills but cannot yet lead the construction independently are the major force for the transmission of the element. In addition, other woodworkers, stonemasons, bricklayers, wood carvers and material handlers are also directly involved in the construction practice. Community members participate in fund-raising, construction, maintenance and safeguarding of bridges and sacrificial activities during the festivals. Ritual ceremonies held on the bridges during the Dragon Boat Festival and Qixi Festival, i.e. walking the bridge and bridge festival, are mainly participated by women, who pray for peace and good health for their families through ritual and praying activities.

B.2.

Assessment of its viability and current risks

Please describe the current level of viability of the element, particularly the frequency and extent of its practice, the strength of traditional modes of transmission, the demographics of practitioners and audiences and its sustainability. Please also identify and describe the threats, if any, to the element's continued transmission and enactment and describe the severity and immediacy of such threats, giving particular attention to any strengthening or weakening of the element’s viability subsequent to inscription.

Assessment of its viability and current risks

The element is mainly practiced in 11 counties and cities along the border of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, especially in Pingnan, Shouning and Zhouning counties in Fujian Province, and Qingyuan and Taishun counties in Zhejiang Province. Through the efforts in the past three reporting cycles, the communities, groups and individuals concerned are more active in safeguarding the element and the viability of the element has been further enhanced.
During this reporting period, the representative bearers recognized at all levels have been actively training their apprentices through the training centers, resulting in the growing number of bearers and practitioners. The number of master carpenters has grown from 23 to 30; number of carpenters has grown from 33 to 52, and other craftsmen involved in bridge construction from 96 to 172. With more frequent practice, 32 wooden arch bridges have been built and 7 have been repaired. The sustainable supply of raw wood materials for the construction of wooden arch bridges has been strengthened due to the continuous conservation of the local ecological environment. The forest coverage ratio in Pingnan, Shouning, Zhouning and Taishun counties has reached over 70%; the ratio in Qingyuan County has reached as high as 86.5%. The timber stock volume and yield ratio of Chinese fir and pine trees for the construction of bridges, including the mature timber used for the key bridge parts have increased significantly, ensuring the basic timber supply for the practice of the element.
At present, the transmission still faces the following risks: Firstly, the sustainability of inter-generational transmission has not been fundamentally addressed. At present(currently), the bearers and practitioners are mainly middle-aged and elderly people aged between 40 and 70. Although the population of the bearers has increased, there isn’t a sound succession of talents for them. The older generation of the bearers are advanced in years. As the national-level representative bearer, Mr. Huang Chuncai is already 85 years old, and Mr. Dong Zhiji and Zheng Duojin have passed away. The number of young practitioners is relatively small due to the length of time it takes to learn the required skills, uncertainties of practice opportunities and income instability. Secondly, natural resources need to be further conserved in a view of sustainable timber supply.

B.3.

Implementation of safeguarding measures

Please report on the safeguarding measures described in the nomination file, and previous report, if any. Describe how they have been implemented and how they have substantially contributed to the safeguarding of the element during the reporting period, taking note of external or internal constraints such as limited resources. Include, in particular, information on the measures taken to ensure the viability of the element by enabling the community to continue to practise and transmit it. Include the following detailed information concerning the implementation of the set of safeguarding measures or safeguarding plan:

B.3.a.

Objectives and results

Indicate what primary objective(s) were addressed and what concrete results were attained during the reporting period.

Objectives and results

During this reporting period, the following objectives have been achieved:
The number of bearers has increased, and the number of construction teams led by master carpenters has increased from 10 to 15. With governments’ support at all levels such as annual funds to encourage more transmission activities, the bearers have strengthened willingness and enhanced capacity of transmission, and the frequency of transmission and practice has been raised. During this reporting period, 32 wooden arch bridges have been built and 7 been repaired.
The protection of local vegetation and water system and the conservation of traditional buildings, streets and ancient roads have facilitated the wood supply for the practice of the element and ensured harmonious coexistence between the covered bridges and surrounding natural and cultural environment. The awareness of safeguarding the element has been enhanced. The community-based organizing mechanism has been retained in the relevant villages and the ritual ceremonies have been continuously held on the first lunar month, the first and 15th day of each lunar month and during the Dragon Boat and Qixi festivals. The unique landscape and exquisite craftsmanship of wooden arch bridges have attracted more visitors with deep appreciation of the heritage, which resulted in the enhanced sense of identity and pride of the community members.
Through exhibitions, experiential programs, lectures of related knowledge and exchange activities held at museums and in the primary and secondary schools, the awareness of the element and its safeguarding progress have been raised among local people and their sense of cultural identity and continuity been strengthened. The visibility of the element, as well as the intangible cultural heritage in general, has been enhanced through exhibitions, presentations by the communities, groups and individuals concerned at such occasions as the Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, Beijing International Horticultural Expo and various promotional activities on multimedia channels.

B.3.b.

Safeguarding activities

List the key activities that were carried out during this reporting period in order to achieve these expected results. Please describe the activities in detail and note their effectiveness or any problems encountered in implementing them.

Safeguarding activities

During this reporting period, the communities, groups and individuals concerned have carried out the following safeguarding activities in collaboration with governments at all levels and other diverse actors:
1.The population of bearers was consolidated and enlarged, and their inter-generational transmission capacity was enhanced. 19 bearers were recognized at different levels. 4 transmission and practice centers were established. Governments of all levels provided annual financial support to the representative bearers for training apprentices, building transmission and practice centers. Various practical activities such as construction and maintenance of wooden arch bridges were carried out. Primary and secondary schools continued to offer school-based courses, compile local teaching materials and hold lectures about the element and related knowledge. Bridge models were used for teaching in class. As a result, the younger generation were getting more aware of and interested in the element. For instance, the course of “Love and Learn Covered Bridges” was set up in Qingyuan County. The teaching material “I Love Covered Bridges” was compiled and the theme practical activity in summer vacation “Junior Volunteer for Safeguarding the Bridges” was carried out in Shouning County.
2.According to the safeguarding plan and the needs of the local community, 32 wooden arch bridges were built and 7 repaired by the construction teams led by master carpenters during this reporting period. The increased frequency of practice promoted inter-generational transmission of the element as it enabled the bearers and practitioners to accumulate experiences, pass on techniques, improve their own skills and generate stable economic income out of the practice.
3.The vegetation, water system, traditional buildings and infrastructure were protected through the implementation of ecological and environmental conservation and traditional village protection programs in 8 villages in Pingnan County, 5 in Shouning County, 1 in Zhouning County, 2 in Taishun County and 2 in Qingyuan County. Judicial collaborative safeguarding of traditional design and practices for building wooden arch bridges was carried out in Pingnan County. The communities concerned organized ritual ceremonies on the wooden arch bridges on the first lunar month, the first and 15th day of each lunar month and during the Dragon Boat and Qixi festivals. With the active involvement of the bearers, 18 wooden arch bridges, which are already identified as sites to be protected for their historical and cultural value, including Xiangong Bridge in Shouning Country, Beijian Bridge in Taishun County and Lanxi Bridge in Qingyuan County were mapped and their maintenance design and preservation plans were drafted.
4.Relevant laws and regulations were formulated. Constant research and digitized documentation were developed. For instance, the Implementation Rules for the Safeguarding and Management of Wooden Arch Bridges in Shouning County, and the Interim Measures for the Use and Management of Special Funds for Ihe Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage in Qingyuan County were formulated successively. Lishui College, Zhejian College of Construction, Architectural Design and Research Center, School of Design of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Architectural History Institute of Architectural Society of China and China Covered Bridge Research Institute established research bases of the element, held the 7th International Symposium of Chinese Covered Bridges, published the collected papers of the symposium, and conducted many academic exchanges. Qingyuan County created a multimedia database of covered bridges (http://qingyuan.zjwhgx.cn:9030/). Taishun County fully recorded the reconstruction process of Wenxing Bridge, Xuezhai Bridge and Wenzhong Bridge that were broken by floods in 2016. In addition, the whole process of the construction or maintenance of 7 wooden arch Bridges was recorded.
5.Exchanges, exhibitions and promotional activities were carried out to gather consensus among communities on the safeguarding of the element. Representatives of communities attended the Seminar on the Safeguarding and Transmission of Traditional Design and Practices for Building Wooden Arch Bridges in Taishun County to discuss the talent training and bridge construction practices. Exhibitions were conducted all year round to display pictures, physical models, traditional tools and technical processes of the element at the museums and art galleries such as the Wooden Arch Bridges Hall in Pingnan County Museum, Exhibition Hall of the Covered Bridge Covenants in Zhouning County Museum, Memory Museum of Covered Bridges Maintenance in Taishun County, and Exhibition Hall of Covered Bridges Culture in Qingyuan. Online and offline presentation and promotional activities were organized on the Cultural and Natural Heritage Day and during Beijing International Horticultural Expo. More than 30 wooden arch bridge models were made and presented to universities and museums for display and teaching activities. In addition, the communities and groups concerned also produced more than a dozen of feature films, such as “Pubic ICH Courses -- Traditional Design & Practices for Building Wooden Arch Bridges” and “China Image Chronicles -- Wooden Arch Bridges in Pingnan”, and published news and articles in various media to enhance the visibility of the element.

B.3.c.

Participation of communities, groups or individuals in the safeguarding activities

Describe how communities, groups or, if appropriate, individuals as well as relevant non-governmental organizations have effectively participated, including in terms of gender roles, in the safeguarding measures. Describe the role of the implementing organization or body (name, background, etc.) and the human resources that were available for implementing safeguarding activities.

Participation of communities, groups or individuals in the safeguarding activities

Communities, groups and individuals concerned and non-governmental organizations played a principal role in the implementation of the safeguarding measures.
Master carpenters, such as Zheng Duoxiong, Huang Chuncai, Hu Miao and Zeng Jiakuai, consciously assumed the responsibilities of practice, transmission and development of related skills, trained apprentices, established construction teams and set up transmission and practice centers of the element. Under their guidance, other craftsmen and practitioners actively participated in the construction and maintenance of the bridges. Community members were strong supporters of transmission and practice of the element. Though they did not directly engage in the transmission of the skills, they were usually the initiators of a new bridge project, helped in raising funds, made in-kind donations and provided services voluntarily for the project. The board organized by community members were responsible for site selection, material preparation and labor recruitment. Women’s involvement in the practice gradually expanded from logistics to fund-raising, financial management and wood carving for the construction of bridges. In addition, women were still the major force for ritual and praying activities held on the bridges.
Local associations related to the safeguarding of the element, such as Pingnan County Association for the Safeguarding of Covered Bridges, Shouning County Association for the Transmission and Safeguarding of Covered Bridges Culture, Taishun County Association for the Safeguarding of Covered Bridges Culture and Qingyuan County Research Society for Covered Bridges Culture, provided services for the establishment of transmission and practice centers and coordination between the bearers and the government, communities, enterprises and research institutes.

B.3.d.

Timetable

Indicate in a timetable when each activity was implemented.

Timetable

Regular safeguarding activities:
—Identifying representative bearers at all levels and granting annual funds for them to support apprenticeship, establishment of transmission and practice centers as well as other activities;
—Taking apprentices and transmitting related knowledge and skills in construction teams or at transmission and practice centers, producing wooden arch bridge models, and having on-the-spot teaching on the construction and maintenance sites;
—Offering school-based curriculum, compiling local teaching materials and holding lectures in primary and secondary schools and organizing research and study tours;
—Conducting joint research on the safeguarding of the element with colleges, universities and research institutes;
—Mapping and drawing up preservation plan for the wooden arch bridges which are recognized as sites to be protected for their historical and cultural value, and conducting investigation, fire fighting and maintenance on the daily basis;
—Recording the construction and maintenance of wooden arch bridges with digital means ;
—Protecting local vegetation, water system, traditional buildings and infrastructure through ecological environmental protection and traditional village conservation programs;
—Carrying out ritual and praying activities during traditional festivals; and
—Holding exhibitions at museums and art galleries all year round, and holding wide communication campaigns through multi-medium platforms.
Other safeguarding activities:
—32 new wooden arch bridges were built, including 8 in 2018, 7 in 2019, 15 in 2020 and 2 in 2021. 7 bridges were repaired, including 2 in 2018, 1 in 2019, 3 in 2020 and 1 in 2021.
—A multimedia database of covered bridges was created in Qingyuan Country in 2018;
—The Memory Museum of Covered Bridges Maintenance was built in Taishun County in 2018;
—The Exhibition Center of Xixi Covered Bridge was established in Shouning County in 2021;
—The Workshop on Traditional Design & Practices for Building Wooden Arch Bridges was held in Shouning County in 2018;
—The 7th International Symposium of Chinese Covered Bridges was held in Qingyuan County in 2019;
—The Seminar on the Safeguarding & Transmission of Traditional Design & Practices for Building Chinese wooden Arch bridges was held in Taishun County in 2020;
—Qingyuan Covered Bridge Ultra Trail was held annually from 2018 through 2020;
—The Implementation Rules for the Safeguarding & Management of Wooden Arch Bridges in Shouning County was formulated in 2018; and
—The Interim Measures for the Use & Management of Special Funds for the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage in Qingyuan County was issued in 2021.

