Ong Chun ceremony jointly declared by China and Malaysia were included in the UNESCO Human Representative list of intangible cultural heritage

The Ong Chun ceremony and related practices is rooted in folk customs of worshipping Ong Yah, a deity believed to protect people and their lands from disaster. The element is centered in coastal communities in China’s Minnan region and in Melaka, Malaysia. The ceremony includes welcoming Ong Yah to temples or clan halls, delivering 'good brothers' (people lost at sea) from torment, and honouring the connection between people and the ocean. Performances during the procession feature different types of dancing.

The picture shows the traditional folklore activity "Ong Chun ceremony Do Good Deeds" held in Zhongzhai She Community in Xiamen City, Fujian Province on December 5. Photo by Lu Ming/China News

On December 17, the two projects of "Taijiquan" declared separately by China and "Ong Chun ceremony, rituals and related practices for maintaining the sustainable connection between man and the ocean" jointly declared by China and Malaysia were included in the UNESCO Human Representative list of intangible cultural heritage. So far, a total of 42 intangible cultural heritage items in China have been included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List (book), ranking first in the world.

Sending the king ship is a folk activity widely spread in southern Fujian and the coastal areas of Malacca, Malaysia. Since its formation in the 15th to 17th centuries, with the "Southeast Asia" and maritime trade, it has gradually spread from southern Fujian to Southeast Asia. Ong Chun ceremony conveys people’s historical memory of their ancestors going to the ocean, embodies the concept of harmonious coexistence between man and nature and respect for life, and provides rich cultural dialogue resources for promoting the development of an inclusive society; it carries observations of weather, tides, and ocean currents. Such marine knowledge and navigation technology are the crystallization of people's long-term wisdom in marine production and life. Ong Chun ceremony is regarded as a common heritage by the relevant communities of China and Malaysia, and is a vivid example of the spread and integration of Chinese culture in the countries along the Maritime Silk Road.

On December 17, the two projects of "Taijiquan" declared separately by China and "Ong Chun ceremony, rituals and related practices for maintaining the sustainable connection between man and the ocean" jointly declared by China and Malaysia were included in the UNESCO Human Representative list of intangible cultural heritage. The picture shows the traditional folklore activity "Ong Chun ceremony Do Good Deeds" held in Zhongzhai She Community in Xiamen City, Fujian Province on December 5. Photo by Lu Ming/China News

On December 17, the two projects of "Taijiquan" declared separately by China and "Ong Chun ceremony, rituals and related practices for maintaining the sustainable connection between man and the ocean" jointly declared by China and Malaysia were included in the UNESCO Human Representative list of intangible cultural heritage. The picture shows the traditional folklore activity "Ong Chun ceremony Do Good Deeds" held in Zhongzhai She Community in Xiamen City, Fujian Province on December 5. Photo by Lu Ming/China News

The picture shows the Ong Chun ceremony in Haicang District, Xiamen City, Fujian Province. Photo by Ouyang Shushun

The picture shows the Ong Chun ceremony to Malacca, Malaysia.Photo by Chan Kow Heng