El Yimakan, arte narrativo de los hezhen

    

Inscrito en 2011 (6.COM) en la Lista del Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial que requiere medidas urgentes de salvaguardia

© 2010 by Center for Safeguarding ICH of Heilongjiang Province, China

El arte narrativo Yimakan es un elemento esencial de la cosmogonía y la memoria histórica de la minoría étnica hezhen, que vive en el nordeste de China. Las narraciones del Yimakan, recitadas en verso y prosa en la lengua de esta etnia, versan sobre un gran número de episodios, independientes entre sí, en los que se describen alianzas y batallas tribales, incluidas las victorias de los héroes hezhen contra monstruos e invasores. Este patrimonio oral pone de relieve la defensa de la identidad e integridad territorial de esta etnia y permite también conservar conocimientos tradicionales sobre los rituales chamánicos, la pesca y la caza. Los narradores improvisan historias sin acompañamiento de instrumentos musicales y alternan los pasajes hablados con los cantados, utilizando melodías diferentes para representar los distintos personajes y temas. En general, el arte narrativo se transmite de maestros a aprendices dentro de los clanes y grupos familiares, pero hoy en día se acepta cada vez más la iniciación a este arte de personas que no forman parte de ellos. Como los hezhen carecen de un sistema de escritura, el Yimakan desempeña un papel fundamental en la conservación su lengua materna, religión, creencias, folclore y costumbres. Sin embargo, la modernización acelerada de la sociedad y la estandarización de la educación hacen que la lengua de los hezhen corra peligro. Hoy en día, sólo la hablan las personas más ancianas de esta etnia. Esta pérdida ha llegado a representar un obstáculo importante para la promoción y perdurabilidad de la tradición del Yimakan. Solamente cinco narradores experimentados son actualmente capaces de interpretar los episodios, y esta situación se ve agravada por la muerte de algunos narradores veteranos y por la emigración a la ciudad de las generaciones más jóvenes en busca de trabajo.

Informe periódico

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

Hezhen Yimakan storytelling

Inscribed in

2011

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

01-01-2016 - 30-06-2019

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

Meshrep (2010)

Qiang New Year festival (2009)

Traditional design and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges (2009)

Traditional Li textile techniques: spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidering (2009)

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 Hezhen people have long inhabited the reaches of three rivers including Amur River, Sungari River, and Ussuri River in northeast China. With a population of 5354, accounting for merely 0.0004% of the total population of China (according to the Sixth National Population Census in 2010), it is one of the smallest ethnic minorities in China. Yimakan storytelling is a time-honored oral art in the form of singing and speaking that has been transmitted from generation to generation by the Hezhen people. It is narrated by performers in the Hezhen language in both a rhythmic and prosaic manner. Its themes cover heroic deeds, shamanic beliefs, fishing and hunting life, folk customs and romance, thus showing Hezhen collective memory, education, and entertainment in seasonal labor and festivals. In May 2006, Yimakan storytelling was inscribed on the list of representative elements of national intangible cultural heritage. In November 2011, it was inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List. In May 2016, President Xi Jinping came to Tongjiang City, Heilongjiang Province. He visited the Hezhen folklore exhibition and watched the teaching of Yimakan storytelling. He praised the Hezhen people for their long history and rich culture, especially their superb fishing and hunting skills, exquisite pattern art, and the great charm of Yimakan storytelling.
Since the first periodic report in 2016, the Hezhen people have carried forward their culture with more enthusiasm, and more people have spontaneously participated in the safeguarding and transmission of Yimakan storytelling, and conducted a series of activities accordingly. This promotes the protection of the Hezhen dialect and the revitalization of their cultural traditions, as well as further strengthening the cultural identity and historical continuity of relevant communities, groups, and individuals. Chinese governments at all levels and local cultural authorities continue to support community construction, policy making, capital investment, and other relevant aspects, which makes traditional practices maintained, and more non-governmental organizations and civil society are actively involved. During this reporting period, the safeguarding of Yimakan storytelling was more comprehensively implemented as follows:
Firstly, the practice of Yimakan storytelling in transmission and practice centers and the form of independent learning have been paralleled, and the size of the inheritance group and its social popularity have been multiplied. Secondly, the team of bearers continues to grow, and the number of female practitioners has increased significantly, forming a group of bearers of old, middle-aged, and young people. Thirdly, after taking local actions within communities, one sagdi jarimku (Mergen stories and long legends) and many uskuli jarimku (short stories) have been revitalized, and live practice has been strengthened in the local cultural context. Fourthly, teaching the Hezhen dialect in transmission and practice centers and WeChat groups continues to improve, and great achievements have been made in preserving the Hezhen language. Fifthly, importance has been attached to research of the art of Yimakan storytelling, compilation of teaching materials, establishment of special topics, and publication of safeguarding outcomes. Sixthly, the transmission and practice centers, WeChat, and family inheritance are used as practice channels, and the mechanisms of community and intergenerational transmission are becoming mature. Seventhly, the right to transmit and recreate Yimakan storytelling is respected, its formats are diverse, flexible and personalized, and its content has involved in the daily life and deeply integrated with folklore practices. Eighthly, the cognitive, educational, and entertaining functions of folk storytelling have been improved. The new presentation forms, such as performances by Yimakan storytelling art troupes and Yimakan plays, have brought the element from the classroom to the stage, from the community to the whole country. It has promoted the dynamic transmission of Yimakan storytelling, and reduced various risks that have once threatened the element.
The above safeguarding practices have given a positive response to the specific suggestions from the Committee in 2017 (Decision 12.COM 8.c.8):
(1) continue to identify several bearers and provide financial assistance, thus stimulating the community’s cultural self-confidence and consciousness to safeguard the ICH as a whole;
(2) continue to support the transmission of Yimakan storytelling and protect the Hezhen dialect, and expand the network of transmission centers in Hezhen communities;
(3) continue to consolidate the digital archiving of the element, laying foundation for the establishment of a thematic database;
(4) While Yimakan storytelling is incorporated into formal education, traditional modes of transmission have been improved. Currently, the social awareness of Yimakan storytelling has achieved regional consensus and received wide attention and support from the whole society. Hezhen Yimakan storytelling has become an important symbol of ICH in Heilongjiang Province. In 2019, the safeguarding of Yimakan storytelling was selected by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China as a case of good safeguarding practice. However, the impetus for the maintenance and development of oral arts is still insufficient, especially the extreme endangerment of the Hezhen language has not yet been fundamentally reversed, and then the oral transmission and communication of the element are plagued with difficulties, and its viabilities is still threatened and at risk.

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.)

Ms

Family name

WU

Given name

Xuan

Institution/position

Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Heilongjiang Province, China / Head of Research Division

Address

FL-20 Jinrong Dasha, No. 10 Hongjunjie, Nangang District, Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province 150001, China

Telephone number

0086-15145096963

E-mail address

hljsfybhzx@126.com

Other relevant information

www.hljfwz.cn (website for Heilongjiang Intangible Cultural Heritage)
www.hezhezu.com (website for the Hezhen people in China)

B

Ms

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

Yimakan storytelling always advocates heroes, promotes justice, bravery and kindness, pursues freedom and peace, which reflects the harmony between man and nature. It has profoundly influenced the values and spirit of the Hezhen people in the long collective practice of its communities. With the effective safeguarding, the element is respected and loved by the people, and more and more young Hezhen people are consciously participating in the transmission and practice. Based on Yimakan stories, Hezhen people have enriched their cultural life in communities by increasing diverse artistic creation, thus the number of new works has increased sharply and the audience is gradually expanding. The cultural identity, ethnic self-esteem and self-confidence of the Hezhen people have been drastically improved, and community cohesion has developed in pace with social inclusion. Yimakan storytelling has been strengthened in such festivals as Urgun Festival, Deer Festival, Horkan Cultural Festival, and life rituals including weddings and birthdays. Its oral practice also exerts multiple social and cultural functions of maintaining collective memory, teaching traditional virtues and entertaining. At the same time, through the Yimakan storytelling art troupes, Yimakan eco plays and dance dramas, Hezhen folklore garden tours, and other new ways, Yimakan storytelling is merged into local cultural exchanges and the exhibitions and performances of ICH. Thus, it acts as a dynamic window to understand Hezhen communities and enhances cultural dialogue and mutual respect among different ethnic groups, communities, and regions. Remarkably, the transmission and practice of the element has started an upsurge of learning the Hezhen dialect, and Hezhen language learning has become the curriculum in many schools. It has been popular for community members, especially young people, to learn their own language consciously. For the Hezhen language, which was identified as “seriously endangered” by UNESCO, the people are now more active and have shouldered the responsibility spontaneously to organize dialect learning and Yimakan storytelling exchanges, thus gradually bringing this endangered language, which bears historical memory and cultural roots, back to daily life.
Yimakanqi mafa,Yimakan storytelling folk artists, are now identified as the representative bearers of ICH by cultural authorities at all levels upon recommendation of communities, and their identities have changed from leaders, shamans, and elders to the custodians and spokespersons of their cultural heritage. They shoulder the special responsibility of transmitting Yimakan sagdi jarimku and uskuli jarimku, story motifs, traditional titles, intonation and tune, and narrative art. They transmitted Yimakan storytelling off work and displayed in festivals and rituals, with the increase of social activities and the constant improvement of cultural status. Under their leadership and inspiration, more and more Hezhen people in local communities have become enthusiastic practitioners of Yimakan storytelling, thereby creating a strong atmosphere of transmission and practice. Some practitioners have got the chance to perform after learing the element. Those who cannot participate in the on-the-spot training at the transmission and practice center actively asked the organization responsible for safeguarding the element to share audio and video materials on the Internet, thus a group of self-learning and self-training practitioners grew up through online exchange. You Di, a female trainee, expressed that “Yimakan storytelling is an ethnic treasure that has recorded numerous stories of our ancestors. I hope we can better transmit it, let more people understand it, and live up to the attention given to the Hezhen people from all ethnic groups in China!”
There is a total of 84 practitioners. They respectively teach in six Yimakan transmission and practice centers in Heilongjiang Province every week. Meanwhile, four practioners have organized teaching activities in four WeChat groups which were spontaneously established by Hezhen people on Internet platforms, including “Hezhen People”, “Bacha Hezhen Language Learning”, “Hezhen Yimakan Language”, and “Pioneer of International Phonetic Alphabet”. These representative bearers are playing the role of transmitting, helping, and leading with full enthusiasm, making due contributions to the cultivation of intergenerational talents of Yimakan, the expansion of the range of practioners and the formation of a community transmission network, to ensure the viability of the element.

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

Through years of safeguarding, Yimakan storytelling has been recognized by Hezhen people and the public, and has increased prosperity of Hezhen folk culture. Currently, the practitioners of Yimakan storytelling are taking an active part in various transmission, practice and festival activities, and Yimakan storytelling is presented in many cultural and arts activities, including traditional festivals, international cultural and artistic exchanges. In particular, its tie with daily life has been improved. Local people usually tell corresponding Yimakan stories at weddings, funerals, rituals, ceremonies and family gatherings. Therefore, Yimakan storytelling and Hezhen language-speaking have become a fashion of Hezhen people. The numerous practitioners learn from each other in a united and harmonious atmosphere. Compared with the period of inscription in 2011 and the first periodic report in 2016, the bearers have been increased from 5 to 14 and to 84, including 63 females and 21 males. Among them, 14 bearers are under 20 years old (7 females and 7 males), 6 bearers are 20-30 years old (4 females and 2 males), 36 bearers are 30-50 years old (30 females and 6 males), 29 bearers are over 50 years old (23 females and 6 males). At the same time, the audiences of Yimakan storytelling have spread from original concentrated practice areas to all Hezhen communities, and even to the total Hezhen population across the country.
Although the number of activities in the transmission and practice centers has decreased since the first periodic report, the number of transmitting activities on WeChat has increased year by year. Nearly 300 hours class have been taught in six transmission and practice centers over the past four years, and more than 600 hours class have been taught on WeChat. The number of trainees who learn Yimakan storytelling has grown from nearly 200 to more than 400. Their average age is about 40, and most of them can speak the Hezhen dialect for daily use.
After the inscription of Yimakan storytelling, its viability has been greatly improved, but the threats to its continued transmission and practice still exist without radical changes. In summary, there are five factors: First, due to the process of global economic integration and the impact of foreign culture, the Hezhen people’s living environment for fishing and hunting has undergone drastic changes, and the cultural space that Yimakan storytelling relies on is diminishing. Second, the critically endangered trend of the Hezhen dialect has become a major obstacle for its continued transmission. As the elders passed away in recent years, there are only a dozen people who can proficiently use the Hezhen language. Only 30% of the language has been revived through the transmission and practice of Yimakan storytelling, the teaching and revival recording of the language. Third, few young people are willing to devote to the learning and practice of Yimakan storytelling, and the currently expanding practitioners are also at risk of reduction at any time. Fourth, some trainees quit due to the lack of pragmatic communication environment and the difficulty to learn Yimakan storytelling and Hezhen languages. Fifth, there is an over-commercialization tendency to improperly change traditional Yimakan storytelling for stage performance. Such decontextualization has reduced some storytelling activities to simplistic performances, and it cannot sustain the livelihood.

