29 Mar 2024
Thursday 13 October 2016 - 12:58
Story Code : 235036

Iran, Indonesia and China share spirit for preserving cultural heritage

BALI, INDONESIA, Oct 12, 2016 - (ACN Newswire) - Efforts to preserve the intangible cultural heritage should be as extensively practiced as those for the tangible cultural heritage.

Thus, strategies highlighting the intangible cultural heritage are needed. The issue was raised during a World Culture Forum (WCF) 2016 Press Conference, held after six symposia were conducted in Bali on Tuesday, Oct 11.

According to Indonesia's art sculpture maestro Nyoman Nuarta, the strategy would begin by changing the peoples mindset regarding culture itself.

"This nation still sees culture as something that does not have any economic value. We have to change that mindset. People need to have a comprehensive understanding (of culture) in order to fix the problem," he explained.

He took the management of Subak in Bali as an example. In terms of agriculture, Subak has not been able to produce anything. "Bali relies on its culture, not its agriculture," he said. Thus, the existence of Subak supports the culture itself.

Subak is a water management (irrigation) system which is a manifestation of Tri Hita Karana philosophy - a harmonious relationship between man and God (Parahyangan), fellow humans (Pawongan), and between man and nature (Palemahan).

A fair share of the resposibility between central government, tourism and hotel management is also needed. "Hotels owe their existence to the culture and local wisdom of Bali," he said.

Lanying Zhang, a symposia speaker who serves as Director of Liang Shuming Rural Reconstruction Center in the People's Republic of China - PRC, stated that Indonesia's natural geographical condition creates the potential of an alternative solution for the development of intangible cultural heritage.

"Indonesia and PRC share similar characteristics in terms of rice field management, especially in the southwest of Indonesia and northern part of China, where both countries must meet the needs of a large population," she said.

But, according to Zhang, Indonesia has an advantage in nature and land contours. Thus, management that emphasizes enhancing natural elements such as water, soil, and air can be an alternative solution.

Semsar Yazdi, a speaker on the concept of Qanat water management, and the Director of the International Center on Qanats and Historic Hydraulic Structures in Iran, explains that there are interesting facts about water management in Iran and Indonesia.

According to Yazdi, the two countries have similar local traditions which lead to sustainable world development.

"It turns out that there are similarities between Balinese Subak traditions and the Qanat tangible cultural heritage of Iran, even though the countries are 80,000 kilometers apart," he explained.

"Both share the same motivation to develop cultural knowledge to improve sustainable world development."

Qanat is an underground waterway system consisting of a row of interconnected wells. The system consists of open wells where vertical shafts connect them from a certain distance. This system is used to irrigate rice fields and boost the economy in rural communities in Iran.

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