B.3.e.

Budget expenditures

Provide the detailed amounts of the funds used for the implementation of each activity (if possible, in US dollars), identifying the funding source for each (governmental sources, in-kind community inputs, etc.).

Budget

According to incomplete statistics, the amount of funds used for the implementation of the safeguarding measures during the reporting period are indicated as follows:
Government resources:
—297,200 RMB of subsidies for representative bearers to support transmission and practice; 750,000 RMB for the establishment and operation of transmission and practice centers; 1.4068 million RMB for repairing 7 wooden arch bridges; 13.1 million RMB for building 32 wooden arch bridges; 765,000 RMB for teaching of the element in primary and secondary schools and community-based exhibitions; 150,000 RMB for making covered bridge models; 200,000 RMB for establishing Taishun County Memory Museum of Covered Bridges Maintenance; 4 million RMB for the construction of Exhibition Center of Xixi Covered Bridge in Shouning County; 350,000 RMB for digital documentation; 1.22 million RMB for building research bases and carrying out academic exchanges; 680,000 RMB for developing preservation plans for the covered bridges recognized as sites to be protected for their historical and cultural value; 653,000 RMB for daily inspection, fire fighting, maintenance of bridges; 230,000 RMB for film making and production of promotion materials; 1.6 million RMB for organizing and attending exhibitions; 3 million RMB for Qingyuan Covered Bridge Ultra Trail event.
Inputs from the communities, groups or individuals concerned:
—Towns and villages provided venues and the bearers provided tools and materials for the construction and operation of transmission and practice centers;
—Communities and schools provided space and manpower for educational and demonstration activities with the participation of the bearers;
—Community members contributed over 70 million RMB worth of capital, in-kind donations and services to the construction of 32 new bridges;
—About 100,000 RMB was used for image recording;
—The bearers contributed 350,000 RMB worth of funds, manpower and materials to making bridge models;
—About 1.24 million RMB of funds was raised from the society with the participation of community members to hold ritual and praying activities.

B.3.f.

Overall effectiveness of the safeguarding activities

Provide an overall assessment of the effectiveness of the activities undertaken to achieve the expected results and of the efficiency of the use of funds for implementing the activities. Please indicate how the activities contributed to achieving the results and whether other activities could have contributed better to achieving the same results. Also indicate whether the same results could have been achieved with less funding, whether the human resources available were appropriate and whether communities, groups and individuals could have been better involved.

Overall effectiveness of the safeguarding activities

Thanks to the implementation of the safeguarding activities during this reporting period, the viability of the element was improved and the use of funds became more efficient. The expected results were achieved as follows:
1.The communities were fully mobilized to safeguard the element. Bearers with the master carpenters at the core played a major role in the safeguarding activities. They passed on related knowledge and skills, participated in the construction and maintenance of bridges and various promotion and exhibition activities, engaged in field visits and documentation and provided suggestions for policy makers. Community members were more aware of the importance of the ICH safeguarding. 51 villages from 11 counties and cities were involved in the safeguarding activities, among which 39 villages either built new bridges or repaired old ones.
2.After practice of three reporting cycles, multiple new approaches for safeguarding were further explored to safeguard the element in combination with digital means, protection of tangible heritage and conservation of associated natural, cultural and ecological environment.
3.Multi-channel capital input guaranteed the implementation of the safeguarding activities. New wooden arch bridges were built mainly with community donations, supplemented by government subsidies; the maintenance of bridges was mainly financed by the government, supplemented by social donations. The use of funds was supervised in the principle of openness and transparency. The scope and approach of using subsidies for the bearers was specified and regularly evaluated, thus ensuring the efficiency of the use of funds and transmission and practice in an orderly way.

C

Zhu

C. Update of the safeguarding measures

C.1.

Updated safeguarding plan

Please provide an update of the safeguarding plan included in the nomination file or in the previous report. In particular provide detailed information as follows:

a. What primary objective(s) will be addressed and what concrete results will be expected?
b. What are the key activities to be carried out in order to achieve these expected results? Describe the activities in detail and in their best sequence, addressing their feasibility.
c. How will the State(s) Party(ies) concerned support the implementation of the updated safeguarding plan?

Updated safeguarding plan

In the next four years, the transmission and development of the element will be further promoted by community-centered diverse actors. Anticipated results and major activities will include:
To enhance the inter-generational transmission capacity and the frequency of practice. Encourage transmission of core skills and knowledge by master carpenters through construction teams or through transmission and practice centers, and explore more ways to increase the engagement of young people in the transmission and practice of the element. Encourage the construction and maintenance of bridges and explore the possibility of building them in a larger geographical range.
To expand the forest coverage and plant more Chinese firs and pines in the practice areas to increase the stock volume of mature timbers and ensure supply of raw materials for the transmission and practice of the element. Nature resources will be protected and the ecological landscape will be improved at the same time. Local villages will be revitalized with improved infrastructure, public services and living conditions.
To encourage more colleges and universities, research institutes, enterprises and other stakeholders to participate in the safeguarding activities. Build a joint mechanism to promote community-centered cooperation among diverse actors. Conduct dialogues on how to make traditional knowledge and skills to meet modern traffic facilities requirements and marketing. Enhance sustainability of the element and ensure that the bearers could benefit during the whole process from the construction to maintenance of wooden arch bridges.
To further increase the visibility of the element and public awareness of the importance of intangible cultural heritage in general through multi-level exhibitions, demonstration and exchange activities via media platforms and during forums and conferences.
The Chinese government will continuously support the overall implementation of the updated safeguarding measures while respecting the wishes of the communities, groups and individuals concerned. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance and the relevant local governments will take joint efforts to provide policy guarantee, capital input and intellectual support to ensure the widest possible participation of relevant communities, groups and individuals in the whole safeguarding process to enhance the viability of the element.

C.2.

Timetable for future actitivies

Provide a timetable for the updated safeguarding plan (within a time-frame of approximately four years).

00302,00304,00305,00321,00322,00530

Timetable

The updated safeguarding plan for 2022-2025 will include:
Regular safeguarding activities:
—To identify representative bearers at all levels, hold training workshops for the bearers, encourage the establishment of new transmission and practice centers, and set up qualified construction teams;
—To improve relevant policies, expand funding channels, and provide financial support for transmission activities by bearers, and construction and maintenance of bridges in the communities;
—To conduct fieldwork and record the bearers and their practice activities with digital means;
—To carry out research on related technical specifications and develop products and models and hands-on practice of beam-weaving technique for teaching, demonstration and experiential activities;
—To promote teaching of the element in primary and secondary schools, and conduct community-based exhibitions such as “ICH in Lishui City -- Traditional Design and Practices for Building Wooden Arch Bridges & Travel in Rural Areas”;
—To hold seminars to promote communication among communities;
—To continue the daily inspection, fire fighting and maintenance of wooden arch bridges recognized as sites to be protected for their historical and cultural value;
—To hold ritual and praying ceremonies on covered bridges during major festivals;
—To hold exhibitions all year round at museums and art galleries and present and promote the element through media and cultural events; and
—To hold Taishun Covered Bridge Cultural & Tourism Festival and Qingyuan Covered Bridge Ultra Trail on the regular basis.
Other proposed safeguarding activities will include:
—To build 10 to 20 new wooden arch bridges;
—To repair Xiangong Bridge and Yangmeizhou Bridge in Shouning County and Yangmeizhou Bridge in Zhouning County from 2022 to 2023;
—To shoot the promotional film “Covered Bridges in Taishun” in 2022;
—To build Taishun ICH Museum -- Wooden Arch Bridge Thematic Hall in 2023;
—To build Pingnan County Transmission and Exhibition Center of Traditional Design and Practices for Building Wooden Arch Bridges in 2025.

C.3.

Budget for future activities

Provide the estimates of the funds required for implementing the updated safeguarding plan (if possible, in US dollars), identifying any available resources (governmental sources, in-kind community inputs, etc.).

Budget

The funds required for implementing the updated safeguarding measures for the period 2022-2025 are planned as follows:
Government resources: 460,000 RMB subsidies for the bearers to support their activities at the transmission and practice centers; 1.3 million RMB for repairing Xiangong Bridge and Yangmeizhou Bridge, and 200,000 RMB for repairing Denglong Bridge; about 3 million RMB for building new bridges; 650,000 million RMB for daily inspection, fire fighting and maintenance of wooden arch bridges recognized as sites to be protected for their historical and cultural value; 450,000 RMB for surveys and documentation; 300,000 RMB for research on related technical specifications; 2.8 million RMB to support community-based seminars in rotation on traditional design and practices for building wooden arch bridges; 230,000 RMB for research, development and production of wooden arch bridge models; 960,000 RMB for universal education on the element in primary and secondary schools and holding community-based exhibitions; 55 million RMB for the construction of Taishun ICH Museum -- Wooden Arch Bridge Thematic Hall; 15 million RMB to set up Pingnan County Transmission and Exhibition Center of Traditional Design and Practices for Building Wooden Arch Bridges; 200,000 RMB for promotional film-making— “Covered Bridges in Taishun”; 4.5 million RMB for Taishun Covered Bridge Cultural & Tourism Festival; 2 million RMB for Qingyuan Covered Bridge Ultra Trail, and 670,000 RMB for other promotional activities.
Inputs from the communities, groups or individuals concerned:
—Towns and villages will provide venues and the bearers will provide tools and materials for the construction and operation of transmission and practice centers;
—Related communities and schools will provide space and manpower for educational and presentation activities with the participation of the bearers;
—Community members will make 30 million RMB worth of capital and in-kind donation, as well as services to build new bridges;
—The bearers will contribute 200,000 RMB worth of capital, services and raw materials to the production of bridge models;
—About 1.2 million RMB worth of funds voluntary contribution will be raised from the society with participation of the communities to hold ritual and praying activities.

C.4.

Community participation

Please describe how communities, groups and individuals, as well as relevant non-governmental organizations have been involved, including in terms of gender roles, in updating the safeguarding plan, and how they will be involved in its implementation.

00045

Community participation

A working group was set up jointly by Fujian Provincial Department of Culture & Tourism, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture & Tourism and local cultural authorities of Ningde City, Pingnan, Shouning and Zhouning counties in Fujian Province, and Qingyuan and Taishun counties in Zhejiang Province, which is responsible to update the safeguarding plan and elaborate this report in collaboration with others diverse actors.
The communities, groups and individuals concerned from 11 counties of the two provinces provided relevant information on their involvement in the safeguarding activities to the working group, analyzed the effectiveness of the safeguarding plan, the current viability status and risks of the element during the three reporting cycles since its inscription, and put forward constructive suggestions and recommendations on the updating of the safeguarding plan. For example, the representative bearer Mr. Huang Chuncai emphasized the importance of training the younger generation for the transmission; Shouning County Association for the Transmission and Safeguarding of Covered Bridges Culture, Pingnan County Association for the Safeguarding of Covered Bridges, Qingyuan County Research Society of Covered Bridges Culture and Taishun County Association for the Safeguarding of Covered Bridge Culture jointly suggested that the safeguarding plan should adopt a long-term perspective and that continuous efforts be made to enhance protection of natural, cultural and ecological environment related to the element as well. After several rounds of consultation among multiple actors, the safeguarding plan for the next cycle was finalized.
To implement the updated safeguarding measures, the communities, groups and individuals concerned will work together under the coordination of Fujian Provincial Department of Culture & Tourism and Ningde Municipal Bureau of Culture & Tourism. They will take community-based actions, carry out safeguarding measures and transmission practice, and promote communication and dialogues. Fujian Provincial Department of Cultural & Tourism and Ningde Municipal Bureau of Culture & Tourism will provide regular feedback on the monitoring and safeguarding achievements and the communities, groups and individuals concerned will participate in the discussions and jointly identify the annual implementation priorities.

C.5.

Institutional context

Please report on the institutional context for the local management and safeguarding of the element inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List, including:

a. the competent body(ies) involved in its management and/or safeguarding;
b. the organization(s) of the community or group concerned with the element and its safeguarding.

2004-12-02

Institutional context

a. The competent body involved in its management and safeguarding:
Fujian Provincial Department of Culture & Tourism
Ningde Municipal Bureau of Culture & Tourism of Fujian Province
b. The organizations of the community or groups concerned with the element and its safeguarding:
Relevant transmission and practice centers, the self-organized boards in the communities, relevant associations, museums, educational institutions and organizations focusing on the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage

D

Yanhui

D. Participation of communities in preparing this report

Describe the measures taken to ensure the widest possible participation of the communities, groups and, where applicable, individuals concerned as well as relevant non-governmental organizations during the process of preparing this report.

