While earthquake damage to heritage structures, pagodas, and temples is often visible and easy to document, the impact on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) is less apparent—but equally important.
Intangible Cultural Heritage refers to the living traditions, practices, expressions, knowledge, and skills that communities, groups, and individuals recognize as part of their cultural identity. These heritage elements are passed down through generations and continuously adapt to the environment, nature, and historical context, forming the cultural practices we experience today.
UNESCO’s Five Domains of Intangible Cultural Heritage
To better understand and categorize ICH, UNESCO defines five main domains:
- Oral traditions and expressions– storytelling, proverbs, songs, and spoken folklore.
- Performing arts– music, dance, theater, and ritual performances.
- Social practices, rituals, and festive events– festivals, ceremonies, and communal rituals.
- Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe– traditional medicine, agricultural practices, and climate-related knowledge.
- Traditional craftsmanship– skills like weaving, pottery, metalwork, and other artisan practices.
Assessing ICH Damage
Unlike tangible heritage, the impact of earthquakes on ICH is not immediately visible. Damage may include:
- Loss of traditional practitioners or custodians
- Disruption of festivals or rituals
- Damage to tools, instruments, or materials used in traditional craftsmanship
- Interruptions in knowledge transmission
To systematically assess these impacts, Heritage for Myanmar recommends using the ICCROM ICH Damage Assessment Form, available through the Heritage for Myanmar (HFM) mobile application.
How Heritage for Myanmar Supports ICH Assessment
Heritage for Myanmar is committed to assisting researchers, universities, organizations, and ICH specialists in documenting post-earthquake damage. Support includes:
- Conducting offline and online surveys through the HFM app
- Allowing independent editing of collected data online
- Downloading collected data for analysis and reporting
- Providing technical and academic guidance for accurate documentation
How You Can Contribute
If you are an ICH specialist, researcher, or organization:
- Access the ICH damage assessment form via the HFM app.
- Collect and submit data on affected intangible heritage practices, knowledge, and skills.
- Reach out to Heritage for Myanmar for support, advice, and technical assistance.
📩 For further information, contact Heritage for Myanmar through Facebook Messenger.
Key Message:
Documenting intangible cultural heritage is just as crucial as recording physical damage. By systematically assessing ICH loss after the earthquake, we can safeguard Myanmar’s living traditions, ensure continuity, and preserve cultural identity for future generations.