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

(1) Rrepresentative bearers has been supported and encouraged to take apprentices. The representative bearers are subsidized to solve their worries and enhance their motivation to take apprentices. They actively take part in transmission and safeguarding activities in communities. So far, there are 16 bearers to teach in transmission and practice centers, with more than 100 regular trainees, and more than 80 excellent successors of the element has been cultivated.
(2) Importance has been attached to Hezhen language teaching, and efforts have been made to rescue the dialect. The Hezhen language is taught at Yimakan storytelling transmission and practice centers and through Hezhen language WeChat groups. Hezhen language courses have been offered in schools in main settlements. Hezhen language learning is also available on the transmission network of minority languages, and five Hezhen language tutorials or reference books have been published. At present, the number of people who master more than 20% of the Hezhen language has increased by more than 100; thus, the Hezhen language has effectively been revived from its endangered condition.
(3) Transmission and practice centers have been improved and the transmission mechanism has been enhanced. Besides the five Yimakan storytelling transmission and practice centers established in the communities, the Fuyuan Transmission and Practice Center has been newly established and equipped with supporting facilities. The Center for the Safeguarding of ICH compiled two sagdi jarimku teaching materials in four years, and organized bearers to carry out transmission and practice activities. A competition or assessment is held every six months or once a year. In combination with family inheritance and social transmission of spontaneous WeChat groups, the community transmission and intergenerational inheritance mechanism has been improved to ensure its continuity.
(4) Field research was organized to enrich the archives. The cultural authorities, safeguarding and research insititutions at all levels continued to organize experts, scholars and relevant professionals to conduct field research in the communities, in order to make the status of the element and its practitioners recorded, collated and researched, and to establish a big data platform for Hezhen cultural heritage.
(5) A platform for exhibition and performance was built to increase the frequency of practice. In the Hezhen Cultural Ecological Reserve, activities such as transmission, performance, promotion and exchanges were regularly held. The Hezhen Cultural Center and the Hezhen Folklore Garden were established, where the Yimakan storytelling exhibition area were set up. Five areas were collectively organized to launch the publicity and exhibition events of Yimakan season. Yimakan storytelling was recommended to present at the National Cultural and Natural Heritage Day and the National Quyi Week, and it was widely promoted through the news media, festivals, and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries.
(6) A series of research results was published, and a host of literary and artistic works was created. More than 10 research results such as Yimakan Storytelling: China’s Masterpiece were published. In 2017, Yimakan eco-drama Lahasus was performed in Beijing, which has introduced Hezhen culture to Beijing. Based on Yimakan storytelling, many literary and artistic works were created to reflect the life of Hezhen people, including the music works Being Amazed with Hezhen Landscapes, and the song and dance drama Shenqir Flowers Are Blooming.

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

(1) Since 2016, the national finance department has successively subsidized 160,000 RMB to the representative bearers of Yimakan storytelling to guarantee their basic life. In order to consolidate the intergenerational transmission, 60,000 RMB was invested to establish four transmission and practice groups of different ages, namely the elderly, middle-aged, young and adolescent group. Incentive measures were taken to reward outstanding trainees to stimulate their enthusiasm for learning, and desktop computers, laptops, cameras and recording pens were all equipped to provide a material guarantee for transmission and practice. A subsidy system was implemented to make up for trainees’ missed work, which tended to lead trainees to deviate from their learning purpose of publicizing ethnic culture, and was changed to a quarterly assessment system in 2018. Bonuses ranging from 100 to 500 were given to those who participated in the transmission and practice for a long time to encourage them to learn Yimakan storytelling.
(2) Since 2016, the safeguarding of the Hezhen dialect has been strengthened to guide the Hezhen people to learn and appreciate Yimakan storytelling. The main activities include: the implementation of bilingual teaching both in Chinese and Hezhen languages in Jiejinkou and Bacha’s primary and secondary schools, which has achieved remarkable effects; the Center for Safeguarding of ICH of Heilongjiang Province, Tongjiang Hezhen Research Society and Jiamusi Vocational Education Group published books such as Dictionary of Commonly Used Words in Hezhen Language, School textbook Hezhen Language, Dictionary of Grammar Function in Hezhen Language and 700 Sentences of Hezhen Language. The Hezhen language and Yimakan storytelling were displayed, spread and promoted through stage plays in the Hezhen language, language learning and competitions, and Internet platforms such as QQ and WeChat. At present, the percentage of the Hezhen ethnic group that can speak the Hezhen language has seen an increase from about 0.5% to nearly 2% as compared to more than 10 years ago.
(3) Since 2016, to safeguard Yimakan storytelling in an all-round way, the application for the national cultural ecology reserve of the Hezhen has been actively promoted. A total of 964,500 RMB has been invested to hold regular events to transmit, publicize and display Hezhen culture which is represented by Yimakan storytelling. Through the Yimakan Publicity Season and a variety of activities, including Yimakan Classroom, Yimakan Storytelling Entering the Campus, the Military Camps, the Parks, and the Scenic Spots, Yimakan Publicity and Performances on the National Cultural and Natural Heritage Day and other activities, it has expanded the audience of Yimakan storytelling transmission and showcased the achievements of Yimakan safeguarding. A Yimakan Storytelling Exhibition and Experience Area was set up in the Hezhen Folk Culture Experience Hall to allow visitors to experience the storytelling art, and to widely publicize the traditional Yimakan and Hezhen culture.
(4) From 2017 to 2018, two Hezhen literary and artistic works were launched to transmit the art of Yimakan storytelling. Jiamusi Performing Arts Co., Ltd. launched China’s first original Hezhen dance drama Ussuri Song, in which Yimakan storytelling was skillfully integrated. The drama toured 32 times across China and improved the visibility of Yimakan storytelling nationwide. Based on a traditional Yimakan story, the eco-drama Lahasus was performed in Tongjiang after touring several areas. It played a great role in transmitting and spreading Yimakan storytelling and promoting Hezhen fishing and hunting culture and its folk culture.
(5) Since 2016, the State has allocated 270,000 RMB to carry out comprehensive field research and digital archiving on Yimakan storytelling through local cultural authorities. The archiving and research were centered on the elderly Yimakan storytellers and eight representative bearers, and video documentaries were recorded.
(6) Starting from 2016, the State has invested 160,000 RMB to support the Heilongjiang Intangible Heritage Society, the Hezhen Research Society and individual experts to successively publish a series of Yimakan storytelling recordings and research results including Tongjiang in China - Yimakan Storytelling of the Hezhen Ethnicity.
(7) From 2016 to 2019, relying on community transmission, the safeguarding mechanism was improved in a joint effort to carry out the safeguarding and transmission of the Hezhen Yimakan storytelling. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, the Heilongjiang Provincial Culture and Tourism Department and relevant cultural authorities in Tongjiang City, Raohe County of Shuangyashan City, and the suburbs of Jiamusi City, as the primary governing bodies, and the Centers for the Safeguarding of ICH at all levels, as the specific enforcement bodies, have deployed nearly 80 people to assist relevant communities and groups in updating and implementing various safeguarding measures. Meanwhile, the Branch of Studies on the Hezhen under the Society of Ethno-national Studies in Heilongjiang Province, the Yimakan Storytelling Art Troupes, Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, Heilongjiang University, Dalian Minzu University and other non-governmental organizations, academic groups, scientific research and teaching units of universities have also played roles in intellectual support and professional consultation.
At present, more than ten non-governmental academic organizations directly or indirectly participate in the transmission and safeguarding of Yimakan storytelling in Heilongjiang Province, and more than 200 people engage in the research, training and practice, and other supportive work relevant to the transmission of the element. Villagers’ organizations, bearer groups and young generations in related communities are key grassroots forces, and more than 100 individuals have engaged in the academic research of Yimakan storytelling. Five villagers’ committees from Hezhen communities, more than 400 villagers and 84 trained practitioners from the elderly, middle-aged, young, and adolescent groups are actively engaged in safeguarding, transmission and practice activities focusing on consolidating community transmission. It has greatly improved the practice frequency of the element, thus enhancing its viability.

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

(1) Hezhen people are spontaneously organizing community-based transmission activities. In centralized transmission areas of the element, Hezhen communities are actively participating in the formulation of safeguarding plans and the implementation of safeguarding measures organized by cultural authorities. Representative bearers are actively performing their responsibilities and obligations for transmission, thereby playing a key role in safeguarding the element. Hezhen people in Tongjiang are actively seeking government support and establishing ethnic cultural and creative funds to support the safeguarding activities of Yimakan storytelling. Yimakan storytelling has become necessary in mass cultural activities such as wedding, sacrifice ceremonies and family gatherings, thus occupying a fundamental cultural space. Community members actively participate in such activities, and the number of females is significantly higher than that of males, and they are more active than ever.
(2) NGOs are promoting the research and publicity of Yimakan storytelling. The Hezhen Research Society organizes relevant experts to compile and publish books and language tutorials on Yimakan storytelling, publish academic papers, and provide rich cultural and historical materials for the transmission of Yimakan storytelling. Meanwhile, the Society collaborates with the township cultural centers to hold activities that integrate the safeguarding of Yimakan storytelling into the community action to increase public awareness of ICH and its importance. The Hezhen Ethnic Language Association of Tongjiang City compiled relevant language teaching materials for Yimakan storytelling. Ethnic language classes were opened in the central schools in Jiejinkou and Bacha Hezhen Ethnic Township. Yimakan Storytelling Art Troupes have been established successively in five areas to promote the protection of Hezhen culture by means of narration and singing.
(3) Relevant communities and groups have received all-round support from governments and cultural authorities at all levels in each stage of implementing safeguarding plans. Relying on unified deployment of the Heilongjiang Provincial Culture and Tourism Department, the safeguarding organization, Center for the Safeguarding of ICH of Heilongjiang Province, is entrusted to assist relevant communities in scientifically formulating safeguarding plans, organizing research, recording, investigation and assessment, so that the safeguarding of Yimakan storytelling can be implemented in a scientific, regulated and systematized manner. Meanwhile, this professional center has collaborated with more than 20 scientific research institutions, industry associations, schools and other units to promote the safeguarding of Yimakan storytelling. It has established an expert advisory group to carry out transmission and promotion activities in cooperation with communities. For example, since 2016, more than 120 safeguarding and transmission activities have been held across the province. In the centralized practice area of the element, local governments have included the safeguarding in their priority project, which is under the direct jurisdiction of the county and district leaders in charge. In the past four years, more than 400 people have been deployed by various stakeholders to assist relevant communities, groups, bearers and practitioners to effectively participate in the implementation of safeguarding measures.

B.3.d.

Timetable

Indicate in a timetable when each activity was implemented.