Participation of communities in preparing this report

From June to November 2021, the working group made a questionnaire for the periodic report, and collected information, opinions and suggestions from relevant communities, groups and individuals through instant messenger (IM) WeChat, QQ and fieldwork and surveys. In addition, the working group also visited and interviewed the local communities in Pingnan County, Shouning County, Zhouning County, Qingyuan County and Taishun County. An information sharing mechanism involving personal interviews, seminars and on-line communication was established to ensure smooth communication among diverse actors. 25 representative bearers as well as many of the community members provided information and materials on the implementation of the safeguarding measures and gave their practical suggestions for the drafting of the periodic report. The working group drafted the report based on the analysis of the collected information, data and suggestions, and solicited opinions from communities, groups and individuals concerned through on-line and face-to-face meetings, and finalized the report in the end.

E

Deputy Director
Division of International Organizations
Bureau of International Exchanges and Cooperation
Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China

E. Signature on behalf of the State Party

The report should be signed by an official empowered to do so on behalf of the State, and should include his or her name, title and the date of submission.

Name

Xie Jinying

Title

Director-General, Bureau of International Exchanges and Cooperation, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China

Date

15-12-2021

Signature

Upload signed version in PDF

Report on the status of an element inscribed on the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding

A. Cover sheet

A.1.

State Party

Name of State Party

China

A.2.

Date of deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession

This information is available online.

Date of deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession

2004-12-02

A.3.

Element inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List that is the subject of this report

Name of element

Traditional design and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges

Inscribed in

2009

A.4.

Reporting period covered by this report

Please indicate the period covered by this report.

Reporting period covered by this report

01-01-2016 - 31-12-2017

A.5.

Other elements inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List, if any

Hezhen Yimakan storytelling (2011)

Meshrep (2010)

Watertight-bulkhead technology of Chinese junks (2010)

Wooden movable-type printing of China (2010)

A.6.

Executive summary of the report

The traditional designs and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges combine the use of wood, traditional architectural tools, craftsmanship, the core technologies of “beam-weaving” and mortise and tenon joints, and bearers’ understanding of different environments and the necessary structural mechanics. The practice of this technological system is directed by one woodworking master and implemented with the cooperation of other woodworkers.
As the primary technique for constructing Chinese traditional wooden bridges, this traditional method is still in use in northeastern Fujian Province and southwestern Zhejiang Province and is regarded by the local people as a symbol of their cultural identity. As society has progressed, so has the use of new, more modern bridge construction technology and materials. Therefore, the demand for construction of Chinese wooden arch bridges is decreasing, threatening the existence of traditional building methods. Although wooden arch bridges still exist in eleven counties along the border of Fujian and Zhejiang and the related construction techniques can still be applied there, the dramatic disappearance of traditional wooden arch bridges and the craftsmanship to build them caused by the modernization process cannot be ignored.
Since the inscription of the element, from 2009 to 2015, Chinese government at all levels along with local communities have adopted a series of safeguarding measures in accordance with local needs, and have achieved remarkable results. Based on this, the efforts from 2016 to 2017 have further restored the continuance and transmission of this element in local communities. The number of bearers was growing, with woodworking masters increased from 14 to 23, and practitioners increased from 49 to 66. Training centers, whose purpose is to impart these traditional skills to new bearers, increased from 7 to 10, and new bearers increased from 65 to 86. The area of exhibition centers reached 1000 square meters. Over 10 villages rebuilt or renovated 14 wooden arch bridges. All these efforts contributed to promoting the viability and transmission of the element in local communities.
By means of gradual restoration and the subsequent renewal of folk customs and folklife connected to this element, locals have been encouraged to participate extensively. As a result, this has raised locals’ awareness to safeguard the wooden arch bridge along with the importance of passing down the traditional craftsmanship. Activities connected to this element have been held in the communities and on school campuses. By cooperating with institutions of higher learning, the Heritage Project Research and Training Center was established to carry out academic research on safeguarding the element as well as to collect, collate, and build a multimedia database related to wooden arch bridge. These safeguarding measures have been welcomed and actively participated in by the communities and have had a positive impact on the safeguarding and transmission of the element. Although traffic-bearing function of wooden arch bridge may have weakened, the geomancy and landscape functions are more cherished than ever. The viability and development of this element have been ensured in promoting the sustainable development of local ecological environment of customs and folklife as a whole.

A.7.

Contact person for correspondence

Provide the name, address and other contact information of the person responsible for correspondence concerning the report.

Title (Ms/Mr, etc.)

Family name

Given name

Xudong

Institution/position

Bureau of Culture, Sports, Press and Publication in Pingnan County of Fujian Province / Director

Address

171, Guobao Road, Pingnan county of Fujian Province

Telephone number

0086-13055593111

E-mail address

1203032846@qq.com

Other relevant information

B

B. Status of element inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List

B.1.

Social and cultural functions

This element is seen by local communities,groups and individuals as an important part of their cultural and artistic wealth. These bridges are one of the hallmarks of local cultural identity and boast a well-established technical system and complete transmission pedigree.
Southeast Zhejiang and northwest Fujian boast mountains and streams. Affected by the tropical monsoon climate, they are prone to floods. Besides traffic-bearing, wooden arch bridge maximizes the span of the bridge arch, allowing it to adapt to various terrains with less piers. This cuts down construction cost and ensures water flow and navigation under bad weather conditions. So building wooden arch bridge is a local culture developed over time to meet the production and lifestyle needs.
In the local communities, a wooden arch bridge also has a geomancy function besides traffic-bearing function. It is also a public space for residents to exchange information, gather together, and entertain themselves. It is also a place for worship and prayer. So it plays a vital role in village culture. Most wooden arch bridges are built over water inlets, where water from the streams enters the village. Based on geomancy philosophy, wooden arch bridge can gather wealth, dispel evil and shut down traffic. It plays a critical role in the geomancy layout of a village. Generally, it is a landmark and a largest public structure in a village or a community. In the past, the bridge housed a shrine at its center, where deities of folk religion were enshrined. But to prevent fire caused by burning incense, the shrine has been removed. Instead, a temple is built at the bridgehead, creating a landscape of “bridge and temple integration”. So wooden arch bridge is still an important space for the community to worship, pray, and participate in religious activities during festivals or other important dates. The viability of this element depends on the viability and sustainable development of local folk customs in production, living, etc.
In practicing and transmitting the element, the one who masters the bridge design, key technology, and leads on-site construction is known as a “woodworking master”, and his status is higher than that of a traditional master carpenter. A woodworking master is respected in the community and paid higher. Other practitioners take their assignments and jointly build the bridge. To guarantee transmission and a stable income, the craftsmanship has been transmitted through oral instruction and personal demonstration from one generation to another either by family inheritance or apprenticeship, in accordance with strict procedures, thus forming the generationally transmitted pedigree. Since the dominant mode of transmission is within the family, several prestigious families now recognized by local communities have gradually come into being. Currently, there are several of these prestigious families, namely the Huang and Wei families in Pingnan County, the Zheng family in Shouning County, the Zhang family in Zhouning County and the Dong family in Taishun County. Mr. Dong Chuncai, Mr. Zheng Duojin, Mr. Dong Zhiji etc. are the national representative bearers, and they continue to play an irreplaceable role in the construction, maintenance and safeguarding of the wooden arch bridges in the local communities.

B.2.

Assessment of its viability and current risks

At present, the element is existing in northeastern Fujian Province and southwestern Zhejiang Province. It is mainly practiced in 11 counties and cities on the border between Zhejiang and Fujian, among which Pingnan, Shouning, Qingyuan and Taishun are the main areas. In addition to the above-mentioned areas, the element also extends to areas under the administration of Fuzhou and Nanping Cities of Fujian Province as well as those of Wenzhou and Lishui Cities of Zhejiang Province.
Current situation of viability
(1) Most part of the traffic-bearing function of wooden arch bridge has been replaced by modern bridge. However, in terms of its function within the communities, wooden arch bridge has become increasingly prominent because it serves as communal geomancy, as public and cultural space, and even as scenic bridge in the park. With the shrines dedicated to local deities, wooden arch bridge is still used as a place for community worship, prayer, and activities such as “Walking on the Bridge”. The first and fifteenth days of each lunar month and the first month of Chinese lunar calendar are the times when especially important worship activities are carried out. Besides, every year on the sixth day of the fifth lunar month during Dragon Boat Festival, in southwestern Zhejiang, northeastern Fujian, residents, especially women, enjoy practicing the “Walking on the Bridge” activity. Every year, they select a bridge, participate in the ceremonial “Walking on the Bridge”, and pray for peace and good health. Also every year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, at the Nanxi bridge (Taishun County, Zhejiang), a large ceremonial "Bridge Festival" is held.
(2) Chinese governments at all levels highly value the element and allocated special funds to some important wooden arch bridges to allow for construction, maintenance, and renovation. Local governments and private businesses also provided funds and technical support. In 2016, the Chinese government subsidized 8.8 million RMB to renovate Baixiang Bridge, Qiansheng Bridge and Wan’an Bridge in Pingnan County, and the renovation is completed. Fujian and Zhejiang provincial governments also subsidized 1 million RMB on average to each of 22 wooden arch bridges. The fund was used for making safeguarding plans and improving the adjacent environment.
(3) In the areas mentioned, communities and villages are building, rebuilding or renovating the wooden arch bridges. From 2016 to 2017, 8 bridges in Fujian and 6 bridges in Zhejiang were built, rebuilt or renovated. 9 woodworking masters, 66 practitioners, and over 10 villages participated in the work.
(4) The locals highly value the safeguarding and viability of the bridges. The locals still follow a time-honored tradition: raising funds from the communities to build or renovate a bridge. In practice, a respectable man will be elected as the headman to organize a council. The council manages the construction, maintenance and renovation of the bridge. From 2016 to 2017, many bridges were renovated: In Taishun Country, the Wenxing Bridge, Xuezhai Bridge and Wenzhong Bridge; in Qingyuan County, the Mengyu Bridge; in Shouning County, the Feilong Bridge; in Pingnan County, the Yingfeng Bridge. All projects were funded by both locals and the government.
Current Threats
(1) The wooden arch bridge’s function has changed, and the demand for construction is diminishing. The traffic-bearing function of wooden arch bridge has all but disappeared. Furthermore, the construction costs of wooden arch bridges are rather high. Since they mostly rely on private funding, raising fund is quite difficult. Despite the special funds from the governments, demands for constructing wooden arch bridges are still plummeting.
(2) The sustainable mechanism for the craftsmanship is still unsound. With decreased numbers of new bridges, income and young people’s enthusiasm for learning the craftsmanship are decreasing, and the mode for the transmission of craft cannot function soundly. Presently, carpenters engaging in the element are all above 40, and woodworking masters are all senior citizens. Although the number of bearers has increased, attracting young men and providing them with living income through transmitting the element are also very important for its viability.
(3) Insufficient bridge-building materials. The wood used to construct wooden arch bridge, particularly the timber within the arch, generally requires the use of mature fir trees that are several decades or even hundreds of years old. Building an arch support needs over one hundred such trees. Due to the current ease of transportation, quality timbers have been flowing out of the communities, causing a shortage of materials. So local communities should be encouraged to restore the traditional methods of planting “bridge forests”, purchasing “bridge mountains”, etc. After a certain period, the trees used for building these bridges can be re-cultivated so as to promote the practice and transmission along with the preservation of natural resources.

B.3.

Implementation of safeguarding measures

B.3.a.

Objectives and results

Indicate what primary objective(s) were addressed and what concrete results were attained during the reporting period.

Objectives and results

From 2016 to 2017, to fulfill the safeguarding commitments in the nomination files and to effectively improve the viability of the element, including the restoration of the modes of transmission and the revitalization of the element in a sustainable way, the following results are attained:
(1) Improving the legal protection system. Laws and regulations such as the “Cultural Relics Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China”, “ Intangible Cultural Heritage Law of the People’s Republic of China”, “Regulations on Protection of Folk Culture of Fujian Province”, and “Regulations on Safeguarding ICH of Zhejiang Province” have been enacted as the basis for protection. Due to practical needs, local and civil governments have further established and implemented specific safeguarding plans to ensure the protection is conducted in an orderly manner. For example, the Taishun County People’s Government established and implemented the “Taishun County Cultural Heritage Protection Measures”. For village communities who employ traditional construction technology in the building of new bridges, a subsidy would be granted up to 300,000 RMB, and the annual wooden arch bridge maintenance fund reaches 1 million RMB.
(2) Enhancing the bearers protection mechanism. Bearers were continued to be identified as representative bearer systems in national, provincial, municipal, and county levels were set up. Bearers were encouraged to set up transmission and practicing centers. Financial assistance is granted, a national bearer is subsidized 20,000 RMB each year while in Fujian and Zhejiang, a provincial level bearer is subsidized 3,000 RMB each year. The subsidies drive up the bearers’ initiative. From 2016 to 2017, the number of bearers in all levels increased by 13. In Taishun County, Zhejiang Province, a bearer is subsidized 5,000 RMB each year. Bearer Zeng Jiakuai was identified as an outstanding talent and awarded 100,000 RMB. In 2016, he was identified as an outstanding talent in municipal level and awarded 300,000 RMB.
(3) Creating opportunities for practices. Transmission through practices is fundamental to the continuity of the craftsmanship. From 2016 to 2017, fourteen bridges were built, rebuilt or renovated, and they are the Shuiwei Bridge in Daixi Town, Yipin Bridge, Lingli Bridge, and Yingfeng Bridge in Pingnan County, the Tanshan Bridge, Tingxi Bridge, Jiaoxi Bridge and Xietan Bridge in Shouning County (Fujian Provicne); the Wenxing Bridge, Xuezhai Bridge, and Wenzhong Bridge in Taishun County, and the Zhuping Bridge, Mengyu Bridge and Qingzhu Bridge in Qingyuan County (Zhejiang Province). Through continued practices, the viability of the element has been improved.
(4) Promoting academic exchanges and safeguarding the element scientifically. Bearers and local research scholars were encouraged to participate in international and national academic research and established an academic support system for the conservation. A research and survey center was set up thanks to the assistance of Zhejiang University, Nanjing University, Shanghai Transportation University, Xiamen University, as well as other colleges, universities and research institutes. In 2016, the Fifth China Forum on Covered Bridge Culture Safeguarding was held in Taishun, Zhejiang Province. In 2017, the Sixth Chinese Covered Bridge International Symposium was held to encourage the safeguarding and transmission of the element through scientific means.

