The Committee
- Takes note that Viet Nam has nominated Craft of making Đông Hồ Folk woodblock printings (No. 01737) for inscription on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding:
Đông Hồ Folk woodblock printing is the practice of creating colourful prints using carved wooden blocks, observed in a village forming part of Bắc Ninh province. The themes of these prints often include worship, history, daily life and landscapes. The entire process is carried out by hand, from drawing the design with ink on special paper, to carving the image onto woodblocks, preparing natural colour pigments, and printing the image on a special paper coated with scallop powder. Colours are applied in a specific order, with black outlines added in the final step to complete the picture.
- Considers that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criteria for inscription on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding:
U.1: Đông Hồ Folk woodblock printings are closely linked to important festivals such as the Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival, as well as to rituals honouring ancestors and deities. Today, a small number of families continue this craft, passing down the related knowledge and skills within their households and to apprentices through hands-on training and close mentorship. Some parts of the process, such as designing images and carving blocks, require dedicated training and are mastered over many years. The woodblocks used for printing are treasured family heirlooms that are handed down through generations.
U.2: The number of skilled practitioners has sharply declined (according to the nomination file, only several households are upholding the element) due to a lack of interest among younger generations, difficulties sustaining the livelihoods of artisans, and a decrease in the use of woodblock prints during traditional holidays. The number of skilled and committed individuals pursuing Đông Hồ printing as a livelihood has become too small to sustain transmission and production of the element, requiring urgent safeguarding.
U.3: The safeguarding plan outlines seven objectives, including vocational training courses, inventorying, product design innovation, market diversification, improved access to raw materials and the provision of protective equipment. The proposed activities are feasible, coherent with the objectives, and sustainable. They also place communities at the centre.
U.4: The file demonstrates strong involvement of the community, including craft families, throughout the nomination process, such as through inventorying activities and public events.
U.5: The element was added in 2012 to the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is managed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The element was also added in 2015 to the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage which is managed by the Viet Nam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies. Both inventories are regularly updated and the inventorying process involves communities.
- Decides to inscribe Craft of making Đông Hồ Folk woodblock printings on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding;
- Notes that the materials used to produce Đông Hồ prints are natural and environmentally friendly, and encourages the submitting State Party to highlight this positive aspect when undertaking safeguarding efforts;
- Encourages the submitting State Party to consider integrating the element in the education system, both formal and non-formal, so as to encourage young generations to learn about the importance of its safeguarding.