Timetable

(1) 2016-2019: safeguarding and training of Yimakan storytelling bearers
Two types of teaching activities both in the Yimakan storytelling transmission and practice centers and in WeChat groups are carried out on a regular basis each year, the tracking and research of teaching is conducted regularly in a unified way to promote the oriented transmission of the sagdi jarimku of Site Mergen, and outstanding performers will be rewarded.
In 2017, more Yimalan storytelling transmission and practice activities were carried out in campuses, towns and communities, ensuring that a centralized transmission and practice activity be held once a week.
In 2018, the Center for the Safeguarding of ICH of Heilongjiang Province conducted a comprehensive research on the safeguarding status of the Hezhen Yimakan storytelling. The provincial ICH division and relevant Yimakan experts has formulated an evaluation report on the safeguarding status with more than 10,000 words.
In 2019, a training class of Yimakan storytelling was opened in Aoqihezhe Primary School, and bearers were organized to visit the Taoli Language and Art Training Center in Raohe County to teach the children to sing Shalun Mergen. They prepared music for the aria section of the newly compiled teaching materials about the sagdi jarimku. In the same year, the text and music score editing as well as audio recording were carried out for learning resources.
(2) 2016-2019: Documentaries of Yimakan storytelling were shot, and the oral history of representative bearers was recorded during the field research,.
In 2016, Yimakan Forever (Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3), a documentary of Yimakan storytelling, was shot;
In 2017, Video of the Oral History by Representative Bearers of Yimakan Storytelling was shot;
In 2018, documentaries including an exclusive interview with Ge Yuxia, a provincial representative bearer of the Hezhen Yimakan storytelling, were shot;
(3) 2016-2019: Exhibitions and performances of Yimakan storytelling were held.
In 2016, relevant personnel went to Jiamusi to perform for local people, officers and soldiers; participated in performances such as the Sino-Russian Border Cultural Season; organized bearers to visit Russia and participate in Sino-Russian cultural exchanges; Yimakan shadow play Siwen Mergen toured 7 cities in Jilin, Liaoning, and Hebei provinces, with a total of 21 shows.
In 2017, Hezhen Yimakan storytelling was promoted in the shooting activities of the Beautiful China Cities TV series sponsored by CCTV. The Yimakan performance troupe went to Yongqing Community in Tongjiang and participated in the festival of a cultural village themed “Jiejin, the Most Beautiful among Hezhen Group”, the artistic performance on the 10th Wurigong Meeting of Hezhen Ethnicity, and other events;
In 2018, the Center for the Safeguarding of ICH of Heilongjiang Province organized the Hezhen Yimakan Performance Season. The communities in five centralized transmission areas showcased Yimakan storytelling; successively participated in the publicity activities such as Local Arts of Raohe County in Shenzhen, the Global Promotion Conference for Heilongjiang Sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. The Yimakan Art Troupe participated in the Fujin International Rural Carnival, Yimakan Storytelling Entering Yongqing Community of Tongjiang, and taught students and villagers Yimakan storytelling.
In 2019, the Yimakan Art Troupe successively participated in the National Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, the National Quyi Week for ICH, the Tongjiang Promotion Season of Eight Major Hezhen Cultures, ICH of Jiejinkou Hezhen Ethnic Township Cultural Village, Heilongjiang Performance Art Exhibition and Exchange of ICH, Shuangyashan Exhibition and Performance of ICH, and other publicity and exhibition activities.
(4) 2016-2019: publication of a series of research achievements on Yimakan storytelling
In 2016, History of Studies on Hezhen Yimakan Storytelling and Hezhen Language were published;
In 2017, Oral History of Yimakan Storytelling by Representative Bearers and Concise Hezhen Dictionary were published;
In 2018, the Yimakan Storytelling Art Seminar and Performance was held in four eastern regions of Heilongjiang Province;
In 2019, the text and music score collation of a new edition of Yimakan storytelling Katan Manga Mergen and Eagle Girl as well as Chuqi Mergen and Birchbark Boat was completed;
(5) 2017-2019: rehearsal art practice of Hezhen Yimakan storytelling Lahasus
In September 2017, the Yimakan eco-drama Lahasus, based on a traditional classic Yimakan story, was premiered. It was performed in Beijing in December, and performed in 2017 the Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning and Inner Mongolia Joint Show and won the Outstanding Drama Award.

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

- Special funds provided by central government
(1) Safeguarding and training of Yimakan storytelling bearers: a total of 220,000 RMB, of which:
From 2016 to 2019, the national-level Yimakan storytelling bearers’ allowance for transmission, totaling 160,000 RMB
From 2016 to 2019, organization of trainings on bearers of the element in transmission and practice centers, totaling 60,000 RMB
(2) Shooting of Yimakan storytelling documentaries, field research, text records and video recording: totaling 270,000 RMB, of which:
In 2016, shooting, editing, and conversion of the promotional video of Yimakan Storytelling Entering the Campuses, totaling 50,000 RMB
In 2018, editing and producing a promotional video for Yimakan Publicity Season and the standard storytelling of bearers, totaling 76,000 RMB, including: 43,000 RMB used for shooting the promotional films in Jijiamusi, Tongjiang, the suburbs of Jiamusi, Raohe and Fuyuan during the Hezhen Yimakan Publicity Season; 33,000 RMB used for the standard language recording of You Wenlan, a provincial representative bearer
From 2016 to 2019, field research, text records and video recording: totaling 144,000 RMB
(3) Supporting related regions to hold promotional activities for Yimakan storytelling: totaling 1,327,500 RMB, of which:
From 2016 to 2019, purchasing the equipment and supplies required for transmission, practice and safeguarding activities, totaling 255,000 RMB
From 2016 to 2019, holding the teaching, exhibition, and promotion activities for Yimakan storytelling, including tours to communities, campuses, and town squares; annual exhibitions and performances on National Cultural and Natural Heritage Day; and shooting promotional videos, totaling 964,500 RMB
From 2016 to 2019, organizing academic seminars, forums, demonstration and discussions for the achievements, and field research, totaling 108,000 RMB
(4) Publication of a series of research achievements on Yimakan storytelling: 160,000 RMB, including:
In 2016, the compiling, publishing and printing of Dictionary of Commonly Used Words in Hezhen Language, totaling 70,000 RMB
From 2017 to 2019, the design, compiling and CD production of teaching materials for Yimakan sagdi jarimku of Shalun Mergen, and the printing of special publicity issues, totaling 90,000 RMB
(5) From 2017 to 2019, rehearsal art practice of Yimakan eco-drama Lahasus: 50,000 RMB
The above fees amounted to 2.0275 million RMB, and the source of funds was government investment.

- Community investment
(6) Production of comics of Yimakan stories for young readers: 727,000 RMB, including:
From 2017 to 2019, comics of Yimakan stories, totaling 475,000 RMB
In 2018, four fishskin paintings of Yimakan stories, totaling 83,000 RMB
In 2018, the exhibition of Yimakan fishskin paintings at Tongjiang Fishskin Culture and Art Museum, totaling 49,000 RMB
From 2018 to 2019, paintings of Yimakan stories, totaling 120,000 RMB
The above fees amounted to 727,000 RMB, which is funded by Jiamusi Mahua Hezhen Fishskin Culture Co., Ltd.
In the past four years, a total of 2.7545 million RMB,has been invested in the safeguarding activities of the element.

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

At present, the overall effectiveness of Yimakan safeguarding is basically the same as the expected goals stated in the nomination file, and the safeguarding achievements are beyond expectation. The funds invested in various activities have been used properly, and corresponding safeguarding effects have been achieved. The central and local finance departments have continuously allocated a large amount of special funds to provide necessary financial guarantee for the transmission, practice and promotion of Yimakan storytelling. A scientific, planned, and systematic transmission and safeguarding mechanism has been formed for safeguarding the element.
Six transmission and practice centers have been established, and basic transmission funds were provided by the central and local finance departments to ensure that representative bearers could regularly carry out social and intergenerational transmission in their communities and groups. In the past four years, there have been more than 4,000 person-times of transmission and practice activities. One Yimakan sagdi jarimku has been completely restored, and another sagdi jarimku and a number of uskuli jarimku have been effectively restored. The transmission groups and social popularity have expanded to almost the whole ethnic group. Hezhen language has been effectively preserved. In this way, Yimakan storytelling has gained a wider range of visibility. Years of transmission and practice activities for Yimakan storytelling have exerted a dramatic and profound social impact among Hezhen people. Nearly 90% of the trainees have grown from not owning language skills to mastering simple daily expressions, and then to telling a long episode of Site Mergen. As the disseminators of ethnic culture both in life and on the stage, these community members and their hard work and persistence in transmission and exploration are highly acclaimed by the society. They have played an immeasurable role in the acquisition of their dialect, the maintenance of cultural identity and the inheritance of ethnic culture.
A database of information archives reflecting the basic features of Yimakan storytelling has been preliminarily established. The provincial and local centers for the safeguarding of ICH have established special Yimakan storytelling archives; each transmission and practice center has set up an archiving system of text, image and photo materials for teaching, activities and field research, and classified recording and collation of texts, pictures, videos and music scores are carried out in each transmission and practice class based on specific contents. These efforts have established a sound environment for information sharing in the safeguarding of the element.
The exhibition and performance activities have been promoted to boost communication and exchange. Firstly, to participate in large-scale activities and performances inside and outside the province. Apart from the local major festivals as the carriers of publicity activities, they also take active part in various artistic performances on TV and radio, and the exhibitions and performances in various regions. It has expanded the social influence of Yimakan storytelling. Secondly, to carry out activities such as Yimakan Storytelling Entering the Campuses, the Communities, the Squares, and the Military Camps. Exhibitions and performances of Yimakan storytelling are held at irregular intervals in Hezhen-intensive primary and secondary schools. In this way Yimakan storytelling has been vigorously publicized and promoted. The Yimakan shadow play Siwen Mergen has been performed more than 50 times in communities, military camps, and campuses. In 2018, the Center for the Safeguarding of ICH of Heilongjiang Province deployed centralized publicity season activities in five regions. 24 performances were staged in three months with nearly 10,000 audiences.
Two sagdi jarimku textbooks were compiled and a series of research results were published. Firstly, two sagdi jarimku, namely Site Mergen and Shalun Mergen, were selected from the existing 47 Yimakan stories, and textbooks were compiled and revised to integrate Chinese, International Phonetic Alphabet and Chinese phonetic notation. An elderly Hezhen person who knows Hezhen language best was the final editor to protect the cultural genes and traditions as well as ethnic memory of the language to the greatest extent. In 2016, the sagdi jarimku of Site Mergen was revitalized in an all-round way, which was a milestone in the history of Yimakan storytelling safeguarding. In 2018, the tutorial textbook on Shalun Mergen, which had been compiled in two years, was distributed to each transmission and practice center. When trainees basically mastered the Hezhen phonetic spelling method, they would start a new round of transmission and practice by means of self-learning. Secondly, a series of research results were published. Nearly 20 monographs were published. The Dictionary of Commonly Used Words in Hezhen Language was distributed with the textbook Shalun Mergen. The publication of these works marked that the safeguarding of Yimakan storytelling had shifted from static to dynamic, with more abundant, comprehensive and systematic achievements.

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:

  1. a. What primary objective(s) will be addressed and what concrete results will be expected?
  2. 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.
  3. c. How will the State(s) Party(ies) concerned support the implementation of the updated safeguarding plan?