B.3.b.

Safeguarding activities

Safeguarding activities and their effectiveness
To safeguard the element, from 2016 to 2017, governments in Fujian and Zhejiang Provinces took wooden arch bridge as a cultural symbol and listed it into the local social development plans. The local communities made huge efforts and investment to transmit, educate, promote, research the element and support the renovation and rebuilding of the bridges. Demands for transmission have been increased, inheritance space has been ensured thereof.
(1) Continue to identify representative bearers. From 2016 to 2017, in Fujian Province, bearers above county level increased from 5 to 9. Regular practitioners increased from 20 to 31. In Zhejiang, bearers above county level increased from 9 to 18, and regular practitioners from 29 to 35. The woodworking masters are acknowledged by the government and the society, which increases their senses of honor and encourages other practitioners to learn the key techniques.
(2) Continue to evaluate the existing bridges and determine their protection level.
From 2016 to 2017, among all the existing wooden arch bridges, 6 are identified as cultural heritage relics at the national level, 8 provincial level, and 10 county level. Based on this identification, mapping is also carried out. Ten bridges have been listed in the maintenance, design, and protection plans. Relevant laws and regulations provide a system guarantee for safeguarding the bridges. Systemic and scientific protection and maintenance plans provide more opportunities to practice, which in turn trained many bears and practitioners.
(3) Organizing construction teams to build, rebuild and restore wooden arch bridges. From 2016-2017, the number of construction teams increased from 2 to 5. Based on safeguarding plans and local needs, the bearers organized construction teams to build, rebuild, and renovate wooden arch bridges. With traditional craftsmanship, bearers renovated some badly impaired bridges. Fourteen bridges were renovated, maintained or built, 8 are in Fujian and 6 in Zhejiang. These practices brought them stable income and construction experiences. By transmitting the craftsmanship in practical work, viability of the element is ensured.
(4) Establishing training centers for practice and transmission of the element. From 2016 to 2017, training centers increased from 7 to 10. In the centers, bearers transmit the craftsmanship and train apprentices. Apprentices enrolled increased from 65 to 86. These centers produced tourist souvenirs based on traditional craftsmanship, such as the model of a wooden arch bridge, providing the apprentices with more opportunities to practice. The development of derivative business just like cultural tourism not only increased the income of bearers and practitioners, but also created over 2,000 jobs for local communities.
(5) Continue to educate local communities. The knowledge of wooden arch bridge and its craftsmanship was continued to be imparted in communities, schools, textbooks, and practicing venues. Training bases were set up to teach primary and secondary school students and locals, cultivating their love for the bridge. Jiangbin Primary School in Qingyuan County set up a training center, an interaction platform and an exhibition room. In the practice base for primary and secondary schools in Taishun County, the local government set up a training division for the bridge, in which students can study the models of bridges. Lessons on construction skills were also taught in primary and secondary schools, enhancing the locals’ cultural identity and sense of honor.
(6) Exhibiting the traditional craftsmanship. Wooden arch bridge exhibition halls were built in the Pingnan County Museum and the Ningde Art Museum. In Taishun county, a rural wooden arch bridge exhibition hall was built to display pictures, models, traditional tools, and the building process. The exhibitions were free. Since 2016, more than 30 wood arch bridge models have been built in Pingnan, Taishun and Qingyuan counties and have been displayed in the collections of universities, museums and exhibition halls of Fuzhou University, Fujian Intangible Cultural Heritage Exposition Center, and the Ningde Museum. Some were also displayed in Beijing, Chongqing, Chengdu, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Ningde, Taiwan, etc. In 2017, representative bearers from Pingnan County showed the craftsmanship in Sibu, Malaysia. These efforts publicized the craftsmanship and raised its reputation and visibility worldwide.
(7) Publicize the element through media. Safeguarding, transmission and promotion were carried out in an all-around manner. In September 2016, Wenxing Bridge, Xuezhai Bridge and Wenzhong Bridge in Taishun County were destroyed by floods incurred by a typhoon. All the three were national level cultural relics. By October 2017, renovation was completed. During this period, over 1,000 pieces of news and 15 special TV programs were published or broadcasted in newspapers, magazines, radios, TVs and websites, including CCTV, Xinhua News Agency, Fujian TV, Zhejiang TV. Media coverage increased public awareness about the wooden arch bridges, enhanced its reputation and influence, and increased its visibility.
Problems encountered
(1) The craftsmanship is confined to certain regions. By 2017, wooden arch bridges still only exist in the northeast of Fujian Province and southwest of Zhejiang Province, though many have been built, rebuilt, and renovated. In these regions, wooden arch bridges mainly serve cultural relics and heritage protection purposes because the traffic-bearing function is diminishing. In particular, they were built for geomancy and landscape purposes in communities and parks. Besides, building costs are high, and fund raising is difficult. While the governments allocated special funds, fund-raising manly depends on the locals. As the bridge is limited within certain regions, building demand is diminishing. This deprives the practicing opportunities of the young and affected the systemic transmission of the key techniques.
(2) Incomplete mechanical analysis system for wooden arch bridge. As the bridge requires a certain timber and the special “beam weaving” technique, in the past, building the bridge usually depends on practitioners’ personal experience. So far, the mechanical analysis system is still incomplete for the bridge. In modern time, building any bridge must follow strict design, evaluation, and engineering procedures. For a wooden arch bridge, though its traffic-bearing function is diminishing, its safety and durability are still a basic requirement. The incomplete mechanical system has resulted in difficulties in going through the required building procedure, hence limiting transmission opportunities of the element.

B.3.c.

Participation of communities, groups or individuals in the safeguarding activities

Communities and groups took the following measures to transmit and safeguard the element
(1) Take bearers as the subject of the practice. Bearers safeguard and transmit the element via a productivity-oriented method. From 2016 to 2017, over 10 wooden arch bridges were built, in which 9 woodworking masters and 66 practitioners participated.
(2) Take the transmission and practice training centers as a practice base. Representative bearers are encouraged to establish training centers. From 2016 to 2017, three training centers were built, namely, the Wei Family’s Wooden Arch Bridge Training Center in Zhongyang Village, Pingnan County, Lai Yongbin Traditional Wooden Arch Bridge Craftsmanship Studio, and Zheng Changgui Traditional Wooden Arch Bridge Craftsmanship Studio. Bearers in these training centers train practitioners based on the practice of maintenance and construction of wooden arch bridge.
(3) Take the participation of communities or local residents as support. Traditionally, local communities build bridges through donation. Ceremonies of the commencement, putting up the top beam, and completion of the bridges are grand events for the communities. In Fujian and Zhejiang, building bridges are usually initiated by local residents and completed through voluntary donation and work, which inevitably involves mass participation. Local residents also participate in the safeguarding work by cooperating with bearers and investigators during investigation and providing clues and data for them. Warmhearted people are selected to patrol the bridge regularly, with the government providing appropriate subsidy. Every time when renovating or building a bridge, local residents in Pingnan County (Fujian Province), Qingyuan County and Taishun County (Zhejiang Province), establish a council composed of a dozen or dozens of members, who work as proprietors of the bridge and take charge of site selection, fund raising, material preparation and building. A respectable headman is also elected for the council. Although these members do not directly participate in the transmission of the craftsmanship, they provide support for the practice and transmission of it. There is another standing civil organization—the board, or called “bridge board”. Composed of several or over a dozen members, the board is in charge of daily management, maintenance and renovation after the bridge is built. Board members are chosen either from the headmen and members of the council, or elected, or chosen from the public, who are usually lineage leaders or prestigious and warmhearted persons.
(4) Give play to the coordination function of centers for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage and cultural centers. Responsibilities of Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Qingyuan County, Center for the Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in Taishun County as well as Cultural Center in Pingnan County and Cultural Center in Shouning County include: coordinating related communities in Fujian Province and Zhejiang Province, urging the implementation of safeguarding measures, supporting bearers and transmission and supporting training and practice centers to carry out safeguarding activities, providing professional guidance, keeping related data and organizing demonstrated training activities.

B.3.d.

Timetable and budget

Indicate in a timetable when each activity was implemented and the funds that were used for its implementation, identifying the source of funding for each (governmental sources, in-kind community inputs, etc.).

Timetable and budget

From 2016 to 2017, the element was safeguarded by regular and irregular activities. The latter were based on annual situations and changing needs.
Regular safeguarding activities
(1) Establish training and practice centers. From 2016 to 2017, governments at all levels subsidized 570,000 RMB. Towns and villages provided venues while bearers provided tools and materials for the transmission of the element.
(2) Safeguard bridges through the preservation of cultural relics. By the nomination and announcement of arch bridge related cultural relics protection units at all levels, preserving cultural relics, identifying preservation scopes, marks and responsible authorities, establishing documentation system, etc. From 2016 to 2017. The government subsidized 2.1 million RMB for these efforts, with relevant towns and villages employing cultural relics keepers, providing safeguarding venues and purchasing required equipment.
(3) Map the bridges. From 2016 to 2017, ten bridges were mapped. The government subsidized 980,000 RMB.
(4) Digitalize safeguarding activities. From 2016 to 2017, Taishun County government used digital methods and documented the rebuilding of Wenxing Bridge, Xuezhai Bridge and Wenzhong Bridge damaged by floods.
(5) Develop models and toy blocks of covered bridges. This effort provided exhibition materials and trained the young through practice. From 2016 to 2017, while the communities provided raw materials, the Pingnan County government subsidized 300,000 RMB, Shouning County government 200,000 RMB, and Qingyuan County 150,000RMB.
(6) Transmit the craftsmanship in schools and communities. From 2016 to 2017, the government subsidized 640,000 RMB for these efforts. Schools and communities provided venues and manpower and bearers participated in these activities. The government subsidized 490,000 RMB for compiling wooden arch bridge textbooks used in primary and secondary schools.
(7) Purchase fire safety and security equipment and hire personnel. The Pingnan County government subsidized 25,000 RMB to pay the cultural heritage protection personnel. It also subsidized 62,000 RMB for fire safety equipment and 44,000 RMB for surveillance equipment.
(8) Participate in academic seminars and exhibitions on the covered bridges. The Pingnan County government subsidized 210,000 RMB.
(9) Make documentaries and publicity materials for the element. From 2016 to 2017, the government subsidized 700,000 RMB. Communities and bearers participated and provided venues.
Other safeguarding activities
(1) Build, rebuild, renovate and relocate wooden arch bridges and transmit the craftsmanship in practice. From 2016-2017, over 10 bridges were relocated or rebuilt. Though subsidized by the government, the engineering work was mainly funded by the locals.
(2) In 2016, Qingyuan County government subsidized 110,000 RMB for a training event on the element. In 2017, the Shouning County government subsidized 1 million RMB for constructing an exhibition hall for the element. The Pingan County subsidized 120,000 RMB for a Mid-Autumn Day exhibition on the element in Malaysia.

B.3.e.

