ALL
biodiversity
ICH Elements 5
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The tradition of long-term group hunting 'Salbuurun’
‘Salbuurun’ is a complex hunting game with golden eagles, ‘taigan’ dogs (the Kyrgyz breed of greyhounds) and bow. In the modern salbuurun, golden eagles participate in two exercises: ‘chyrga’ and ‘ondok’. In the first exercise, each berkutchi (eagle master) lets his eagle flying towards moulage, which is entailed by a galloping rider. The eagle has to reach and grasp it. Here, time and speed of the golden eagle are estimated. The golden eagle is seated at a distance of 200 meters in ‘ondok’ exercise. At the judge’s signal, the hunter holloes his eagle holding bait in his hands. Here, the arrival time of the eagle to his owner’s hand is estimated. ‘Taigan zharysh’ is a race organized for the greyhounds. Dog’s agility is determined by the speed of its run at a distance of 350 meters. Dogs chase the moulages that is entailed by the horse rider. ‘Zhaa atuu’ is shooting with a traditional bow (archery).
Kyrgyzstan -
Falconry, a living human heritage
Falconry (munushkorluk, itelgichilik, itelgi saluu) is a traditional practice and domain of knowledge, which includes catching and taming of falcons, training and flying them to take quarry in a natural environment. This domain also includes belief systems, ritual practices, and oral history on falcon types, their behaviour and character traits, as well as methods of their selection and taming and an influence they have on the falconer's life. Falconry was one of the ways of traditional life support of nomadic Kyrgyz people. It was an integral part of a nomadic life style based on the relationship between a man and a bird. In the course of this interaction, the man tamed the bird to his needs, and the bird nurtured in man such qualities as sensitivity, endurance and caring attitude to the world of nature. Hence, this model of interaction enabled the falconer to develop a respect and a caring attitude towards all of his surroundings.
Kyrgyzstan 2021 -
Asham: Maize Cultivation
Agriculture is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock and over centuries, rise in agricultural has contributed in the growth civilization. Early people have developed and improved varieties of plants and till date the practice is considered to be the important aspect of Bhutanese livelihood. It is one of the sources of income as over69% of the population here, directly depends on it for their livelihood (MoAF, 2011). In 2011, agriculture sector accounted for about 17.7% of the total GDP of the country (RNR Statistics, 2012) Asham (Maize) plays a critical role in the entire life of given economy and is a pre-dominant cereal crop for the eastern part of the Bhutan for many years contributing to more than half of total maize production in the country. Asham cultivation was one of the main cereal as well as cash crops that supported and supports lively hood for major households in the part of the country. To these days, the practice and culture of maize cultivation is one of the main live hood and sources of income. Most communities in the eastern part of the country depend on cultivation of Asham to produce following products: •\tKharang- grits, grind maize used as staple food •\tAsham me-gogni- roasted corn •\tAsham bokpi- corn flour •\tTengma- roasted and pounded maize •\tAsham mu-nang- a local term for popcorn •\tZhu- brewed alcohol Apart from above products, asham is also used as cereals for bartering during the olden days to exchange with wooden and bamboo products produced from other parts of the Dzongkhags. Moreover people also used to exchange with rice, chili, meat and dairy products within or outside the community. People used to offer asham, kharang and bokpi to monks and gomchen(great meditation masters) as they visit begging for cash and kind. Asham and its product were also used during the religious rituals at households. Crafting of Torma (Sacrificial ritual cakes) and Sur (Smoke offering) during the rituals were done by using corn flour. There has been lots of transformation in the culture, practice and process in cultivation maize in the region due to introduction of hybrid seeds, improve in tools and technologies used compared to old and traditional ways of cultivation.
Bhutan -
Traditional craftsmanship of making Dumbara Ratā Kalāla
Element relates to the traditional craftsmanship of making a type of mat used as wall-hangings, tapestries or cushion-covers, ornamented with culturally defined motifs and designs using the fibre of Hana plant (Agave vera). This fibre is a substitute for the traditionally used fibre of Niyanda plant (Sansevieria zeylanica) that became scarce in the area by early 20th century. Fibre is separated by pressing the leaf against a log with a sharp-edged wooden splinter to scrape away the fleshy parts. Washed, sun-dried, and combed fibres of ivory-white colour are bundled as skeins. Warp-yarn is spun using a wooden spindle. The spinner wraps a fibre bundle around the chest over the left shoulder and spins by pulling fibre strands from the bundle. Unspun fibre strands are used as weft elements. Yarns and unspun fibre are dyed in red, yellow, and black using traditional herbal dyes made of natural materials from Dumbara valley. Motifs and designs are created using a flat narrow wooden lath with an 'eye' at one end. The weaver, squatting over the loom, passes the lath's eye-end through the warp-yarns from right to left selectively depending on the intended motif. Strands of fibre pulled from the heddles that suspend from a tripod placed over the loom are inserted into the lath's eye that is pulled back through the yarns to create the desired motif. After weaving, ends of fibre at the two narrow ends are tied together using a thread drawn through to which the fibre ends are knotted.
Sri Lanka 2021 -
Baab: Mask
Colloquially, a mask often used in artistic mask dance performances to disguise or hide the original appearance is called “Baab” in Dzongkha (Bhutanese language) and in many local dialects. Baab is not only used for masquerade, but represents the appearance and expression of enlightened beings, celestial beings, guardian deities, and some extraordinary human beings who have helped to shape meaningful human life and promote harmonious living, which is why it is also referred to by the honorific title Zhal baab (face mask). Baab comes in many forms, appearances, complexions and with exceptional features that represent transcendent religious meanings and significance. Baab is the product of an art that requires several skills such as religious knowledge including proper proportions, biodiversity as the basic raw materials are woods, craftsmanship, blacksmithing in making tools and finally painting to give the mask the final structure. According to historical texts, the Baab tradition and the performance of the mask dance, usually called Gar-cham, was introduced to Bhutan by Guru Padmasambava in the early 8 th century. Later, it was further developed by eminent Buddhist masters, especially Terton (discoverer of the hidden treasure) Pema Lingpa (1450-1521), who introduced many sacred mask dances and passed on the art of Baab making, which is still recognized and known today for his contribution to the enrichment of Bhutan’s indigenous art and culture. His exceptional art of Baab making and mask dances was later recognized by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1651), the head of the state government, and included as one of the of Bhutan’s intangible cultural heritage domain of arts and crafts. Thereafter, the Baab tradition was maintained and enjoyed increasing popularity after the heads of the state government, chief abbots and successive monarchs introduced and authorized other private religious institutions to organize Tshe-chu, Drub-chen, Chod-pa, Rab-ne, Me-wang, Ma-ni, Due-chod (mask dance festivals), etc. throughout the country. In general, the manifestations of Baab can be summarized as; Baab of deities and gods, animals and extraordinary human beings. It is firmly believed that the masks of the deities and gods manifest themselves in various emotional appearances such as; graceful, heroic, abominable, wrathful, compassionate, comical, wondrous, terrifying and petrifying. These expressions can also be divided into four categories: peaceful, inspiring, empowering and angry. There are three types of masks made by Bhutanese artisans: Re baab (paper and cloth mask), Shing baab (wooden mask) and Sing-phye baab (mask made of a mixture of sawdust). However, the former two are ancient technical craft, while the latter is a newer product used mainly for commercial or decorative purposes. Traditionally, Baab are used only for the actual performance or kept as relics after the consecration ceremony has been performed by spiritual masters. It is believed that if these items are not blessed, they are as good as toys and are haunted by the spirits, causing harm to society.
Bhutan