Updated safeguarding plan

(1) Continue to support representative bearers and encourage transmission and practice activities. Every year, each bearer is granted a fixed living subsidy and provided with the opportunity to participate in exhibitions and performances. Each bearer give public performance of Yimakan storytelling for five or more times per year. It will help to improve his/her social status and win more respect from the society.
(2) Preservation of the Hezhen dialect needs unremitting efforts and multiple measures. Yimakan storytelling transmission and practice centers conduct Hezhen language teaching as well. Hezhen language teachers teach at least four hours a week in the WeChat group. Hezhen language courses are opened in schools in major communities. Language tutorials or reference books are published to aid in learning. Language teachers in colleges and universities as well as bearers are hired to jointly research and summarize “pure pinyin characters and grammar” suitable for learning. In this way Hezhen language will be effectively preserved from its previously endangered status.
(3) Data archives to be completed and improved. The Provincial Center for the Safeguarding of ICH and the ICH center of the community jointly carry out field research and ethnographic interviews of Yimakan storytelling and other related elements, representative bearers, and elderly Hezhen people, as well as data archiving and study. The Provincial Center for the Safeguarding of ICH entrusts the National Library of China and renowned Yimakan experts to fully summarize the text materials related to Yimakan storytelling.
(4) To imorove Yimakan storytelling transmission and practice centers. Well-equipped teaching and publicity facilities are provided. Related personnel are organized to compile two sagdi jarimku teaching materials for the transmission and practice centers. Bearers would regularly teach Yimakan and Hezhen languages, and some trainees would be granted subsidies for missed work. Regular assessment and competition would be conducted for the transmission and practice task, and material and spiritual rewards given to outstanding trainees and teachers.
(5) To maximize publicity in Yimakan storytelling exhibition venues. Tongjiang Hezhen Cultural Center sets up the Yimakan storytelling exhibition area, Yimakan Storytelling Transmission and Practice Center and Hezhen Comprehensive Culture and Art Transmission and Practice Room. In combination with Dalian Minzu University’s big data platform for Hezhen cultural heritage, digital protection, three-dimensional light display and on-site experience are achieved for Yimakan storytelling.
(6) To strengthen integration of ICH and cultural tourism. A Hezhen Cultural Park, Hezhen Mural Town of Northeast China are established, and a performance theater is set up to provide a platform for the Yimakan Storytelling Art Troupe to perform on site during peak tourist seasons and to promote a sustainable livelihood.
(7) The establishment of Cultural Ecology Reserve of the Hezhen are advanced step by step as planned. An overall plan for the Jiejinkou Cultural Ecology Reserve Park is formulated, and provincial level Cultural Ecology Reserve of the Hezhen is set up in Heilongjiang Province. With the joint efforts of governments and cultural departments at all levels, the application for National Cultural Ecology Reserve of the Hezhen is to be finalized.
The implementation of each safeguarding plan is based on respecting the wishes of Hezhen people and their prior informed consent. It cannot be implemented without the participation of the Hezhen bearers of Yimakan storytelling. The Chinese government provides full support for the implementation of the safeguarding plan in terms of funds, policies, and intelligence. Relevant cultural authorities will perform their respective duties and responsibilities, and the organizations responsible for the safeguarding of the element will jointly put in human resources to complete specific objectives and tasks.

C.2.

Timetable for future actitivies

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

00302,00303,00304,00305,00321,00322

Timetable

In the next reporting period (2020-2023), the updated safeguarding plan will be fulfilled based on the following timetable:
(1) Continue to carry out transmission, practice, exhibition and promotion activities
With the coordinated deployment of the Center for the Safeguarding of ICH of Heilongjiang Province, the transmission and practice centers and the platforms, will continue to focus on the daily transmission and practice of the sagdi jarimku of Site Mergen and Shalun Mergen, and carry out publicity activities such as performances and exhibitions of Yimakan Storytelling Entering the Campuses and Scenic Spots during the annual National Cultural and Natural Heritage Day and important festivals.
In 2020, the sagdi jarimku of Site Mergen will be strengthened, and a new class of sagdi jarimku of Shalun Mergen will be opened. The publicity of Yimakan Storytelling Entering the Campuses and Communities will be focused in two months.
In 2021, the sagdi jarimku of Site Mergen will be consolidated, and Shalun Mergen will be transmitted and practiced. The Yimakan Storytelling Competition will be held. Experts will be invited for evaluation, and material rewards will be given to outstanding performers. Meanwhile, exhibitions and performances of Yimakan Storytelling Entering the Campuses, the Communities and Scenic Spots will be carried out all year round.
In 2022, teaching of the textbook on Shalun Mergen will be completed. Meanwhile, exhibitions and performances of Yimakan Storytelling Entering the Campuses, the Communities and the Urban Scenic Spots will continue.
In 2023, the sagdi jarimku of Site Mergen and Shalun Mergen will be consolidated. Meanwhile, exhibitions and performances of Yimakan storytelling will be carried out synchronously.
(2) Carry out academic research and publish the research results of Yimakan storytelling
In 2020, experts and scholars of Heilongjiang Province will be organized to hold seminars on Hezhen Yimakan storytelling, and identify research topics and directions.
In 2021, research and interviews will be carried out to collect and collate research materials.
In 2022, work will be conducted to publish the research results of Yimakan storytelling
In 2023, Katan Manga Mergen and the Eagle Girl and other research results of Yimakan storytelling will be published.
(3) Carry out data filing and video shooting of representative bearers
In 2020, data filing will be conducted on representative bearers at the national, provincial, and municipal levels in the region. The audio, video and text records will be collated. Literature, pictures, audio-visual and other materials will be organized to keep more scientific, systematic and comprehensive records.
In 2021, video shooting of national representative bearers will be conducted.
In 2022, the documentary Hezhen Groups Linked Heart by Heart, Yimakan Storytelling of Ancient and Modern Times, will be shot.
(4) Improve the Yimakan storytelling database and information sharing platform
In 2020, the editing and uploading of bearers’ text, audio and video materials will be carried out.
In 2021, in cooperation with universities in Dalian, Hezhen language and Yimakan storytelling will be put on the minority language inheritance network, and then pushed to the whole world through a professional Internet platform.
(5) Preserve the Hezhen dialect and establish an Internet platform
In 2020, the Center for the Safeguarding of ICH of Heilongjiang Province, the Heilongjiang Provincial Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee, and Heilongjiang Department of Education will jointly carry out the preservation of Hezhen dialect and popularize the smart reading edition of the Graphic Textbook on 700 Sentences of Hezhen Language.
In 2022, a vocabulary contest will be organized for the Hezhen dialect. Based on the Concise Hezhen Dictionary published by Heilongjiang People’s Publishing House, the methods of compulsory answer, rush answer and oral narration of propositions in Hezhen language will be adopted. Experts will be invited for evaluation, and those with outstanding performance will be rewarded.
In 2023, an information sharing column will be established for Yimakan storytelling on the WeChat public account to promptly update the academic and performance information, pictures, and audio-visual materials of the element. New media accounts such as Tik Tok will be opened to update the information synchronously.
(6) Promote contemporary literary and artistic creation and rehearsal activities of Yimakan storytelling
In 2020, Site Mergen micro-animation script or stage myth drama will be planned, and 100 paintings of Yimakan story series will be completed.
In 2021, the creation of Site Mergen micro-animation script will be completed.
In 2022, debugging of Site Mergen micro-animation script will be conducted, and resources will be sought after for trial shooting of the micro animations.
In 2023, shooting of Site Mergen micro animations or stage myth drama will be completed, then it will be released and screened. The creation, rehearsal and performance of Chuqi Mergen and Birchbark Boat, a new Yimakan sitcom of the Hezhen ethnicity, will be completed.

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

To implement the updated safeguarding plan, the budget for the next reporting period (2020-2023) of the Hezhen Yimakan storytelling is as follows:
- Government resources
(1) The representative bearers of Yimakan storytelling will be subsidized to ensure their basic livelihood and fulfill their transmission obligation. An annual allocation of 60,000 RMB will be provided, totaling 240,000 RMB in four years;
(2) A financial guarantee will be provided for the transmission activities in the Yimakan storytelling transmission and practice centers and WeChat groups, totaling 220,000 RMB;
(3) The preservation of Hezhen dialect will be continuously carried out. The Chinese and Hezhen bilingual teaching will be conducted in resource-based areas. The role of transmission and practice centers will be maximized to simultaneously teach Hezhen language while teaching Yimakan storytelling. Hezhen language and Yimakan storytelling will be fully applied on the minority language inheritance network, so as to push them to the whole world through a professional Internet platform. The budget totals one million RMB.
(4) The archives of representative bearers of Yimakan storytelling will be established. Data will be stored in four modules, namely text, picture, audio and video. Then they will be collected, filed, archived and shot by dedicated personnel. The budget totals 500,000 RMB.
(5) Bearers, trainees and Yimakan storytelling Art Troupes will be organized to enter communities, scenic spots, and campuses to carry out transmission, practice, exhibitions and publicity activities. The budget totals 1.4 million RMB.
(6) Academic activities will be carried out, including seminars and forums on Yimakan storytelling, and subject research. Research results will be published. The budget totals 800,000 RMB.
(7) The creation and rehearsal of Yimakan micro animations, myth dramas and other literary and artistic works, totaling 5 million RMB.
- Community investment
(8) 100 paintings of Yimakan story series will be completed. Communities will raise 120,000 RMB for them.
To implement the above safeguarding plan, national financial department will allocate 9.16 million RMB. Communities will invest 120,000 RMB. The budget totals 9.28 million RMB.

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

The people in Hezhen communities attach great importance to the safeguarding and transmission of Yimakan storytelling. They are actively participating in the updating and implementation of various safeguarding plans organized by governments and cultural departments, maximizing the advantages of communities, groups and individuals, independently carrying out respective transmission activities, and implementing specific safeguarding measures. For example, the Hezhen ethnic groups in Zhuaji Town, Fuyuan County spontaneously established Yimakan storytelling transmission and practice centers. The governments of Jiejinkou Township, Bacha Township and Sipai Township and Aoqi Village Committee provided free transmission and practice venues and necessary financial support. Jiamusi Vocational Education Group also provided free transmission and practice venues.
Some NGOs in Tongjiang City, Jiamusi City and other places, together with local governments, have carried out research, collation and archives of Yimakan storytelling database as planned. They have promised to continuously participate in the implementation of future safeguarding measures, and contribute to the intergenerational transmission of Yimakan storytelling. Other NGOs, such as the Hezhen Research Society, Jiejinkou and Bacha Central School, have actively compiled Hezhen language teaching materials. They have opened bilingual teaching courses for the Hezhen and Chinese languages and achieved remarkable effects. To promote the popularization of Yimakan storytelling, cultural enterprises have actively invested in the safeguarding of Yimakan storytelling. Jiamusi Mahua Hezhen Fishskin Culture Co., Ltd. invested a total of 727,000 RMB in the painting of comics for Yimakan story series with fish skin as the material, as well as the creation and exhibition of fishskin paintings for Yimakan stories.
Due to changes in social structure and division of labor, the male-dominant Yimakan yimakanqi mafa has gradually broken the gender restrictions for Yimakan storytelling transmission, and females are becoming the major force of transmission and practice. Currently, among 84 representative bearers, females account for 75%. Yan Qin and other female bearers unanimously expressed that as the bearers of Yimakan and Hezhen cultures, females are also shouldering great responsibilities. They should address difficulties and make due efforts to promote Hezhen ethnic culture, transmit and safeguard Yimakan storytelling. Eight representative bearers have promised to continuously participate in the implementation of the safeguarding plan and to cultivate more outstanding bearers, as conditions permit. Lu Yanhua (female), a representative bearer in Raohe County, is keen on the transmission of Yimakan storytelling, thus making her one of the best. She was invited to work in the Center for Safeguarding of ICH of the county in 2017. It has brought her a chance to engage in in-depth study and transmission of Yimakan storytelling. She said, “It was Yimakan storytelling that transformed me from an ordinary woman into an ethnic cultural worker. Not only did I earn income, but also I contributed to the cultural undertaking of the ethnicity. More importantly, I cherish Yimakan storytelling and the Hezhen culture.”
The Branch of Studies on the Hezhen People under the Society of Ethno-national Studies in Heilongjiang Province, the Center for the Safeguarding of ICH of Heilongjiang Province, Tongjiang Hezhen Ethnicity Association and other NGOs are actively communicating and cooperating with cultural authorities. They are compiling teaching materials while engaging in academic research on Yimakan storytelling. They have published a collection of works in an effort to promote and disseminate Yimakan storytelling, and promised to devote themselves to the safeguarding and research in a long run.