Overall effectiveness of the safeguarding activities

(8) Participate in academic seminars and exhibitions on the covered bridges. The Pingnan County government subsidized 210,000 RMB.
(9) Make documentaries and publicity materials for the element. From 2016 to 2017, the government subsidized 700,000 RMB. Communities and bearers participated and provided venues.
Other safeguarding activities
(1) Build, rebuild, renovate and relocate wooden arch bridges and transmit the craftsmanship in practice. From 2016-2017, over 10 bridges were relocated or rebuilt. Though subsidized by the government, the engineering work was mainly funded by the locals.
(2) In 2016, Qingyuan County government subsidized 110,000 RMB for a training event on the element. In 2017, the Shouning County government subsidized 1 million RMB for constructing an exhibition hall for the element. The Pingan County subsidized 120,000 RMB for a Mid-Autumn Day exhibition on the element in Malaysia.
Experiences and lessons drawn from safeguarding practice
(1) Dynamic safeguarding proved highly effective. Dynamic safeguarding has always been critical in transmitting and practicing the element. Chinese governments, communities and bearers engaged in the productivity-oriented safeguarding and renovated, rebuilt and built many wooden arch bridges. From 2016 to 2017, 14 bridges were built or renovated. Every time a bridge is built, the locals establish a board comprised of villagers, bearers, etc. The board manages and supervises the construction and ensures economy. By making bridge models, dynamic safeguarding experiments are also satisfying. Dynamic safeguarding engages more social groups and bearers and may increase the practice opportunities.
(2) Bearers increased and their social status was raised. Transmitting the element calls for transmission organizations, studios set up by master, systemic teaching and practicing activities, subsidies to representative bearers, etc. Because of under-funding, potential is to be tapped.
(3) Publicity activities enhanced the visibility of the project. Despite the limited input in publicity activities in many ways, including compiling textbooks, publishing related materials, producing videos and documentaries, the social influence was great. This is true in introducing the concepts of the craft into communities and schools. In 2016, the rescue and renovation of the bridges damaged by floods attracted the media’s attention all over China. A complete renovation record was kept, and the reputation of the bridge was also raised. In future, more attention must be paid to publicity.
The lessons are also drawn from the safeguarding practice
(1) The dilemma over building procedure and cost. In China, building a wooden arch bridge follows either of the following ways. For a government-funded bridge, strict procedures must be followed in design, approval, budget, bidding, settlement, etc. But designing and approving face much difficulties. The increased intermediate links drive up cost. For a bridge funded by locals, construction can start immediately after an agreement is signed among board members, the headman and workers. The agreement is only based on the timber costs and wages. But the mechanical analysis, safety and cost assessment cannot be guaranteed except by the experience of the bearers. A scientific and economical method must be come up with in future.
(2) Visibility of the element is yet to be increased. Thevisibility of the element is still unsatisfying. Practices of the craftsmanship are still confined to the original regions of transmission. Seldom are any bridges built with the craftsmanship in other places. The geomancy and landscape functions are well received. In China and even in the world, many regions ideal for the bridge can still be found. In rainy regions, the covered bridge is proper. In dry regions, the uncovered bridge. In future, efforts could be made to promote the element beyond its traditional transmission regions.

C

Zhang

C. Update of the safeguarding measures

C.1.

Updated safeguarding plan

Please provide an update of the safeguarding plan included in the nomination file or in the previous report. In particular provide detailed information as follows:

a. What primary objective(s) will be addressed and what concrete results will be expected?
b. What are the key activities to be carried out in order to achieve these expected results? Describe the activities in detail and in their best sequence, addressing their feasibility.
c. How will the State(s) Party(ies) concerned support the implementation of the updated safeguarding plan?

Updated safeguarding plan

1. The safeguarding scope has extended from the bridge and the craftsmanship needed to build it to the cultural ecological system of the communities and villages where it locates.
(1) Nominating the villages with the bridge for Chinese Traditional Villages. Nanping Country has nominated its Tangkou Village, Changqiao Village, Houlong Village and Lingxia Villages for Chinese Traditional Villages. In these villages, Qiansheng Bridge, Wan’an Bridge, Longjin Bridge, Guangfu Bridge and Guangli Bridge are located respectively. For each listed village, a complete safeguarding plan is made by the Chinese government and 3 million RMB is allocated as safeguarding fund. Together with the similar funds from the provincial, municipal and county governments, the safeguarding fund has reached: 30 million RMB in Tangkou Village, 20 million RMB in Changqiao Village, 6 million RMB in Houlong Village and 10 million RMB in Lingxia Village. The safeguarding plan and government funds greatly improved the natural and cultural environment of these villages. The cultural ecological system of these villages has been well safeguarded.
(2) The wooden arch bridge is one of the largest public structures in a community or village. It also serves critical geomancy and landscape purposes. With the identification of cultural relic level of bridges and the over-all protection of village or the community life, the village or the community will be one of the most culturally and scenically valuable venue in the county, city or even province. Along with the protection of village or community as a whole, the local government also strengthens the protection of natural environment. The protection funds for the forest, river and environment where a wooden arch bridge is located will have priority in local governments’ management. All this is for the harmony between the bridge and natural environment.
(3) Besides identifying the cultural relic level of the bridge, the Chinese government also takes the watercourses and ancient roads relating to the bridge as affiliated cultural relics. They are also safeguarded by special funds. For example, from 2016 to 2017, the Fujian provincial government allocated 10 million RMB for safeguarding the environment adjacent to the bridge (including watercourse and ancient roads).
Publicity was strengthened to raise locals’ awareness in this regard. By making protection plans and raising funds in many ways (e.g. funds for safeguarding the watercourse, village, forests, etc.), the craftsmanship and associate traditional practices relating to the bridge were safeguarded and transmitted, thus offering the fundamental dynamics for the element to be viable in real life.
2. Strengthening domestic and international exchanges, making the element more visible, promoting the craftsmanship and making the craftsmanship more frequently used.
The element is still confined to the northeast of Fujian Province and southwest of Zhejiang province. Seldom is the craftsmanship used in other places. Despite the diminishing traffic-bearing function, the geomancy and landscape functions of the bridge are still well-received. In China and the world, places suitable for the bridge can still be found in bunches. By strengthening international promotion, the element will be present in more countries and regions. With growing sense of honor, the bearers will work harder to safeguard, use and transmit the element. Efforts had been made in the last safeguarding period. In 2013, Chinese scholars introduced the bridge in the seventh International Conference on Arch Bridges in Croatia. In 2015, woodworking master Zhang Changzhi from Zhouning, Fujian Province was invited to build a wooden arch bridge in Regensburg, Germany. It was China’s first wooden arch bridge in another country. In 2017, Fujan bearers exhibited the element in Malaysia. In 2017, models of the bridge were given as presents by Nanping Coounty to Mr. Juan Abad, member of Peru Congress and consultant to the President of the Popular Action, and other guests in a publicity event “Stories of the CPC - Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” in Beijing. These were efforts to promote the element to the world.

C.2.

Community participation

00045

Community participation

(1) Bearers are responsible for transmitting, publicizing and promoting core techniques. They are proactively safeguarding the element. From 2016 to 2017, three training centers were set up. The centers built, renovated and maintained many bridges in their transmission and safeguarding efforts. For example, the Wei’s (Daixi Village, Zhongyang Town, Nanping County), as bearers, are keen to safeguard the element. The family set up training centers and trained 9 apprentices. In Qingyuan County, Zhejiang Province, studios set up by Lai Yongbin and Zhang Changgui have trained 6 apprentices in total. The six have well commanded the craftsmanship.
(2) From 2016 to 2017, fourteen practice activities were held (4 in Pingnan, 4 in Shouning, 3 in Taishun and 3 in Qingyuan). Nine woodworking masters presided over the events, 66 practitioners participated, and over 10 villages were involved. Whenever a bridge is built, locals and bearers set up a council to raise fund, manage construction and organize ceremonies. Ceremonies are held in ground-breaking, beam-raising and bridge completion. For example, locals raised 300,000 RMB to renovate the Yingfeng Bridge in Ludi Village, Pingnan County. The construction and renovation greatly enhanced locals’ awareness on the element in the last two years.
(3) In local areas, volunteers also established cultural heritage safeguarding organizations to appeal to the society to take action. For example, from September 2016 to October 2017, social organizations published news through newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and websites to raise fund to renovate the Wenxing Bridge, Xuezhai Bridge and Wenzhong Bridge. All were national level cultural relics damaged by floods. Association for the Safeguarding of Covered Bridge Culture in Taishun County was one of the organizations who helped to renovate the bridges. They also strengthened the locals’ sense of honor and cultural identity.
(4) As the competent bodies responsible for the safeguarding of the element, cultural centers in Pingnan and Shouning as well as centers for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in Qingyuan and Taishun are in charge of the nomination, collection and management of safeguarding funds, implementation of feasibility research and organization of education, promotion, distribution, demonstration, exchange and digital safeguarding of the element.
After two years of safeguarding practice, the viability of the element has been greatly improved. Local authorities have promised to keep encouraging and supporting bearers to train and teach apprentices and carry out transmission and practice activities through building or renovating bridges, which would enlarge the number of bearers in proper age structure. Related communities, groups and individuals have promised to explore and establish a more effective mode of transmission and achieve the sustainable development of the element in cultural environment of communities.

C.3.

Institutional context

Please report on the institutional context for the local management and safeguarding of the element inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List, including:

a. the competent body(ies) involved in its management and/or safeguarding;
b. the organization(s) of the community or group concerned with the element and its safeguarding.

2004-12-02

Institutional context

a. the competent bodies involved in its management and safeguarding
Bureau of Culture, Sports, Press and Publication in Pingnan County of Fujian Province
Bureau of Culture, Sports, Press and Publication in Shouning County of Fujian Province
Bureau of Culture, Radio, Film, Television, Press and Publication (Sports Bureau) in Qingyuan County of Zhejiang Province
Bureau of Culture, Radio, Film, Television, Press and Publication in Taishun County of Zhejiang Province

the competent bodies involved in its safeguarding
Cultural Center in Pingnan County of Fujian Province
Cultural Center in Shouning County of Fujian Province
Cultural Center in Qingyuan County of Zhejiang Province
Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Taishun County of Zhejiang Province

b. the organizations of the community or group concerned with the element and its safeguarding
Fujian Province:
The Huang Family’s Training and Practice Center of Traditional Craftsmanship for Building Wooden Arch Bridge in Changqiao Town, Pingnan County
The Wei Family’s Training and Practice Center of Traditional Craftsmanship for Building Wooden Arch Bridge in Daixi Town, Pingnan County
Master Huang Chuncai’s Craftsmanship studio in Pingnan County
The Zheng Family’s Training and Practice Center of Traditional Craftsmanship for Building Wooden Arch Bridge in Shouning County
The Zhang Familiy’s Training and Practice Center of Traditional Craftsmanship for Building Wooden Arch Bridge in Xiukeng Village, Zhouning County
Association of Traditional Craftsmanship for Building Wooden Arch Bridge in Shouning County
Zhejiang Province:
Zeng Jiakuai’s Traditional Craftsmanship Studio for Building Wooden Arch Bridges in Taishun County
Lai Yongbin’s Traditional Craftsmanship Studio for Building Wooden Arch Bridges in Taishun County
Zheng Changgui’s Traditional Craftsmanship Studio for Building Wooden Arch Bridges in Taishun County
Dong Zhiji’s Traditional Craftsmanship Studio for Building Wooden Arch Bridges in Taishun County
Hu Miao’s Traditional Craftsmanship Studio for Building Wooden Arch Bridges in Qingyuan County
Wu Fuyong’s Traditional Craftsmanship Studio for Building Wooden Arch Bridges in Qingyuan County
The Transmission Base of Covered Bridge in Hongjing Town of Qingyuan County
Steering Group for the Construction of Covered Bridge in Qingyuan County of Zhejiang Province
Civil Council of Bridge Building in Qingyuan County of Zhejiang Province
Association for the Safeguarding of Covered Bridge Culture in Taishun County
Association for the Safeguarding of Covered Bridge Culture in Guihu Village, Taishun County, Zhejiang Province
Society of Covered Bridge Culture in Wenzhou City

D

Kaige

D. Participation of communities in preparing this report

Participation of communities in preparing this report

(1) Bearers provided first-hand data for the report. The report was prepared with comprehensive involvement of bearers therefore reflecting bearers’ opinions and suggestions to the full. For example, seven bearers including the bearer at the national level Huang Chuncai and the bearer at provincial level Huang Minping participated in the writing and research of the report. They provided the report with texts, photos, videos and data related to the transmission and safeguarding carried out by their training and practice centers.
(2) Locals actively participated. Locals, especially those from villages and families engaged in the transmission of the craftsmanship, actively cooperated in the preparation of the report. They worked closely with the bearers and investigators and provided them with clues, data, photos, and videos. All the materials were highly valuable. From 2016 to 2017, Shouning County built a covered double-arch wooden bridge in Xietan Town. The locals in Xietan Town and Da’an Town proactively participated in the construction. They also provided clues and materials for the fieldwork carried out by investigators, woodworking master Zheng Duoxiong and his disciples.
(3) The government organized the preparation of this report with the participation of experts. The government established a steering group for the report on the status of the element. The steering group is composed of governments, cultural administrative authorities and safeguarding entities of the element. In 2017, Shouning Country initiated a promotion association to safeguard the covered wooden arch bridges and enhance the collaboration and communication among counties and cities. The association involves four cities and seven counties in Fujian and Zhejiang Provinces.

E. Signature on behalf of the State Party

The report should be signed by an official empowered to do so on behalf of the State, and should include his or her name, title and the date of submission.

Name

XIE Jinying

Title

Director General, Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, People's Republic of China

Date

11-12-2020

Signature

Upload signed version in PDF

Report on the status of an element inscribed on the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding

Cover sheet

State Party

Name of State Party

China

Date of deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession

This information is available online.

Date of deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession

02-12-2004

Element inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List that is the subject of this report

Name of element

Traditional design and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges

Inscribed in

2009

Reporting period covered by this report

Please indicate the period covered by this report.

Reporting period covered by this report

01-2010 - 12-2015

Other elements inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List, if any

Hezhen Yimakan storytelling (2011)

Meshrep (2010)

Watertight-bulkhead technology of Chinese junks (2010)

Wooden movable-type printing of China (2010)

Executive summary of the report

The traditional design and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges combine the use of wood, traditional architectural tools, craftsmanship, the core technologies of “beam-weaving” and mortise and tenon joints, and a bearer’s understanding of different environments and the necessary structural mechanics. The practice of this technical system is directed by a woodworking master and implemented by other woodworkers with their close cooperation.
Having been a major technology for building traditional bridges of timberwork in China, the element is mainly transmitted in northeast of Fujian Province and southeast of Zhejiang Province, where local people have always regarded it as an inseparable part of their own cultural heritage and identity till now. However, with the development of society and the application of new technology, the space for applying this craftsmanship is being compressed by modern technology for bridge construction and diversified building materials. At present, although there are some wooden arch bridges existing in some regions of the 11 counties near the border between Fujian and Zhejiang where the craftsmanship can be transmitted and applied, the diminishing of it caused by globalization and urbanization cannot be neglected.
Since the element was inscribed on the List, governments at all levels and local communities have taken measures to safeguard it in accordance with local conditions. With joint efforts for 6 years, the viability and transmission of this element have been restored in local communities preliminarily: the team of bearers engaged in the practice of this craftsmanship has been expanded, with the number of woodworking masters increased from 6 to 14 and the number of practitioners to 49 (20 in Fujian Province and 29 in Zhejiang Province); 7 practice and transmission training centers with the focus on bearers have been built, where bearers of the craftsmanship trained and taught the young people, and at present there are 65 apprentices. Exhibition centers and museums for it have been built, with a total area of more than 3,000 square meters. Over 30 wooden arch bridges have been rebuilt or renovated, with more than 30 villages engaged in the practice of this craftsmanship. Activities of promoting it in communities and campuses have been carried out widely. Restoring related folk activities during the rebuilding and renovation of the bridges has encouraged local residents to participate in it, and has raised their awareness of safeguarding the bridges and concerns for the transmission of this craftsmanship. Research and practice bases have been built in cooperation with colleges and universities, where academic research on safeguarding the bridges as well as multimedia data collection, processing and database construction are carried out. With the active involvement of local communities, these measures have promoted the safeguarding and transmission of the element effectively. Although the bridges’ traffic-bearing functions are diminished nowadays, their landscape and geomancy functions are more cherished by local residents, making it possible for the viability of the element.

Contact person for correspondence

Provide the name, address and other contact information of the person responsible for correspondence concerning the report.

Title (Ms/Mr, etc.)

Family name

Given name

Haibo

Institution/position

Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Taishun County, Zhejiang Province, China / Director

Address

62 NanDajie, Luoyang Township, Taishun County, Zhejiang Province, China, 325500

Telephone number

+86-13858800308

Fax number

E-mail address

12070612@qq.com

Other relevant information

B. Status of element inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List

B.1.

Social and cultural functions

Considered as an important component in cultural heritage by local communities, groups and individuals, the element enjoys a well-established technical system, complete transmission pedigree, and a continuous sense of identity provided for bearers and communities. Since the topography near the border of south Zhejiang Province and north Fujian Province features high mountains and deep valleys, the wooden arch bridge has been a representative for natural and cultural landscapes of local communities with its superior skills and wonderful form. In history, the bridges built with this craftsmanship function as communication tools and venues, where passengers rest or stay overnight, sheltered from wind and rain, and local residents exchange information and goods, and they entertain and worship.
Although wooden arch bridges’ traffic-bearing functions have been diminished in recent years on account of their limited capacity to support modern transportation, their functions in traditional landscape and geomancy in history are more cherished and recognized by local residents, creating growing space for the practice and transmission of the element. Most wooden arch bridges are located at the water inlet position in geomancy, therefore they are believed to have functions of gathering fortune and dispelling evil. The bridge is critical to both the geomancy of the village and the construction of cultural space within the communities. The passageway on the bridge can shelter passengers from wind and rain, safeguard the wooden structure of the bridge and reduce the transparency of the bridge by blocking more water inlets and outlets visually, which is also a merit in geomancy. As an important public building in the village, the bridge usually houses a shrine at its center, where deities of folk religion worshipped by local residents are enshrined. Nowadays most shrines are removed in case the burning incenses cause a fire amidst the cultural relics; instead, a temple is built on the bridgehead, creating a landscape of “bridge and temple integration”. As a result, the wooden arch bridge continues to provide local residents an important place for some folk religious practices such as worshipping and praying at festivals and certain dates.
Among bearers and practitioners of the craftsmanship, those mastering bridge designs, core technologies of “beam-weaving” and on-site direction simultaneously are called “woodworking masters”, who play a leading role in the transmission of the element; other practitioners work in cooperation to implement the construction of the bridge. The craftsmanship has been transmitted through oral instruction and personal demonstration from one generation to another either by masters teaching apprentices or by fathers to sons within a family, in accordance with strict procedures—thus forms the intergenerational transmission pedigree. Since the dominant transmission mode is within a family, several prestigious families of the craftsmanship recognized by local communities gradually come into being. As the bearers of the element, woodworking masters boast superior craftsmanship in building traditional wooden architectures and bridges. The core technologies of the craftsmanship are demonstrated in the practical and beautiful bridges of timberwork adapted to different environments, which are built collectively in accordance with a whole technological process for wooden architecture combining experiences of past practitioners and predecessors as well as structural mechanics. The element not only follows certain standards and patterns, but gives full play to the creativity of different communities, groups and individuals; therefore it may display diversified forms in practice. At present, prestigious families of the craftsmanship include Huang Family in Pingnan County, Zheng Family in Shouning County, Zhang Family in Zhouning County, and Dong Family in Taishun County, among which Huang Chuncai, Zheng Duojin and Dong Zhiji are acknowledged representative bearers, playing an indispensable role in building, maintaining and safeguarding the wooden arch bridges in local communities.

B.2.

Assessment of its viability and current risks

At present, the element is widely distributed in the northeast of Fujian Province and the southwest of Zhejiang Province. It is centered in 11 counties and cities at the border between Zhejiang and Fujian, such as Pingnan, Shouning, Zhouning, Gutian, Fu’an, Zherong, Fuding and Xiapu of Fujian Province and Qingyuan, Taishun and Jingning of Zhejiang Province, among which Pingnan, Shouning, Qingyuan and Taishun are core areas. Based on the above-mentioned areas, the element also extends to areas under the administration of Fuzhou and Nanping Cities of Fujian Province as well as those of Wenzhou and Lishui Cities of Zhejiang Province.
Current situation of viability
(1) With the development of modern technologies, wooden arch bridges cannot meet the requirement of supporting modern transportation nowadays; however, their traffic-bearing and shelter functions for passengers and livestock still work, and their landscape and geomancy functions are more cherished than ever by local residents, since these bridges are important cultural spaces in villages and communities. Deities worshipped by local residents are usually enshrined in the shrine on the bridge or temple on the bridgehead. Deity worshipping is not limited to the certain one. Besides the chief deities (such as Avalokitesvara, Madame Waterside, Emperor Wuxian, Emperor Zhenwu, etc.), some accompanying deities are also worshipped by local residents, who believe that all of these deities can bless local communities. The bridges provide cultural space for local residents to worship and pray during festivals or memorial days for deities, among which the first and fifteenth days of each month and the first month of Chinese lunar calendar are the time when grand worship activities are intensively carried out. At that time, local residents will gather on the bridge to provide sacrificial offerings, burn incenses to pray and worship on bended knees successively. In addition, on the sixth day of the fifth lunar month, residents around Wan’an Bridge in Changqiao Village and Qiansheng Bridge in Tangkou Village of Pingnan County and Yonggui Bridge, Shuangmen Bridge and Niao Bridge of Qingyuan County still carry out the worship activity of Walking on the Bridge;in the Dragon Boat Festival on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, residents around Nanxi Bridge of Sixi Town hold a grand blessing ceremony called Bridge Worship to pray for good harvest and family happiness.
(2) In the above-mentioned areas, building, rebuilding and renovation of wooden arch bridges are still carried out in communities and villages. Over 30 such practices have been done successively from 2010 to 2015, with 14 woodworking masters, 49 practitioners and over 30 communities and villages engaged in.
(3) The building, rebuilding and renovation of wooden arch bridges in Fujian and Zhejiang continue the customary way of raising funds from local residents. During the building practice, the council composed of a headman and several members takes charge of the building, while the board, a standing civil organization composed of several or over a dozen members, is in charge of daily management, maintenance and renovation. In recent years, local government and enterprises also provide some financial and technological supports.
(4) Since the element was inscribed on the List, its viability in Fujian and Zhejiang in China has been improved, with practice frequency enhanced, with its practice scope enlarged and its number of bearers increased.
Current threats
(1) The wooden arch bridge’s function has changed and the demand for building it is diminishing. Considering that the major function of bridge is traffic-bearing, the major function of the wooden arch bridge has almost diminished on account of its limited capacity to support modern transportation. At present, the building and renovation of the wooden arch bridge mainly meet the needs of passengers and livestock passing through, as well as cultural needs, particularly the needs for landscape and geomancy, leading to the diminishing of its ample traditional functions. Furthermore, building a wooden arch bridge requires a large investment, which increases the difficulty for funding since most of it is raised from local resident, therefore the demand for building it is diminishing.
(2) The current modes of transmission are still not on the right track yet. Due to the diminishing demand, the building business supporting the element shrinks and the profession of woodworking master is becoming less attractive to younger generations. In the past, building wooden arch bridge is the major source of income for bearers; nowadays, with fewer bridges newly built, they live on general carpentry or do part-time jobs. At present, all of the carpenters engaged in bridge building are aged people over 40, among whom Dong Zhiji from Taishun County is 92, Zheng Duojin from Shouning County 90, and Huang Chuncai from Pingnan 83. From 2010 to now, the number of bearers has increased; however, how to attract young people, how to provide them the means for a livelihood by building the wooden arch bridge and maintaining the sustainability of its transmission are still problems that need to be solved.
(3) Building materials are scarce. Timbers for building the wooden arch bridge usually are required to be taken from firs aged over decades or a century, especially for the part in arch support, each of which needs more than a hundred logs. In history, residents in some areas have the custom of raising funds to buy a mountain and plant trees on it as special timber reserves for building the bridge. With the reduction of timber resources in modern times, the custom, experience and management modes of the past need to be restored and developed. The current task is to encourage communities to buy mountains and to plant trees for the element, and to coordinate harmoniously the practice and transmission of the element with natural environment.

B.3.

Implementation of safeguarding measures

B.3.a.

Objectives and results

Indicate what primary objective(s) were addressed and what concrete results were attained during the reporting period.

Objectives and results

In order to fulfill the safeguarding commitments in the nomination files and to greatly improve the viability of the element, including the restoration of the modes of transmission and the revitalization of the element in a sustainable way, the following results have been attained from 2010 to 2015:
(1) Establish the bearer safeguarding mechanism to promote effectively the transmission of the element. Identification of bearers and the system of representative bears at four levels (county, city, province and state) were carried out. Government at all levels supported the bearers in practice and transmission of the element with appropriations and manpower, which has effectively improved the motivation of bearers. Training centers of practice and transmission for the element led by bearers were established, and transmission bases were evaluated and established to carry out safeguarding, transmission and promotion campaigns.
(2) Encourage and promote academic research and exchange. The academic support system for the element was established by encouraging bearers and local scholars to participate in academic research at national and international levels. Research centers for the element in cooperation with colleges, universities and research institutes were established. Efforts were also made in holding academic conferences, publishing related works and encouraging bearers to participate in craftsmanship exhibition and exchange at all levels to enhance their visibility and influence.
(3) Carry out salvage investigation, identification and documenting of the element. Investigation on wooden arch bridges and related cultural resources spread in Fujian and Zhejiang was almost completed in 2009, and digitalization of these bridges and their cultural resources were carried out step by step since 2010. Mapping of existing bridges was carried out, and the nomination of identification of 79 bridges’ cultural relic levels was completed. Core technologies, technological process, technical characteristics, folk belief customs, taboos and tools of the element were recorded and documented with the help of digital technology.
(4) Create conditions and opportunities for the practice of the element to maintain its benign viability. The transmission and development of the craftsmanship were promoted in practice through building and renovating wooden arch bridges on the basis of investigation.
(5) Introduce the element into school education to enhance cultural identity. Textbooks on wooden arch bridge culture were compiled for primary and secondary schools and related craftsmanship was taught in vocational schools to enhance the cultural identity and pride among local residents.
(6) Enhance promotion of the element to raise its visibility. The promotion function of public museums, libraries, cultural centers, memorial halls, galleries and exhibition centers for intangible cultural heritage was given full latitude to create a suitable social environment for the viability and development of the element.