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:

  1. a. the competent body(ies) involved in its management and/or safeguarding;
  2. 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(ies) involved in its management and/or safeguarding:
- Governing bodies
Heilongjiang Provincial Culture and Tourism Department;
- Competent authorities:
Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV, Film, Press and Publication, Tongjiang City, Heilongjiang Province
Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV, Film, Press and Publication, Raohe County, Shuangyashan City, Heilongjiang Province
Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV, Film, Press and Publication, Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province
Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV, Film, Press and Publication, Suburb of Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province
Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV, Film, Press and Publication, Fuyuan City, Heilongjiang Province
Government of Sipai Hezhen Ethnic Township, Shuangyashan City, Heilongjiang Province
- the organization responsible for safeguarding the element:
Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Heilongjiang Province;
- local organizations responsible for the safeguarding:
Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Tongjiang City, Heilongjiang Province
Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province
Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Suburb of Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province
Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Raohe County, Shuangyashan City, Heilongjiang Province
Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Fuyuan City, Heilongjiang Province
b. the organization(s) of the community or group concerned with the element and its safeguarding
Cultural Center of Jiejinkou Hezhen Ethnic Township, Tongjiang City, Heilongjiang Province
Cultural Center of Bacha Hezhen Ethnic Township, Tongjiang City, Heilongjiang Province
Village Committee of Hezhen Ethnic Village of Aoqi Township in the suburb of Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province
Cultural Center of Sipai Hezhen Ethnic Township, Raohe County, Shuangyashan City, Heilongjiang Province
Yimakan Storytelling Transmission and Practice Center of Jiejinkou Hezhen Ethnic Township, Tongjiang City, Heilongjiang Province
Yimakan Storytelling Transmission and Practice Center of Bacha Hezhen Ethnic Township, Tongjiang City, Heilongjiang Province
Yimakan Storytelling Transmission and Practice Center, Tongjiang City, Heilongjiang Province
Yimakan Storytelling Transmission and Practice Center of Aoqi Hezhen Ethnic Village in the suburb of Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province
Yimakan Storytelling Transmission and Practice Center of Sipai Hezhen Ethnic Township, Raohe County, Shuangyashan City, Heilongjiang Province
Yimakan Storytelling Transmission and Practice Center, Fuyuan City, Heilongjiang Province
Yimakan Art Troupe of Hezhen Ethnicity, Tongjiang City, Heilongjiang Province
Yimakan Art Troupe of Hezhen Ethnicity, Raohe County, Shuangyashan City, Heilongjiang Province
Yimakan Art Troupe of Hezhen Ethnicity, Fuyuan City, Heilongjiang Province
Branch of Studies on the Hezhen under the Society of Ethno-national Studies in Heilongjiang Province
Tongjiang Hezhen Research Society of Heilongjiang Province
Hezhen Research Society, Raohe County, Shuangyashan City, Heilongjiang Province

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

In July 2019, the Heilongjiang Provincial Culture and Tourism Department organized and established a leadership group for this period report, and convened the 2019 Preparatory Conference for the Period Report of Hezhen Yimakan Storytelling. The Center for the Safeguarding of ICH of Heilongjiang Province was entrusted to work with five communities to carry out comprehensive investigation and research and submit status reports on the implementation of the safeguarding plan of Yimakan storytelling and related issues. In September, the safeguarding organization combined the basic information, opinions and suggestions provided by communities, and promptly submitted a preliminary research report, which covered the safeguarding achievements, experience, problems and related data in the past four years. In October, the Heilongjiang Provincial Culture and Tourism Department organized experts to discuss the achievements and problems in safeguarding the element in recent years. Rational opinions and proposals put forward by experts and scholars from scientific research institutions such as Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences and Harbin Normal University were included in this report.
In the process of drafting this report, relevant associations and groups including six Yimakan storytelling transmission and practice centers, the Branch of Studies on the Hezhen under the Society of Ethno-national Studies in Heilongjiang Province, Cultural Center of Hezhen Ethnic Township, and China Hezhen Website, have actively participated in the preparation of the report. They have focused on the opinions of representative bearers and young trainees. Ms. Qi Yanhua, former curator of the Tongjiang Mass Art Museum, served as a representative of women and provided relevant materials for the performance report.
The preparation of the report in this reporting period was conducted with the prior knowledge and consent of relevant communities, groups, representative bearers, and young practitioners. The period report was finalized on November 16, 2019 after soliciting opinions from all parties.

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

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

2004-12-02

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

Name of element

Hezhen Yimakan storytelling

Inscribed in

2011

Reporting period covered by this report

Please indicate the period covered by this report.

Reporting period covered by this report

January 2012 - December 2015

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

Meshrep (2010)

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

Yimakan storytelling is an oral art in the form of singing and speaking that has been transmitted from generation to generation by the Hezhen people living in northeast China. It is narrated by performers known, in the Hezhen language, as "yimakanqi mafa." Showing distinctive regional features and the culture of fishing and hunting, the themes of Yimakan storytelling cover heroic deeds, shamanic beliefs, fishing and hunting life, folk customs, and romance, and more. As the Hezhen have no writing system, the element has become an "oral encyclopedia" for preserving their history, culture, folklore, beliefs, customs, mother tongue, and other essential information. It not only carries the memory and life of the Hezhen but also sustains the sense of their cultural identity, and supports the historical continuity of the local people.
However, the process of modernization has caused major changes to the traditional lifestyle and social structure of the Hezhen ethnic minority. Threatened by a tiny population and national integration, their mother tongue is seriously endangered and the Yimakan storytelling is on the brink of extinction. The crisis has been aggravated by the deaths of an increasing number of veteran storytellers and the exodus of the younger generation to larger cities in search of further education and employment. After the inscription of the element on the List, the Hezhen people have shown unprecedented enthusiasm over the promotion of their cultural tradition and the consolidation of the recognition of their cultural value. Relevant communities, groups, and individuals have voluntarily taken active steps to implement different safeguarding measures and transmission activities and practice activities. Meanwhile, Governments at all levels and culture department have taken multiple measures regarding such key aspects as community capacity building, policy-making, and financial aid to support communities in the organization of local people to participate in safeguarding activities. Therefore, the viability of the element has been greatly improved.
During the reporting period, the following safeguarding measures have been implemented: (1) The system to recommend and identify representative bearers has been improved to enhance policy support, consolidate the family transmission mode, expand community transmission channels, and strengthen the intergenerational transmission mechanism; (2) Transmission and practice centers of Yimakan storytelling have been improved and expanded to increase the frequency and range of the practice and build a larger team of bearers and practitioners with regular transmission and practice activities; (3) The teaching of their mother tongue has been carried out during the transmission of Yimakan storytelling through the activities to bring intangible cultural heritage to campus and group discussions on Wechat, which to a certain extent alleviated the endangered situation of the Hezhen language; (4) With the continuous organization of field research and case studies, the thematic database for Yimakan storytelling has been established and a series of academic achievements like A Collection of Yimakan Storytelling, and Oral History of Yimakan Storytelling by Representative Bearers, have been published; (5) Local cultural infrastructure has been improved with the planning and establishment of "Cultural Ecology Reserve of the Hezhen" to preserve the traditional lifestyle, living space, and oral culture resources of the Hezhen during the safeguarding of the ecological environment; (6) Yimakan storytelling art troupes have been founded and shadow puppet plays of Yimakan storytelling have been created in order to spread the element from classrooms to people's daily life and from the communities gathered by the Hezhen people to the general public in towns and cities through performance, demonstration, and road shows, which further underscored the great significance of safeguarding the oral tradition for the transmission of the Hezhen culture.    

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.)

Ms

Family name

Wu

Given name

Xuan

Institution/position

Head of Research Division

Address

Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Heilongjiang Province
197 ZhongshanLu
Nangang District
150001
Harbin City
Heilongjiang Province

Telephone number

+86-15145096963

Fax number

E-mail address

hljsfybhzx@126.com

Other relevant information

B

Ms

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

As the oral narrative art transmitted from generation to generation, Yimakan storytelling upholds heroes and promotes justice, courage, kindness, and the pursuit of freedom and ideals. Reflecting the keynote of harmony between human and nature, it is not only the collective memory and cultural symbol of the Hezhen but is also considered by the ethnic group as their "textbook of history". On one hand, Yimakan storytelling records the fishing and hunting life, etiquette, sacrifice, wedding and funeral customs of the Hezhen to show their social conditions, folk customs, as well as moral standards, and on the other hand, it is the major way for the transmission of the Hezhen language because it completely preserves the expressions in their mother tongue. Therefore, the element is playing an irreplaceable role in the transmission of the language and culture of the Hezhen and the enhancement of their ethnic identity and community cohesion. Up to today, it still has profound influence on their outlook on value and the world.
At present, Yimakan storytelling, as the collective culture practice of the Hezhen people, is playing multiple social and cultural functions including collective memory, traditional education, and arts and entertainment in such festivals and celebrations as Urgun Festival and River Festival and their life etiquette. Meanwhile, Yimakan storytelling has become a window for the outside society to understand the Hezhen through the road show of Yimakan storytelling art troupes and through demonstration and promotion activities. More importantly, the synchronous organization of Yimakan storytelling transmission and practice activities and the Hezhen language teaching activities focusing on communities has gradually recovered the vitality of the once "seriously endangered" Hezhen language. At the same time, groups of young people of the Hezhen have been attracted to use their mother tongue again under the influence of traditional knowledge and folk art in formal education and non-formal education.
In the Hezhen language, the performers of Yimakan storytelling are referred to as "yimakanqi mafa" which means "the talent with great wisdom". Much respected by the Hezhen people, they shoulder special responsibility for the element. Yimakan storytelling is divided into two types, namely "sagdi jarimku" and "uskuli jarimku". "Sagdi jarimku", mostly in the form of narration, deals primarily with "mergen" (heroic) stories and long legends of the creation of the Hezhen people, while "uskuli jarimku", mostly in the form of singing, pays much attention to short stories depicting fishing and hunting lifestyles, folk customs, and romance. The element shows the collective memory, education, and entertainment in seasonal labor and festivals of the Hezhen, so it could hardly be separated from their production and life. In addition, the universal participation of the Hezhen people in the element constitutes diversified practitioners.
In the past four years, most yimakanqi mafa have been identified by governments at different levels through the recommendation of communities. Mastering part of the "sagdi jarimku" and "uskuli jarimku", they have transmitted Yimakan storytelling after the work, demonstrated it during celebrations and festivals, taught it in transmission and practice centers regularly, performed it in art troupes, and guided the innovation and safeguarding of relevant shadow puppet plays. Under their leadership, more and more Hezhen people have committed themselves to the transmission of Yimakan storytelling in local communities and as a result the number of people eager to learn and appreciate the Yimakan storytelling has significantly increased. Some amateurs have been encouraged for getting the chance to show their oral talents through practicing Yimakan storytelling. Some migrant workers have even returned home to participate in the transmission and practice activities during holidays and festivals. Even some Han people have participated in the activities. In the competition and interaction among the large number of practitioners, they can draw from the strength of other performers and supporters to offset their own weakness. The diversified forms of participation developed in the favorable atmosphere for transmission and practice have enhanced the intergenerational transmission and the dialogue among different ethnic groups.    

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 Hezhen people have long inhabited the reaches of three rivers including Amur River, Sungari River, and Ussuri River in northeast China. With a population of 5,354, accounting for merely 0.0004% of the total population of China (according to the Sixth National Population Census of China in 2010), it is one of the smallest ethnic minorities in China. The element is primarily distributed in the Hezhen communities of Jiamusi City and Shuangyashan City in Heilongjiang Province. The locations where it is centered include the Jiejinkou Hezhen Ethnic Township and Bacha Hezhen Ethnic Township in Tongjiang of Jiamusi City, Hezhen Ethnic Village of Aoqi Township in Jiamusi City, and Sipai Hezhen Ethnic Township in Raohe County of Shuangyashan City (Hereinafter referred to as "four major communities").
Since the inscription on the List, the vitality of the element has been distinctly enhanced. Firstly, the traditional system of oral transmission within clans and families has been maintained and consolidated. Especially for the third generation of bearers, the increase of female bearers has far surpassed that of male ones. Most of these female bearers have grown up in the family of yimakanqi mafa under the influence of the older generations who have taught them in person since their childhood; secondly, representative bearers have abandoned their sectarian bias and have taken apprentices extensively to train successors in the transmission and practice centers of relevant communities. The practitioners have been further diversified with the establishment of social transmission mechanism. There were merely five representative bearers in 2011 when the element was inscribed on the List. At present, the number has reached 14 (one of them had died), an increase of nearly 3 times, and ten of them are female.
In the past four years, the transmission and practice activities and the safeguarding practice of Yimakan storytelling have spread from bearers to the audiences and from family transmission to social transmission. All these have guided the voluntary safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage in Hezhen communities. At present, the element is returning to the folk practice and is transmitted in daily life: Yimakan storytelling is always performed during wedding ceremonies, sacrificial rites, and family gatherings. It is considered a very high honor to be a bearer of Yimakan storytelling who is favored and respected by the Hezhen people wherever they go. At present, the frequency and extent of its practice in transmission and practice centers at different places have been further increased. On average, the annual frequency of relevant activities is reported as follows: 42 times in urban area of Tongjiang City, 8 times in Bacha Hezhen Ethnic Township, 50 times in Jiejinkou Hezhen Ethnic Township, 25 times in Raohe County, 30 times in Hezhen Ethnic Village of Aoqi Township, and 20 times in the urban area of Jiamusi City. Nearly 200 amateurs have participated in learning Yimakan storytelling, accounting for 3.73% of the total Hezhen population. The average age of them is about 40. Most of them have mastered the daily expressions of the Hezhen and can perform a short episode of Yimakan storytelling, certain verses in sagdi jarimku, and even a complete episode of sagdi jarimku, independently. The audiences have also further spread from the local residents of the gathering communities of the Hezhen to Hezhen people living in different towns and cities.
It has become a common practice in the people's daily life to learn Yimakan storytelling and to speak the Hezhen language. The Hezhen people have established 4 Learning and Discussion Groups on Wechat via we-media on internet and persisted in presenting 4 periods every week since 2015. At present, it has attracted 420 volunteers, including 295 female students and teachers. Accounting for 70% of all members, these females are very active in the learning. However, the participation rate of teenagers in the learning of their mother tongue is still very low in terms of the age structure.
However, there are still threats to the continued transmission and enactment: First, with the accelerating urbanization and changes to lifestyle in recent years, drastic changes have taken place in the traditional pattern of human-land relationship and the basis for social organization. Some rural residents of the Hezhen have moved to cities and been gradually separated from the previous living environment for fishing and hunting. Therefore, the traditional narrative context (hunting ground, river shoal, boat, and kang, a kind of heatable brick bed) for Yimakan storytelling and its cultural space have been compressed to a significant extent. Moreover, it is still difficult to keep the balance between improving one’s livelihood and maintaining the cultural ecology of the tradition of Yimakan storytelling. Secondly, the situation of the "seriously endangered" Hezhen language, as the media for the transmission of Yimakan storytelling, could not be fully improved in the next several years. The harsh reality has become the major obstacle to the continued transmission and practice of the element. There were merely 10 people, approximately, who can skillfully use the Hezhen language in the recent past. Although the transmission and practice of Yimakan storytelling have promoted the teaching of the Hezhen language and while some people have acquired the basics of it or grasped its daily expressions, the vitality of the mother tongue should be improved and the phonetic writing program and teaching methods should be strengthened. Thirdly, the intergenerational transmission is greatly challenged by the population migration. Young people of the Hezhen yearn for a modern lifestyle, and so they choose to leave their hometown to study and work in the city. "Most young people in our village choose to work in cities, so only old people, women and children stay at home. Apart from a small number of professional fishermen, most of them engage in farming and handicraft industry", said Ge Baohua, head of the village committee of the Hezhen Ethnic Village of Aoqi Township. Some practitioners have also terminated their studies halfway in order to earn a living in other places.

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

According to the four-year action plan (2012-2015) proposed in the nomination file, relevant parties have carried out community-based capacity building activities, implemented all safeguarding measures in practice, and further extended the efforts, the viability of the element has been substantially enhanced during the reporting period. Concrete results attained in the period are as follows:
(1) Representative bearers have been supported and encouraged to take apprentices. The procedure for recommendation and identification of bearers has been simplified and improved while financial aid has been provided for representative bearers. Compared with the original action plan, the number of representative bearers who are supported has increased from 10 to 14 (one of them died in 2013) and the amount of financial aid from the government has grown from 80,000 yuan to 210,000 yuan. These efforts have effectively resolved the worries of representative bearers, enhanced their capability of storytelling, and raised their enthusiasm for taking apprentices.
(2) The mother tongue of the Hezhen has been saved to safeguard the media for the transmission of Yimakan storytelling. Pilot programs have been implemented in the central schools in Jiejinkou Hezhen Ethnic Township and Bacha Hezhen Ethnic Township of Tongjiang City through compiling textbooks of Yimakan storytelling and the Hezhen language and organizing Chinese-Hezhen bilingual teaching programs to promote the safeguarding of Yimakan storytelling and the teaching of the Hezhen language in formal education and to create conditions for teenagers to receive traditional education on the history, culture, and folk customs of the Hezhen.
(3) Yimakan storytelling transmission and practice centers have been established and expanded to improve the community transmission mechanism. The number of transmission and practice centers for Yimakan storytelling has been further increased with the investment of governments at different levels on the basis of the two existing ones (in the urban area of Tongjiang City and Hezhen Ethnic Village of Aoqi Township in the suburb of Jiamusi City). Three new transmission and practice centers have been established in Jiejinkou Hezhen Ethnic Township and Bacha Hezhen Ethnic Township of Tongjiang City and Sipai Hezhen Ethnic Township in Raohe County of Shuangyashan City. Representative bearers have organized teaching and training activities in these centers regularly and selected talents with potential to establish the community transmission mechanism in non-formal education. At present, the five transmision and practice centers have become major venues for community activities. There are nearly one hundred regular trainees. 64% of them have persisted in the practice for over three years and about 53% of them are capable of performing more than three episodes. More than ten of them have the potential to be trained as the successors of the element.
(4) The digital documentation and construction of thematic databases of the element has been promoted in a systematic way. Cultural departments at different locales have carried out general surveys and conducted field research on the element, collected relevant materials by digital means, and established the thematic archives of Yimakan storytelling in accordance with the principle of territorial management. The Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Heilongjiang Province has completed the database construction for Yimakan storytelling of the Hezhen. The materials entered the database include: 309 texts, 1600 pictures, 213 audio files, and 290 video files. Video archives of six bearers including Wu Mingxin, Wu Baochen, You Wenfeng, You Wenlan, You Xiuyun, and GeYuxia have been filmed and four of them are female bearers.
(5) Academic organizations, research institutions, scholars and experts have been supported in continued field research and case studies, monographs on the academic research of Yimakan storytelling have been published, and a series of important achievements like A Collection of Yimakan Storytelling, Oral History of Yimakan Storytelling by Representative Bearers, have been released. A Collection of Yimakan Storytelling has three volumes with in total 2.3 million words, covering 67 episodes (14 long ones, 34 short ones, and 19 stories), 53 music scores, and over 300 pictures, as well as carefully selected version of the Yimakan storytelling with phonetic notation, oral history of bearers, and thematic investigation report, and so on. Providing a panoramic view of the element in a comprehensive and systematic way, it could be considered an encyclopedia of the Yimakan storytelling.
(6) Cultural infrastructure has been improved to increase the frequency of the practice. Provincial level "Cultural Ecology Reserve of the Hezhen" has been planned and established in Jiamusi City so as to optimize the social and cultural environment for the survival of the element and implement integrated safeguarding efforts; Hezhen culture centers and exhibition areas of Yimakan storytelling have been set up in the Museum of the Hezhen in Tongjiang, Museum of the Hezhen in Jiamusi, and the Historical Museum of the Hezhen in Raohe for representative bearers to organize teaching activities regularly; Tongjiang Yimakan Storytelling Art Troupe, Jiamusi Suburb Yimakan Storytelling Art Troupe, and Raohe Yimakan Storytelling Art Troupe have been founded one after another. With the continued organization of transmission and practice trainings, demonstrations and road shows, publicity and promotion activities, and community communication activities, and so on, the frequency and extent of its practice have been increased.
(7) Innovation and safeguarding activities aimed at teenagers have been developed. In order to enhance the intergenerational dialogue and to adapt to the psychology of teenagers, the Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Heilongjiang Province has created a shadow puppet play related to Yimakan storytelling called Siwen Mergen in combination with the local performing art Wangkui Shadow Puppet Play. The play has been performed 35 times in the communities of the Hezhen, universities, middle schools, primary schools, academic summit forums, military camps, and the community square in Heilongjiang Province. The number of audiences has reached over 60,000. It is very popular among the children and well-received by the whole society.    

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

- Key activities that were carried out during this reporting period in order to achieve these expected results:
(1) The procedure for taking apprentices has been further simplified and the support for representative bearers has been enhanced through providing venues for transmission and practice, equipment, and financial aid, and similar, to create favorable conditions for intergenerational transmission. For example, the two sisters, You Wenfeng and You Wenlan have been identified as provincial level representative bearers to receive the financial aids from the government. In 2015, Heilongjiang Province set up "Longjiang Transmission Award" to recognize and reward outstanding bearers of ICH for their outstanding contributions. Two bearers of Yimakan storytelling have won the award. In addition, attention has been paid to the situation of taking apprentices by bearers and to their daily life through regular visits, holding seminars, free medical examinations, and the like.
(2) Teaching of the mother tongue of the Hezhen has been integrated into formal education so as to guide teenagers to appreciate and transmit Yimakan storytelling. Apart from the pilot program on Chinese-Hezhen bilingual teaching implemented in the central schools in Jiejinkou Hezhen Ethnic Township and Bacha Hezhen Ethnic Township of Tongjiang City, activities to bring the Yimakan storytelling and the teaching of the Hezhen language into schools have been actively promoted. Professionals have been invited to compile textbooks for courses of the Hezhen language. Training classes on the Hezhen language have been organized. Such yimakanqi mafa as Wu Mingxin, Wu Baochen, and Ge Yuxia have been invited to give classes in schools. All these have inspired and improved the interest of children in the transmission of the element. Preferential policies have been provided for students of the Hezhen choosing to major in intangible cultural heritage by Fine Arts College in Harbin Normal University. Two relatives of national level representative storytellers have been enrolled. Hu Yi, one of the excellent graduates, has found a job in the Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Suburb of Jiamusi to be a teacher in the transmission and practice center of Yimakan storytelling.
(3) The community-based transmission practice has been promoted by the establishment of Yimakan storytelling transmission and practice centers. Five Yimakan storytelling transmission and practice centers have been established in the four major communities of the Hezhen and have become the major venues for community activities. Representative bearers have organized transmission and practice activities regularly. According to the annual arrangement of the teaching activities, the trainees are assessed yearly or every half year. Yimakan storytelling activities have been organized at such traditional festivals of the Hezhen as Urgun Festival and Culture Heritage Day and the competition on Yimakan storytelling has been organized every year. Excellent trainees standing out in the annual assessment and competitions have been rewarded and selected as candidates for potential successors. Through expanding the channels of transmission, more young people have been attracted to commit themselves to the transmission and safeguarding of the Yimakan storytelling. For example, Jiamusi City has identified such excellent trainees as Wu Mingrong, Hu Yi, ans Zhang Wenzhong, as prefecture level representative bearers.
(4) The all-round digital documentation and construction of thematic databases of the element has been fully promoted. Culturally competent departments at different levels and safeguarding organizations have organized experts, scholars, and relevant professionals to fully implement the work on the collection of texts, pictures, audio and video materials, and physical assets and the systematic investigation and filing of the viability and the status quo of representative bearers of the element. Meanwhile, transmission practices have been carried out in local transmission and practice centers for Yimakan storytelling and all classes have been recorded during the filing. Thematic archives have been established in different locations and the thematic database of Yimakan storytelling has been created in the Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Heilongjiang Province. At present, the center is constructing an integrated platform of digital resources relevant to Yimakan storytelling to further integrate the digital archives of Yimakan storytelling in county and prefecture level safeguarding organizations of intangible cultural heritage and promote the sharing of information between safeguarding organizations in different places and within communities.
(5) Academic communities, experts, and scholars have been supported to publish their research achievements. Since 2013, six symposiums and seminars on Yimakan storytelling at provincial and national levels have been organized, over 20 essays of high quality have been published, the Safeguarding and Transmission of the Hezhen Yimakan Storytelling has been inscribed on the list of key provincial level research project, and a series of academic achievements including A Collection of Yimakan Storytelling, Oral History of Yimakan Storytelling by Representative Bearers, Field Research on Yimakan Storytelling and the Hezhen People, and Collection of Essays on Yimakan Storytelling, have been released.
(6) Continuous promotion activities have been implemented via mass media and public cultural facilities. Heilongjiang TV has produced the three-episode documentary Forever Yimakan and broadcast it on the TV and radio repeatedly. Tongjiang TV has launched a channel on the Hezhen culture with such programs as Forever Yimakan, Lecture on the Hezhen Language, and so on. These programs have played an important role in the transmission of the element in terms of the ethnic group, folk customs, ecology and bearers from the native perspective with the documentary style stories of people. Five Yimakan storytelling transmission and practice centers and three Yimakan storytelling art troupes have actively organized demonstrations, road shows, and training activities by making full use of the local Hezhen folklore gardens, the Hezhen folk culture villages, and the Hezhen museums. Well-received by the Hezhen people, these activities have become important channels for attracting community members to learn the element in transmission and training centers.
(7) Plays focusing on the element have been created to improve the understanding of the element and the recognition of its importance by teenagers and the public. Aiming at different target groups, the shadow puppet play related to Yimakan storytelling called Siwen Mergen has been created on the basis of the heroic stories in the tradition of Yimakan storytelling and in combination with the local performing art of Wangkui Shadow Puppet Play in Heilongjiang Province. Such bearers as Wu Mingxin, Fu Zhanxiang, and Ge Yuxia have provided advices for the creation, recorded the speaking and singing for the play in person, and come to the rehearsal site to teach Hezhen customs and to guide the performance to actively support the innovative way of safeguarding. As a pilot project for innovative safeguarding, the play has been warmly welcomed by the children and highly recognized in the communities, creating remarkable social impact among the public. The modern way of practice not only meets the expectation of the community members but also is easy for children to accept. It has improved the visibility of the element and has promoted the dialogue between intergenerational transmission and the transmission among different ethnic groups.
- Problems encountered during the implementation
(1) The teaching of the Hezhen language is limited by the absence of a robust language environment, while the transmission and practice of Yimakan storytelling is restrained by the command of the phonetic language. Since 2013, relevant communities have chosen the sagdi jarimku of Site Mergen as the unified textbook for transmission and practice under the support of the Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Heilongjiang Province. Tutorial materials and CDs have been handed out in the five transmission and practice centers of the Yimakan storytelling. This measure has had some success.. Nevertheless, although the version marked with phonetic symbols is closer to the mother tongue, ordinary trainees are weak in their mother tongue with limited capacity in the acquisition of the language. They could only try to learn it by rote without further understanding.
(2) The government has provided financial support for young Hezhen people who delayed work for learning Yimakan storytelling. The amount is between 20 yuan to 50 yuan for each class and trainees should be assessed quarterly. For those standing out in all participants of the long term transmission and practice of Yimakan storytelling, bonuses between 100 to 500 yuan are given to encourage them to continue the study of Yimakan storytelling. However, the system of financial aid could easily divert students from the original purpose of carrying forward the culture of the ethnic group, since some young people may participate in the learning with the sole purpose of receiving financial aid.    