B.3.b.

Safeguarding activities

Safeguarding activities and their effectiveness
To safeguard the element effectively, government at all levels of Fujian and Zhejiang, as well as related communities, have invested great manpower and resources in the transmission, education, promotion and research of it from 2010 to 2015, promoting the rebuilding and renovation of wooden arch bridges in these areas and enlarging the demand for it. In the meantime, the wooden arch bridge was brought into local development plans for social undertaking programs as a cultural symbol, creating more space for its transmission. The following achievements have been made:
(1) Identify representative bearers. At present, in Fujian Province, bearers identified above county level have increased from 3 to 5. There are 5 woodworking masters mastering core technologies of the element and around 20 bearers participating in the practice of it. In Zhejiang Province, the bearers have increased from 3 to 18. There are 9 woodworking masters mastering core technologies, 29 bearers participating in the practice regularly and two civil construction teams engaged in the building of wooden arch bridges. According to the Measures for Safeguarding Cultural Relics in Taishun County issued by county government of Taishun in 2012, bearers who train and teach young people can be subsidized with 5,000 yuan annually; one of the bearers, Zeng Jiakuai, was rated as distinguished talent and awarded with 100 thousand yuan by county government of Taishun.
(2) Establish training and practice centers. Seven training and practice centers with the focus on bearers were built, where bearers of the craftsmanship train and teach young people, and at present there are 65 enrolled apprentices. In the meantime, theses training centers produced some tourist souvenirs based on traditional craftsmanship, such as the model of a wooden arch bridge, providing the apprentices with more opportunities to practice. The development of derivative business just like cultural tourism not only increased the income of bearers and practitioners, but created almost a thousand job opportunities for local communities.
(3) Encourage and promote academic research and exchange. Since 2010, research bases for the element were established in cooperation with colleges, universities and research institutes, such as Zhejiang University, Nanjing University, Shanghai Jiaotong University and Xiamen University, laying theoretical foundations for safeguarding wooden arch bridges and traditional building craftsmanship. Both the International Symposium on China’s Covered Bridges and Forum on Safeguarding China’s Covered Bridge Culture were held for five times respectively, inviting experts and scholars from all over the world and bearers of the craftsmanship to attend; works like Traditional Craftsmanship for Building Chinese Wooden Arch Bridges and Craftsmanship for Building Wooden Arch Bridges were published. Bearers were encouraged to participate in exhibition and exchange activities at all levels, among which Huang Chuncai, a bearer at the national level, attended the Exhibition of Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritages and Traditional Arts held in Beijing and Chongqing, and Root and Soul—the Exhibition of Chinese Intangible Cultural Craftsmanship held in Taiwan.
(4) Carry out digital documentation of the element. Core technologies, technological processes, technical characteristics, folk belief, customs, taboos and tools of the element were recorded and documented with the help of digital technology. Completed works include: 243 GB digital video, 1,280 photos (4,580 MB) and 108 MB text data were collected; more than 180 pieces of tools, bridge deed, design materials, historical data were collected; 2 documentaries about the element, such as Remote Memory—Covered Bridge in Qingyuan County of China, were produced; a 3D animation demonstrating the complete technological process of the element was made by Qingyuan Covered Bridge Museum; the database of Cultural Memory of Fujian: Wooden Arch Bridges was under construction, providing a platform for sharing and applying the achievements of digital safeguarding works.
(5) Carry out mapping and renovation of wooden arch bridges. By the end of 2015, 79 surviving ancient wooden arch bridges have been evaluated as cultural heritage sites, among which 40 are at the national level, 14 at provincial level and 15 at county level. Mapping of 34 wooden arch bridges at the national level was completed, among which 12 are in Fujian Province and 22 in Zhejiang Province. Based on the mapping results, compilation of maintenance and safeguarding plans for 7 of them were completed. On basis of the above-mentioned efforts, cultural relic keepers were employed for managing and safeguarding the wooden arch bridges and some severely damaged bridges were renovated with traditional technologies, improving the practice frequency of the element.
(6) Renovate and rebuild wooden arch bridges to transmit the craftsmanship in practice. In accordance with the safeguarding plans and community demand, 26 bridges were renovated and 30 (3 in Pingnan, 2 in Shouning, 9 in Qingyuan and 16 in Taishun) were relocated and rebuilt. These efforts not only improved the cultural landscape and tourism resources, but provided practice opportunities for the transmission of the element, during which a group of experienced bearers and practitioners were cultivated.
(7) Introduce knowledge about craftsmanship for building wooden arch bridges into school education. Diversified activities were carried out to introduce the wooden arch bridge and its building craftsmanship into campuses and textbooks, including compiling school-based textbooks containing the craftsmanship, and establishing teaching bases for the transmission of covered bridges to teach knowledge about wooden arch bridge and cultivate students’ love for bridges from their childhood. To be specific, Ningde City of Fujian Province will establish architecture majors in vocational schools and will introduce the craftsmanship into the teaching; Jiangbin Primary School of Qingyuan County established a teaching base for the transmission of covered bridges equipped with interactive platform and exhibition hall, and their project, Love and Learn Covered Bridge and Construct Positions: Practice and Study of Combining Covered Bridge Culture with Morality of Young Pioneer, won grand prize at national contest for best scientific research of Young Pioneer during the Eleventh Five Year Plan; school-based textbooks, such as Textbook on Intangible Cultural Heritages in Taishun and Love and Learn Covered Bridge, won prizes in evaluation of excellent school-based textbooks on intangible cultural heritages.
(8) Carry out exhibition of traditional craftsmanship for building wooden arch bridges to enhance its influence. Three exhibition centers and museums were established to display picture materials, physical models, traditional tools and technological process of the element free to the public. Since 2010, two transmission and practice training centers in Pingnan have produced 36 models of wooden arch bridges, which are collected and displayed by 14 colleges, universities, research institutions, museums and exhibition centers, including Chinese National Academy of Arts, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Nanjing University, Fujian Exhibition Center of Intangible Cultural Heritages, Ningde Museum, etc., and sent to Beijing, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Ningde and Taiwan for display and demonstration, enhancing the influence of the element.
(9) Carry out promotion through media to enhance its visibility. Since 2010, over 120 pieces of news and 12 TV documentaries have been published via newspapers, magazines, broadcast, television and Internet. Media agencies including China Central Television, Xinhuanet, Fujian Television, Zhejiang Television and television stations of Ningde, Wenzhou and Lishui, reported the wooden arch bridges comprehensively, providing support of public opinions for safeguarding the craftsmanship and enhancing the influence and visibility of the element.
Problems encountered
(1) Scarce practice opportunities undermine the transmission of the element. In the past, it requires a long time for bearers to train and teach apprentices through practice in building new bridges for the purpose of transmission; however, due to the reduction of newly-built bridges, practice opportunities for young people are scarce, leading to their incompetence in building technologies.
(2) Incomplete safeguarding plans undermine further safeguarding activities. Local governments have issued regulations on safeguarding the element, including Measures for Safeguarding Covered Bridges in Qingyuan County (On Trial) (2010), Measures for Nominating, Evaluating and Safeguarding Representative Bearers and Units of Intangible Cultural Heritages in Taishun County (On Trial) (2011) and Measures for Safeguarding Cultural Heritages in Taishun County (2012), to provide financial and manpower supports for bearers’ transmission activities. For example, the local government in Taishun stipulates that bearers over 65 years old at all levels can be subsidized. Although these measures have raised the motivation of bearers to some extent, it is still difficult to stimulate young apprentices’ enthusiasm in the profession and the transmission force is weak. Local governments also encourage bearers to train and teach apprentices through practice in building new bridges. According to Measures for Safeguarding Cultural Heritages in Taishun County, county government would subsidize 30% of the cost for villages that build new bridges with traditional craftsmanship, but the subsidy for one covered bridge is limited to no more than 300 thousand yuan, making it still difficult to raise enough funds for building wooden arch bridges.
(3) Building materials are scarce. The scarcity of the timber for building the wooden arch bridge makes it difficult for the practice and transmission of the element to continue. Efforts shall be made to restore communities’ custom of planting and safeguarding trees and mountains, achieving balance between communities’ demand for building wooden arch bridges and the safeguarding of natural resources and environment.

B.3.c.

Participation of communities, groups or individuals in the safeguarding activities

Communities and groups have taken the following measures to effectively participate in the transmission and safeguarding of the element:
(1) Take bearers as the subject of the practice. Bearers were directly engaged in the transmission and productivity-oriented safeguarding efforts of the element. In the over 30 practices of building craftsmanship since 2010, 14 bearers (woodworking masters) and 49 practitioners have actively participated.
(2) Take the training and practice centers as bases. Under the guidance of supporting representative bearers to establish training and practice centers, 7 centers have been built (the training and practice center established by Huang Family in Changqiao Town of Pingnan County, the training and practice center established by Wei Family in Zhongyang Town of Pingnan County, the craftsmanship studio established by Huang Chuncai, the training and practicing center established by Zheng Family in Shouning County, the transmission base of covered bridge in Hongjing Town of Qingyuan County, studios of traditional craftsmanship for building wooden arch bridges established by Dong Zhiji and Zeng Jiakuai separately in Taishun County). During the practice of building and renovating bridges, these training centers with the focus on bearers carry out the craftsmanship transmission and cultivate young craftsmen.
(3) Take the participation of communities or local residents as support. It is a custom for local communities to build bridges through donation, and the commencement and completion ceremonies of the bridges are grand events for the communities. In Fujian and Zhejiang, building bridges are usually initiated by local residents and completed through voluntary donation and work, which inevitably involves mass participation. Local residents also participate in the safeguarding work by cooperating with bearers and investigators during investigation and providing clues and data for them. Warmhearted people are selected to patrol the bridge regularly, with the government providing appropriate subsidy. Every time when renovating or building a bridge, local residents in Qingyuan County and Taishun County establish a council composed of a dozen or dozens of members, who work as proprietors of the bridge and take charge of site selection, fund raising, material preparation and building. Although these members do not directly participate in the transmission of the craftsmanship, they provide support for the practice and transmission of it. There is another standing civil organization—the board, or called “bridge board”. Composed of several or over a dozen members, the board is in charge of daily management, maintenance and renovation after the bridge is built. Board members are chosen either from the headmen and members of the council, or elected, or chosen from the public, who are usually lineage leaders or prestigious and warmhearted persons.
(4) Give play to the coordination function of centers for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritages and cultural centers. Responsibilities of Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritages in Qingyuan County, Center for the Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritages in Taishun County as well as Cultural Center in Pingnan County and Cultural Center in Shouning County include: coordinating related communities in Fujian Province and Zhejiang Province, urging the implementation of safeguarding measures, supporting bearers and transmission and supporting training and practice centers to carry out safeguarding activities, providing professional guidance, keeping related data and organizing demonstrated training activities.

B.3.d.

Timetable and budget

Based on the scheduled four-year plan (2009-2012) for safeguarding the element, proper adjustments and expansions were made to the plan and several new measures were taken according to the safeguarding practice from 2013 to 2015. Safeguarding activities can be divided into two categories: the first one is carried out regularly in an organized way while the second one is carried out irregularly in accordance with the practical situation and safeguarding demands of that year.
Regular safeguarding activities
(1) Establish training and practice centers to carry out transmission and safeguarding activities. The government has subsidized 280 thousand yuan for such efforts from 2009 to 2015, with towns and villages providing transmission venues and bearers providing tools and materials.
(2) Build, rebuild, relocate and renovate wooden arch bridges to transmit the craftsmanship in practice. From 2009 to 2015, over 30 bridges were relocated and rebuilt, the investment amounts of which are as follows: in Fujian Province, 1,500,000 RMB for Shijin Bridge, 650,000 RMB for Zhuoyang Bridge, 1.36 million RMB for Dengyun Bridge, 1.55 million RMB for Baixiang Bridge, 360,000 RMB for Feiluan Bridge in Jiaocheng District, 650,000 RMB for Jinxian Bridge in Xiekeng Village of Lingxia Town, 1.3 million RMB for the covered wooden arch bridge in Shuiwei Village of Daixi Town and 650,000 RMB for Yipin Bridge in Bei Village of Shuangxi Town, all of which are from government allocations, public donations and enterprise contributions; in Zhejiang Province, 1.2 million RMB for Yingxiu Bridge in Taishun County, 850,000 RMB for Yangwang Bridge, 650,000 RMB for Yinyuan Bridge in Lianyun Village, 760,000 RMB for Jiangjun Bridge in Xinpu Village, 1.3 million RMB for Xiyang Bridge, 900,000 RMB for Lingxia Bridge of Lingxia Village, 750,000 RMB for Zhuping Bridge in Qingyuan County, 800,000 RMB for Mengyu Bridge, 1.1 million RMB for Daji Bridge and 950,000 RMB for Qingzhu Bridge, of which are mainly from public donations, supplemented with government subsidy.
(3) Safeguard wooden arch bridges through nomination and announcement of their cultural relic levels, preserving of related cultural relics, identification of the scopes, marks and responsible authorities, establishment of documentation system, etc. from 2009 to 2015. The government subsidized 3.2 million RMB for these efforts, with relevant towns and villages employing keepers, providing safeguarding venues and purchasing required equipment.
(4) Carry out mapping of wooden arch bridges. From 2009 to 2015, the mapping of 34 bridges was completed, on the basis of which related works were compiled and published. The government subsidized 720,000 RMB for these efforts.
(5) Carry out digitalization activities. From 2009 to 2015, Pingnan County carried out safeguarding activities with the help of digital technology, for which the government subsidized 260,000 RMB.
(6) Develop models and toy blocks of covered bridges. This effort not only provided materials for exhibition, but cultivated young craftsmen through practice. From 2009 to 2015, the government subsidized 210,000 RMB for it while the communities provided raw materials.
(7) Carry out educational and transmission programs in schools and communities. From 2009 to 2015, the government subsidized 750,000 RMB for these efforts, with schools and communities providing venues and manpower and bearers participating in these activities.
(8) Compile textbooks on covered bridge culture for primary and secondary schools. The government subsidized 550,000 RMB for it from 2011 to 2015.
(9) Produce documentaries and publicity materials for the craftsmanship. From 2009 to 2015, the government subsidized 550,000 RMB for these efforts, with communities and bearers providing venues and manpower.

Irregular safeguarding activities
In 2009, an exhibition center of traditional craftsmanship for building wooden arch bridges was established in Pingnan County with an investment of 120,000 RMB, among which 100,000 RMB are from the governmental source and 20,000 RMB from in-kind inputs of bearers and groups. The Third International Symposium on China’s Covered Bridge was held, with funding sources from government subsidy (600,000 RMB) and community donation (260,000 RMB), totaling 860,000 RMB. Bearers also provided models and tools for the symposium.
In 2011, a 3D animation demonstrating the complete technological process of the craftsmanship was made by Qingyuan County with government subsidy of 100,000 RMB. Two books, Traditional Craftsmanship for Building Chinese Wooden Arch Bridges and Qingyuan Covered Bridge were compiled and published with government subsidies of 180,000 RMB and 150,000 RMB separately.
In 2012, the Collection of Papers from the Third International Symposium on China’s Covered Bridge was compiled and published with government input of 120,000 RMB.
In 2013, the Third Forum on Safeguarding China’s Covered Bridge Culture was held in Taishun with government subsidy of 250,000 RMB.
In 2014, an exhibition center of traditional craftsmanship for building wooden arch bridges covering an area of over 400 square meters was built in Changqiao Village of Pingnan County together with a training and practice studio. With an investment of over 2 million RMB from governmental sources, the exhibition center is equipped with art archives and databases of intangible cultural heritages. The Chinese-English bilingual book, Sublimation from Dragon to Rainbow—Introduction to Covered Bridge in Taishun was compiled and published with government subsidy of 150,000 RMB.
In 2015, the Fourth Forum on Safeguarding China’s Covered Bridge Culture was held in Taishun with government subsidy of 350,000 RMB. 4 wooden arch bridges were equipped with digital remote monitoring system, with the government subsidizing 1.32 million RMB for it.

B.3.e

Overall effectiveness of the safeguarding activities

Overall effectiveness of the safeguarding activities
All of the safeguarding activities during the reporting period were carried out in a scientific, reasonable, systematic and comprehensive way. With bearers and practitioners served as subject of these activities, community members also actively participated in them. Efforts were also made to combine documentation with transmission and practice, safeguarding of intangible cultural heritages with that of tangible ones, salvage safeguarding of core technologies with landscape functions in communities, and academic research with public promotion. These efforts ensured the effective safeguarding and transmission of the element, enhanced its viability and made a profound social influence.
(1) Remarkable results of safeguarding practice have been achieved. Evaluation and identification of representative bearers established and improved the mode of transmission while the establishment of spiritual and material rewards specified bearers’ honor, duty and responsibilities and improved their motivations for cultivating young apprentices. Safeguarding activities were carried out in accordance with bridges’ functions in local people's life to benefit related communities and groups in activities of raising safeguarding awareness, thus promoting the development of transmission and safeguarding. Digital safeguarding activities were carried out for future reference. Mapping of wooden arch bridges and identification of their cultural relics levels achieved the balance between intangible and tangible cultural relics safeguarding activities. Holding international symposiums not only promoted academic research and exchange on the element, but enhanced the social influence of safeguarding activities. Furthermore, a large amount of wooden arch bridges were built, rebuilt and renovated in Qingyuan, Pingnan, Taishun and Shouning in recent years, providing an excellent platform for representative bearers to practice their craftsmanship. During on-site building, they trained and taught their apprentices, thereby promoting the transmission of the element effectively. In the meantime, maintaining folk customs in bridge building and safeguarding and the bridges’ geomancy function also improved the effectiveness of community and individual participations in safeguarding activities of the element.
(2) Funds raised for safeguarding activities have been used in an effective way. The funding of safeguarding activities was mostly from governmental sources, with enterprises, communities and individuals also playing an important role, forming a beneficial funding system with multiple channels. Information about funding sources and use is open to the public, ensuring the effective use of the funds.
Experiences and lessons drawn from safeguarding practice
The following experiences are drawn from the transmission and safeguarding practice of six years:
(1) Remarkable results of transmission through practice have been achieved. It is considered as a priority to encourage transmission and safeguarding of the element through practice. Wooden arch bridges are built, rebuilt and renovated by communities and bearers at the frequency of at least one for each year, during which bearers transmit the craftsmanship to young apprentices while community members enhance their knowledge and identification with the element through participation. Based on the custom of raising funds from public donation, the funding channels for safeguarding activities are diversified. Since each new bridge is under the management and supervision of the council composed of villagers and bearers, the funds are used in an economic and effective way. In addition, developing models of wooden arch bridges increase more opportunities for practice, achieving good results.
(2) Promotion and distribution activities enhance the visibility of the element. Although the investment in publicity and promotion activities through multiple channels, including compiling textbooks, publishing related works, producing videos and documentaries, is limited compared to others, it achieves good social effects, especially for the introduction of the craftsmanship into communities and schools, which needs to be further focused in future safeguarding practice.
The following lessons are also drawn from the safeguarding practice:
(1) Although the salvage documenting and digital safeguarding activities have achieved certain results, the technologies applied need to be improved. A large amount of text, photo, recording and video data, core techniques, technological processes, characteristics, folk belief, customs, taboos and tools of the element were collected, providing original materials for recovering the craftsmanship where necessary. Funds invested in these efforts were used effectively while the quality of recorded data at the early stage is below standard due to a lack of technology force and equipment and need to be improved further. In addition, the establishment of databases is still under way and the problem of insufficient human resources also emerges in the safeguarding practice.
(2) Although the number of bearers has increased, the mode of transmission needs to be improved. Transmission and practice training centers were established in order to transmit the craftsmanship in practice, while representative bearers were subsidized by the government. However, for the reason that the problem of young people’s lack of motivation and initiative on the profession is not solved fundamentally, limited investment in these efforts leads to lower-than-expected results. Therefore, more material and human resources need to be invested in these efforts so as to attract more people to participate in the transmission undertaking of the element. In this way, the mode of transmission would be improved.

B.4. Community participation

Community participation

(1) Bearers take charge of the transmission and promotion of core techniques. Bearers established 7 training and practice centers to carry out safeguarding activities through the practice of building, maintaining and renovating wooden arch bridges. For example, Zeng Jiakuai, a representative bearer at provincial level, trains and teaches apprentices through his studio of traditional craftsmanship for building wooden arch bridges in Taishun County. At present, the studio has cultivated 6 apprentices who have a good command of the craftsmanship.
(2) Since 2010, 33 practice activities of building wooden arch bridges have been carried out in the area where the element is distributed (7 in Shouning County, 3 in Pingnan County, 18 in Taishun County and 5 in Qingyuan County), with 14 bearers (woodworking masters) directing the practice and 49 practitioners and 33 villages participating in these activities. Due to the custom of raising funds from communities, the villages preparing to build or rebuild bridges would establish a council composed of bearers and villagers to raise funds, manage the building process and organize commencement and completion ceremonies. For example, villagers in Guihu Community of Taishun County also spontaneously established an association of covered bridge culture safeguarding, through which 2.3 million RMB were raised. They also carried out practice of transmission through building a wooden arch bridge with 41 meters span. Building and renovation activities in the past six years have greatly enhanced community members’ understanding and knowledge about the craftsmanship as well as their pride and cultural identity.
(3) As the competent bodies responsible for the safeguarding of the element, cultural centers in Pingnan and Shouning as well as centers for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in Qingyuan and Taishun are in charge of the nomination, collection and management of safeguarding funds, implementation of feasibility research and organization of education, promotion, distribution, demonstration, exchange and digital safeguarding of the element.
After six years of safeguarding practice, the viability of the element has been greatly improved. Local authorities have promised to keep encouraging and supporting bearers to train and teach apprentices and carry out transmission and practice activities through building or renovating bridges, which would enlarge the number of bearers in proper age structure. Related communities, groups and individuals have promised to explore and establish a more effective mode of transmission and achieve the sustainable development of the element in cultural environment of communities.

B.5. Institutional context

Please report on the institutional context for the local management and safeguarding of the element inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List, including:

the competent body(ies) involved in its management and/or safeguarding;
the organization(s) of the community or group concerned with the element and its safeguarding.

Institutional context

a. the competent bodies involved in its management and/or safeguarding:
Bureau of Culture, Sports, Press and Publication in Pingnan County of Fujian Province
Bureau of Culture, Sports, Press and Publication in Shouning County of Fujian Province
Bureau of Culture, Radio, Film, Television, Press and Publication (Sports Bureau) in Qingyuan County of Zhejiang Province
Bureau of Culture, Radio, Film, Television, Press and Publication in Taishun County of Zhejiang Province

b. the organizations of the community or group related to the element and its safeguarding:
Huang Family’s Training and Practice Center of Traditional Craftsmanship for Building Wooden Arch Bridge in Changqiao Town, Pingnan County, Fujian Province
Association of Traditional Craftsmanship for Building Wooden Arch Bridge in Shouning County, Fujian Province
Steering Group for the Construction of Covered Bridge in Qingyuan County of Zhejiang Province
Civil Council of Bridge Building in Qingyuan County of Zhejiang Province
Dong Zhiji’s Traditional Craftsmanship Studio for Building Wooden Arch Bridges in Taishun County of Zhejiang Province
Zeng Jiakuai’s Traditional Craftsmanship Studio for Building Wooden Arch Bridges in Taishun County of Zhejiang Province
Association for the Safeguarding of Covered Bridge Culture in Taishun County of Zhejiang Province
Association for the Safeguarding of Covered Bridge Culture in Guihu Village, Taishun County, Zhejiang Province
Society of Covered Bridge Culture in Wenzhou City of Zhejiang Province
Cultural Center in Pingnan County of Fujian Province
Cultural Center in Shouning County of Fujian Province
Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Qingyuan County of Zhejiang Province
Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Taishun County of Zhejiang Province

B.6. Participation of communities in preparing this report

Participation of communities in preparing this report

(1) The government organized the preparation of this report with the participation of experts. The government established a working group for the report on the status of the element composed of community representatives, bearer representatives, experts, scholars and delegates from centers of intangible cultural heritage, cultural centers and relevant responsible authorities. The working group allocated the appropriate funds for organizing the experts in carrying out research and data collecting. In the symposium held in Fuxia Village of Yayang Town in Taishun County in November 2013, experts in the field concerned discussed the content of the report. To assist the preparation of the report, Society of Covered Bridge Culture in Wenzhou City compiled the Chronicle of Covered Bridge Safeguarding in Taishun over the Past 30 Years.
(2) Bearers provided first-hand data for the report. Based on the bottom-up mechanism, the report was prepared with comprehensive involvement of bearers, therefore reflecting bearers’ opinions and suggestions to the full. For example, 7 bearers including the bearer at the national level Huang Chuncai and the bearer at provincial level Huang Minping participated in the writing and research of the report. In November 2015, the bear at the national level Dong Zhiji provided the report with text, photo and video data related to the transmission practice and safeguarding carried out by his training and practice center in Lingbei Village of Taishun County, Zhejiang Province.
(3) Communities participated actively. Community members, especially those from villages and families engaged in the transmission of the craftsmanship, actively cooperated in the preparation of the report. In December 2015, community members in Jushui Town of Qingyuan County closely cooperated with the bearer Hu Miao and other investigators by providing clues and information. The precious digital, photo and video data provided by community members laid a good foundation for the completeness and comprehensiveness of the report.

C. Signature on behalf of the state party

The report should conclude with the original signature of the official empowered to sign it on behalf of the State, together with his or her name, title and the date of submission.

Name

XIE Jinying

Title

Director General, Bureau for External Cultural Relations, Ministry of Culture, People's Republic of China

Date

27-05-2016

Signature