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

In the past four years, various parties have participated in the safeguarding measures with the representative bearers as the major force for promoting community practice in transmission and practice centers and gradually formed the resultant force in the safeguarding activities of the element.
(1) The Hezhen people have actively participated in the preservation and transmission of Yimakan storytelling. The village committees and hundreds of representatives of villagers in the four major communities have actively committed themselves to safeguarding measures and have persisted in the participation in the activities organized in five transmission and practice centers. In this way, the transmission in communities has been consolidated and the frequency of practice has been greatly improved. Currently, Yimakan storytelling has become an essential part of the cultural activities in different communities. It is performed during such traditional festivals and celebrations as Urgun Festival, River Festival and Floating Lantern Festival with the participation of all members of the Hezhen, regardless of gender or age.
(2) Representative bearers have actively fulfilled their responsibilities and obligations for the transmission of the element and have played a key role in the safeguarding practice. 14 representative bearers have improved their capacity in performance to a significant extent and have continuously enriched their traditional music library of "sagdi jarimku" and "uskuli jarimku". Apart from continuing the traditional system of transmission within their own clans and families, they have organized relevant activities and training exchanges at five transmission and practice centers regularly for one to two times a week. The complementary relationship between traditional family transmission and the community transmission has consolidated the intergenerational transmission mechanism in the whole community. For example, Ge Yuxia was identified as a provincial level representative bearer in 2012. After that, she actively accepted apprentices with the help of the Center for Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the county. In the past four years, she has given 160 classes on the transmission and practice of the element and trained 560 apprentices. Among all these apprentices, she has discovered such excellent ones like Ge Yanqiu, Lu Yanhua, Fu Nina, who show great passion to Yimakan storytelling and who are able to complete several episodes of Site Mergen sagdi jarimku independently.
(3) Relying on trainees of transmission and practice centers of Yimakan storytelling at different places, Tongjiang Yimakan Storytelling Art Troupe, Jiamusi Suburb Yimakan Storytelling Art Troupe, and Raohe Yimakan Storytelling Art Troupe have actively created and performed programs of Yimakan storytelling. With the increasing number of their performances, the frequency of the practice has been continuously improved. Apart from taking the major celebrations and festivals like the local Cultural Heritage Day and Urgun Festival as the carriers, they have also actively participated in the performance organized by TV and radio stations, demonstrations, and exhibitions at different places. Their performances have been warmly welcomed by audiences during the Beijing Ethnic Culture Week, the First Heilongjiang Intangible Cultural Heritage Exposition, and the Summer of Harbin, which has improved the visibility of the element.
(4) The local people have voluntarily organized activities focusing on the teaching of their mother tongue and the learning of Yimakan storytelling. Currently, the Hezhen people have voluntarily established four learning and discussion groups on Wechat via the we-media on the internet, including Bacha Hezhen Language Learning Group (105 members, including 66 females; the youngest member is 11 years old, and the oldest member is 66 years old), Tongjiang Hezhen Language Yimakan Storytelling Transmission and Practice Center (111 members, including 72 females; the youngest member is 11 years old, and the oldest member is 66 years old), Hezhen People (179 members, including 138 females; the youngest member is 11 years old, and the oldest member is 70 years old), and Pioneers of International Phonetic Alphabet Learning (25 members, including 19 females; the youngest member is 30 years old, and the oldest member is 78 years old), to organize the teaching of their mother tongue and the exchange of ideas on Yimakan storytelling on a regular basis. In addition, representative bearers have also been invited to give classes in these groups regularly. At present, there are in total 420 participants from child of 11 years old to old people of 78 years old. They have interacted online regardless of their ages and created an excellent environment for language acquisition and a participatory mode of practice.
(5) Local organizations and science and research institutions have provided intelligence support and professional consultation. More than ten local academic groups directly or indirectly participate in the transmission and safeguarding of Yimakan storytelling in Heilongjiang Province and over 200 people engage in the scientific research, training and practice, and other supportive work relevant to the transmission of the element. Among all these groups, the Branch of Studies on the Hezhen under the Society of Ethno-national Studies in Heilongjiang Province has organized relevant experts to compile and publish monographs and research papers on Yimakan storytelling, which have laid a solid theoretical foundation for the transmission and development of the element; Tongjiang Hezhen Language Research Association has organized the compilation of textbook on the language used by Yimakan storytelling for the classroom teaching in the central schools in Jiejinkou Hezhen Ethnic Township and Bacha Hezhen Ethnic Township; and such local academic societies focusing on the study of the Hezhen as Tongjiang Hezhen Research Society, Raohe Hezhen Research Society, and so on, have supported the safeguarding practice in local transmission and practice centers all the year round to provide professional advice for community transmission and enhance the research on safeguarding measures for Yimakan storytelling.
(6) The Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Heilongjiang Province, as the organization responsible for safeguarding the element, has organized specific work on the exploration, preservation, safeguarding, and transmission of the Yimakan storytelling, undertaken the planning for the safeguarding efforts and the corresponding implementation step by step, provided guidance for the activities in transmission and practice centers of Yimakan storytelling and relevant management work, supervised and inspected the implementation of the safeguarding measures, and shouldered the responsibility of data filing and thematic database construction. Under the unified organization and coordination of the Center, over 1500 people have been organized by the Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Tongjiang City, the suburb of Jiamusi City, and Raohe County, and other safeguarding units, for implementing different safeguarding measures and innovating the ways of safeguarding.

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

- Support bearers in the transmission and practice of Yimakan storytelling
2012-2015: financial aid for representative bearers (210,000 RMB);
2012-2014: organization of trainings on successors of the element in different transmission and practice centers (1,246,000 RMB);
In 2013: implementation of the pilot project for keeping salvage records of representative bearers (400,000 RMB);
In 2014: keeping records of bearers of Yimakan storytelling and their transmission and practice activities (400,000 RMB);
2012-2015: renting venues for the organization of transmission and practice activities (590,000 RMB).
- Support relevant communities in the implementation of safeguarding measures for Yimakan storytelling
In 2012: organizing road shows of Yimakan Storytelling Art Troupe of different places (1,350,000 RMB);
2012-2015: organizing Yimakan storytelling competitions, exhibitions, and demonstrations in campuses, on community squares, and during Cultural Heritage Day (1,544,000 RMB);
In 2014: creating the shadow puppet play related to Yimakan storytelling called Siwen Mergen (120,000 RMB);
In 2015: organizing promotion and academic exchange activities in the National Library of China and Central Conservatory of Music (60,000 RMB);
2012-2015: organizing field research, academic seminars, community forums, and demonstration and discussion meetings for the achievements (507,000 RMB).
- Publication of a series of research achievements on Yimakan storytelling
2012-2013: compilation and publication of A Collection of Yimakan Storytelling (960,000 RMB);
2012-2013: compilation and printing of textbook for transmission and practice of Site Mergen and of promotion materials ( 240,000 RMB);
In 2014: collection of information and investigation for Image Records of Yimakan Storytelling Bearers(32,000 RMB);
2014-2015: editing and publishing Field Investigation on Yimakan Storytelling and the Hezhen People, Oral History of Yimakan Storytelling by Representative Bearers, and Collection of Essays for Academic Seminar of Yimakan Storytelling (281,000 RMB).
- Collection of field research information for completing digital archives
In 2012: purchasing the equipment and supplies required for transmission and practice activities (1,200,000 RMB);
In 2012: shooting the three-episode TV documentary Forever Yimakan (500,000 RMB)
2013-2014: organizing field research and collecting information (140,000 RMB);
2013-2014: construction of thematic database of Yimakan storytelling in combination with the pilot project on National Intangible Cultural Heritage Digital Management System (in total 1,000,000 RMB).
The above mentioned funds are all from government sources. The in-kind community inputs mainly include: the venues for transmission and practice, instruments, tools, and costumes for performance provided by the cultural centers and village committees of the four major communities for free, as well as the necessary financial support (specific amounts are not available); the audio and video recordings of the performance of older generations of bearers provided by representative bearers for digital filing for free, the audio recordings of their performance provided for trainees in transmission and practice centers of different places, and the copies of music score and scripts; on-site guidance in transmission and practice centers at different places provided by several elderly people and bearers who are proficient in the Hezhen language at their own expense, the online teaching in the group discussion on Wechat, and the specific suggestions and personal recordings for the compilation and revision of textbooks for the transmission and practice of Yimakan storytelling.

B.3.e

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

During the reporting period, the activities for safeguarding the element have been smoothly implemented. In the exploration of new safeguarding measures, the visibility and viability of the element have been enhanced. The overall results attained are as follows: the capability of representative bearers in performance has been constantly improved and traditional episodes in their personal repertoire have been enriched; the team of successors for both "sagdi jarimku" and "uskuli jarimku" has been expanded; the complementary relationship between family transmission and social transmission has further expanded the extent of practice and improved its frequency annually; the vitality of the mother tongue of the Hezhen has been recovered to a certain extent in the transmission and practice of Yimakan storytelling; and the awareness of the importance of safeguarding the language and intangible culture heritage of their own ethnic group has been significantly enhanced among the Hezhen people and spread to the general public in relevant communities.
The investment of the central and local governments for the implementation of safeguarding activities has been properly and efficiently used. Corresponding results have been achieved through the following activities and the overall results are better than the expected target proposed in the nomination file:
(1) Under the unified planning and organization of the Department of Culture in Heilongjiang Province, the Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Heilongjiang Province has taken and improved institutional safeguarding measures through formulating the Rules for the Safeguarding of the Hezhen Yimakan Storytelling, Regulations for Management of Transmission and Practice Centers of the Hezhen Yimakan Storytelling, and Regulations for Management of the Transmission by the Hezhen Yimakan Storytelling Storytellers to promote the scientific, standardized, and systematic implementation of safeguarding measures for the element.
(2) The Department of Culture of Heilongjiang Province has organized experts and scholars in the academic field both inside and outside the province to compile A Collection of Yimakan Storytelling. It has taken them three years to complete the book which was published in 2014. The book of three volumes has carried out systematic exploration, collation, and publication of the element. In particular, the traditional repertoire of Yimakan storytelling has been carefully collated for the first time, covering almost all existing materials of Yimakan storytelling, oral history of bearers, and important research results. The text and musical score with phonetic notation in the book have become the guide and basis for the teaching and practice of the Hezhen mother tongue and the promotion of Yimakan storytelling in the continued safeguarding efforts.
(3) In line with the principle of territorial management, governments at all levels have included the safeguarding work in the government’s cultural development project. Bureaus of culture, radio, TV, film, press and publication at county and prefecture levels, as the local cultural authority, are in charge of the comprehensive guidance and planning of the safeguarding work and the arrangement of relevant personnel and funds. Centers for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in different places have organized training events to support the transmission and practice, promoted field research, promoted full recorded and collected different materials, established thematic digital archives, arranged the demonstration teaching and road shows to bring the element into schools, communities, and public squares, and released innovative plays combining Yimakan storytelling of the Hezhen and the local intangible cultural heritage Wangkui Shadow Puppet Play to raise the enthusiasm of teenagers to participate in the transmission and practice of the element and arouse the awareness of the importance of the safeguarding efforts among the general public.
(4) The central government has provided special funds to ensure the support for bearers and the implementation of general safeguarding measures. Local governments have raised funds from different sources to improve infrastructure construction. For example, provincial level "Cultural Ecology Reserve of the Hezhen" has been planned and established in Jiamusi City, Cultural Center for the Hezhen has been founded in Tongjiang City, Hezhen Folklore Gardens and Villages have been built in Jiejinkou Hezhen Ethnic Township and Sipai Hezhen Ethnic Township, and the Historical Museum of the Hezhen has been launched in Raohe County. All these have provided specialized classrooms, rehearsal halls, and demonstration areas for the transmission and practice of Yimakan storytelling, which has been warmly welcomed among the community members and well-received by the social public.
(5) Culturally competent departments of the governments at different levels have ensured the use of funds for the specified purpose only, increased the efficiency of the use of funds, and provided all-round support for relevant communities, groups, and bearers in the implementation of safeguarding measures. Facing a shortage of personnel in organizations for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, they have actively included representative bearers and the elderly proficient in the Hezhen language into the management of the element based on cultural centers and village committees in the four major communities to create favorable conditions for organizing the safeguarding practice by the five transmission and practice centers, the interaction among counties and prefectures, and the annual Yimakan Storytelling Competition.
Therefore, the Hezhen people have widely participated in the safeguarding activities organized by the local culturally competent departments. The village committees of communities, bearers, and younger generation members have become the key participants in these activities. The new-type safeguarding mechanism characterized by the complementary relationship between family transmission and community transmission has been established, which provides satisfactory answers for major concerns in the decision of the committee (DECISION 6.COM 8.6).

B.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.

Community participation

In order to change the endangered situation of the element and to revive it, communities, groups of practitioners and representative bearers as well as relevant non-governmental organizations in the gathering areas of the Hezhen have all collaborated closely to form the resultant force in the safeguarding activities of the element.
(1) Connections have been established among bearers of the younger generation, middle aged generation, and older generation. Yimakanqi mafa used to be primarily male in the transmission of the element within clans and families. Due to the changes in social structure, males have participated more frequently in community service and social activities, so that older women have gradually become the major force for the transmission and practice of Yimakan storytelling. In the past four years, 14 representative bearers (including 10 females) have devoted themselves to the safeguarding practice of the element with great enthusiasm and strong sense of mission. They have actively promoted the transmission within their clans and families. Meanwhile, they have supported the community transmission without any reservation. Female bearers have played a more prominent role in the process. Wu Mingxin, one of the representative bearers, has persisted in teaching young people and has received hundreds of apprentices in the past decade, including his two granddaughters. He said bearers should "keep on learning and teaching" to make sure that the oral art is not lost. The performance of the famous Yimakan storytelling master Ge Desheng recorded in 1983 has been collated by his daughter Ge Yuxia (a provincial level representative bearer) and published. According to You Wenfeng, one of the bearers, the transmission of Yimakan storytelling "should not stop for any second". At present, she has over 20 apprentices of the Hezhen and her goal is to let them reach her level as soon as possible. The third generation of bearers represented by Wu Mingxin, Wu Baochen, You Wenfeng, You Wenlan, You Xiuyun, Ge Yuxia, and Hu Yi has promised to continue their efforts in follow-up safeguarding activities and to train more excellent successors.
(2) The safeguarding practice based in communities has been diversified. Under the leadership of the bearers, people in the four major communities of the Hezhen have actively participated in the implementation of the safeguarding measures and benefited from it. They have voluntarily participated in the safeguarding and transmission practice in their communities through local cultural centers, transmission and practice centers of Yimakan storytelling, joining the Yimakan storytelling art troupes, or joining the Wechat teaching and discussion groups (see section B.3c). So far, more than 4,800 people have participated in a diversity of transmission and practice activities in relevant communities. The "uskuli jarimku" and "sagdi jarimku" of Yimakan storytelling have been effectively recovered, the number of practitioners has gradually increased, the social coverage has expanded, and the endangered level of the Hezhen language has been alleviated to a certain extent. Some trainees have mastered over 300 words, more than 300 basic expressions, and three to four episodes of "uskuli jarimku" or "sagdi jarimku". All such activities have promoted wider recognition of the element and nurtured the cultural consciousness of mutual respect and encouragement in the relevant communities. The Hezhen people believe that the preservation of Yimakan storytelling will contribute to the preservation of the Hezhen language and culture and they all have expressed the willingness to do their part in continued learning, transmission, and preservation of the significant cultural treasure of their ethnic group and to try their best for the revival of the Yimakan storytelling and have promised to continue to participate in follow-up action plans.
(3) Non-governmental organizations like local societies and associations of the Hezhen, scholars, and experts have provided long-term intellectual support for the safeguarding efforts. Non-governmental organizations including the Branch of Studies on the Hezhen under the Society of Ethno-national Studies in Heilongjiang Province, Tongjiang Hezhen Research Society, Tongjiang Hezhen Language Research Association, and Raohe Hezhen Research Society, and experts and scholars from Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, Heilongjiang University, and Harbin Normal University have communicated and cooperated with cultural departments in the investigation and academic research on the transmission of Yimakan storytelling and published a series of research achievements and essays. For example, researcher Huang Renyuan has taken the Yimakan storytelling of the Hezhen as his lifelong pursuit in his academic career and made several policy suggestions like Suggestions on Preservation of Yimakan Storytelling Cultural Heritage to relevant departments, which have attracted the attention of governments at different levels. Professional societies represented by Tongjiang Hezhen Research Society and experts of Yimakan storytelling study represented by Huang Renyuan, Chen Shu, and so on, have promised to devote themselves to investigating, and making policy suggestions related to the element and make contributions to the further improvement of its viability.
(4) The Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Heilongjiang Province has organized experts, scholars, and community workers to enter relevant communities three times to carry out on-site investigations to track the teaching activities in transmission and practice centers, the capacity building of safeguarding organizations in different places, the status quo of representative bearers and apprenticeships, and the cultural and ecological environment of the Hezhen (July 2012, March 2014, and July 2015). At the same time, it has sought the suggestions of representatives from relevant communities and bearers on safeguarding measures and implementation. In addition, the center has organized a "Conference on the Safeguarding of the Hezhen Yimakan Storytelling" participated in by representative bearers and excellent trainees in transmission and practice centers so as to extensively consult different parties. The center has promised to continue to organize safeguarding organizations at different levels to carry on their investigations into the element and keep track of and evaluate its viability.

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:

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

Institutional context

a. the competent body(ies) involved in its management and/or safeguarding:
Department of Culture of Heilongjiang Province
Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV, Film, Press and Publication, Tongjiang City, Heilongjiang Province
Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV, Film, Press and Publication, Raohe County, Shuangyashan City, Heilongjiang Province
Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV, Film, Press and Publication, Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province
Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV, Film, Press and Publication, Suburb of Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province

b. the organization(s) of the community or group concerned with the element and its safeguarding:
Cultural Center of Jiejinkou Hezhen Ethnic Township, Tongjiang City, Heilongjiang Province
Cultural Center of Bacha Hezhen Ethnic Township, Tongjiang City, Heilongjiang Province
Village Committee of Hezhen Ethnic Village of Aoqi Township in the suburb of Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province
Cultural Center of Sipai Hezhen Ethnic Township, Raohe County, Shuangyashan City, Heilongjiang Province
Yimakan Storytelling Transmission and Practice Center of Jiejinkou Hezhen Ethnic Township
Yimakan Storytelling Transmission and Practice Center of Bacha Hezhen Ethnic Township
Yimakan Storytelling Transmission and Practice Center of the Urban Area of Tongjiang City
Yimakan Storytelling Transmission and Practice Center of Hezhen Ethnic Village of Aoqi Township
Yimakan Storytelling Transmission and Practice Center of Sipai Hezhen Ethnic Township
Tongjiang Hezhen Yimakan Storytelling Art Troupe
Jiamusi Suburb Yimakan Storytelling Art Troupe
Raohe Hezhen Yimakan Storytelling Art Troupe
Branch of Studies on the Hezhen under the Society of Ethnology of Heilongjiang Province
Tongjiang Hezhen Research Society
Tongjiang Hezhen Language Research Association
Raohe Hezhen Research Society
Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences
Heilongjiang University
Harbin Normal University
Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Heilongjiang Province
Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Tongjiang City, Heilongjiang Province
Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Suburb of Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province
Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Raohe County, Heilongjiang Province

B.6. 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 preparation of this report.

Participation of communities in preparing this report

A conference on the report on the status of Yimakan storytelling of the Hezhen in Heilongjiang Province and training course for drafting the report were organized in Harbin on January 26 and 27 in 2016. More than 20 people including relevant leaders and workers of the Culture, Radio, TV, Film, Press and Publication Bureaus and Centers for the Safeguarding of ICH in Jiamusi City, Tongjiang City, Suburb Jiamusi, and Raohe County, and community representatives attended the conference. During the conference, the Department of Culture of Heilongjiang Province and Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Heilongjiang Province founded the steering group for reporting on the status of the element and made explanations on the requirements for completing the form ICH-11-2016. After that, the centers for the safeguarding of ICH in the four major communities have organized representatives of the communities to participate in the preparation of the report and carried out investigations on different aspects of the implementation of safeguarding measures. In middle and late February, investigation reports have been handed in to the leading team. The contents of these reports cover the achievements attained, experience, problems, and feedback from different communities in the past years.
During the drafting of the report, cultural centers of Hezhen Ethnic Township in the four major communities, five transmission and practice centers of Yimakan storytelling, Branch of Studies on the Hezhen under the Society of Ethno-national Studies in Heilongjiang Province, Tongjiang Hezhen Research Society and its website www.hezhezu.com have actively participated in relevant efforts. Attention has been paid to the suggestions of representative bearers and trainees. The Hezhen people have actively provided feedback. Especially when the report was finally to be completed, data on the self-learning of the Hezhen language and Yimakan storytelling was collected via questionnaires handed out to the members of the four Wechat groups. A retired female teacher of the central school in Bacha Hezhen Ethnic Township has been recommended as the representative of Wechat groups to provide relevant information for the drafting of the report.
In the process, the leading group has organized experts to discuss and to analyze the achievements in the implementation of safeguarding measures and the existing problems. Detailed opinions and suggestions put forward by scholars from Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, Heilongjiang University, and Harbin Normal University have been included into the report.
In late February 2016, the village committees of the four major communities have organized representative bearers and villagers to provide written suggestions with their signatures to show their prior and informed consent for the preparation of the report and its contents.

C

Head of Research Division

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

2016-05-27

Signature

Top