#intangible natural heritage

[delicatelysublimeforester]

Bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous persons

Are you passionate about the environment, culture, and heritage of the prairie forest? Are you interested in finding ways to bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous persons, and to promote reconciliation? If so, then we want you to join our team as the Cultural and Environmental Heritage Prairie Forest Guide Smart Phone App Editor! We are looking for an editor with a demonstrated…

[reasonsforhope]

"Discarded shells from restaurants and hotels are being used to restore damaged oyster ecosystems, promote biodiversity and lower pollution in the city’s bays...

Nestled in between the South China Sea and the Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong has been seen historically as an oyster hotspot. “They have been supporting our livelihood since ancient times,” says Anniqa Law Chung-kiu, a project manager at the Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Hong Kong. “Both oysters and their shells are treasures to humans.”

Over the past five decades, however, the city’s sprawling urban development, water pollution, as well as the over-harvesting and frequent seafloor dredging by the lime industry – which uses the crushed shells to make construction material – have destroyed Hong Kong’s oyster habitats and made the waters less hospitable for biodiversity.

The more oyster colonies falter, the worse the problem gets: oysters are filter feeders and purify water by gobbling up impurities. Just one Hong Kong oyster can filter up to 200 litres of water a day, more than any other known oyster species. But decades of rapid industrialisation have largely halted their water-purifying services.

The depletion of Hong Kong’s natural oyster reefs also affects the ability of local farmers to sustainably cultivate their oysters in a healthy environment, denting the reputation of the city’s 700-year oyster farming tradition, designated by Unesco as an “intangible cultural heritage”.

Inhabitants of the coast feel abandoned, says Ken Cheng Wai-kwan, the community leader of Ha Pak Nai on Hong Kong’s Deep Bay, facing the commercial city of Shenzhen in China. “This place is forgotten,” Cheng says. “Oysters have been rooted here for over 400 years. I ask the question: do we want to lose it, or not?”

A group of activists and scientists are taking up the challenge by collecting discarded oyster shells and recycling them to rebuild some of the reefs that have been destroyed and forgotten in the hope the oysters may make a comeback. They’ve selected locations around the island where data they’ve collected suggests ecosystems still have the potential to be rebooted, and there are still enough oyster larvae to recolonise and repopulate reefs. Ideally, this will have a positive effect on local biodiversity as a whole, and farming communities.

Farmers from Ha Pak Nai were among the first to hand over their discarded shells to the TNC team for recycling. Law’s team works with eight oyster farmers from Deep Bay to recycle up to 10 tonnes of shells every year [over 22,000 pounds]. They collect an average of 870kg every week [over 1,900 pounds] from 12 hotels, supermarkets, clubhouses and seafood restaurants in the city, including some of its most fashionable establishments. About 80 tonnes of shells [over 176,000 pounds] have been recycled since the project began in 2020.

Restaurants will soon be further incentivised to recycle the shells when Hong Kong introduces a new fee for waste removal – something that is routine in many countries, but only became law in Hong Kong in July and remains controversial...

Preliminary data shows some of the restored reefs have started to increase the levels of biodiversity, but more research is needed to determine to what extent they are contributing to the filtering of the water, says Law.

Scientists from the City University of Hong Kong are also looking to use oyster shells to increase biodiversity on the city’s concrete seawalls. They hope to provide tiny, wet shelter spots around the seawall in which organisms can find refuge during low tide.

“It’s a form of soft engineering, like a nature-based solution,” says Charlene Lai, a research assistant on the team."

-via The Guardian, December 22, 2023

[vazelinacocomix]

🪡🧵Romanian women have been coding signs for ages. Their threads bind apotropaic symbols into scrolls of fabrics and garments, according to complex systems, which have been developing since the Neolithic ages. In this pocket size comics collection I tried to gather bits of the pixel's long forgotten story. The rough English version of the 36 page publication is available here >>> https://issuu.com/sorivazelina/docs/mostrar2_eng

To flip through the Romanian version please visit the exhibition, at the Peasant Museum in Bucharest, open till the 9th of January 2025. It was built as a reflection on a unique anonymous textile piece, discovered in the archive of the ASTRA Museum in Sibiu. The hyper-sensorial works, leading up to this marvel of over 200 embroidered motifs, belong to artists such as Aurelie Morillas, Marlene Herberth, Marin Raica, Sillyconductor, Anamaria Lungu, Atelier Vrac, all brought together by the Dala Foundation and Ovidiu Daneș, who has been saving the local architectural, intangible and natural heritage, together with his wife Luminița, for more than a decade, also via the CUCA festival.

[montblancvelvet]

Together with him, explore the Jingxi Zhuang embroidered silk ball craft, a treasure of China's intangible heritage.

💫Intricate patterns, telling tales of romance and happiness

💫Vibrant hues, each thread a verse in nature's poetry

💫Complex techniques, embodying the depth of time and artistry

💫Versatile uses, from fragrance to enhancing well-being

Credits: Love and deepspace official

[moononmyfloor]

Love Game in Eastern Fantasy: Traditional Accessories

So apparently LGIEF based lots of costume designs on Chinese handicrafts and paid homage to intangible cultural heritage according to their Weibo. I'm not even familiar with some of these but as a fan of costume history and meta infopiling I tried my best to look them all up which I will link. All pics are from show's account.

Jinling Knotting: Baidu

Emm I couldn't find any article that specifically referred to Jinling Knotting so I just generally linked the Baidu page about Chinese knotting

Pingyao lacquerware: Baidu

Traditional Chinese Button Knots: Baidu

Ou Embroidery: Baidu

Nanjing Brocade Weaving Technique: Baidu

Miaomiao's Accesories (Made using Miao Ethnicity's Embroidery techniques, heh):

Ep 4: Longevity Lock Amulet

The image says- Intangible cultural heritage, hand embroidered, protects health, front display, back display

Ep 6: Guardian Tiger Amulet

The image says- Hand embroidered, rich in details, protects health, back display, side display

Ep 8: Azure Dragon Bag

The image says- Intangible cultural heritage handicraft, luxurious hand embroidery, protects health, bag display, shoulder display

Ep 15: Kite Brooch

The image says- Hand embroidery, rich in details, intangible cultural heritage handicrafts, embroidery display, brooch display

(Whatever ep that aired on 11-8 lol I don't rem): Rabbit Sachet

The image says- Good meaning, dispels cold and warms you up, natural osmanthus, back display, rear display

.

More posts by me

[hananoami]

Love and Deepspace × Embroidered Silk Ball

Generations of refined craftsmanship, a legacy enduring Together with him, explore the Jingxi Zhuang embroidered silk ball craft, a treasure of China's intangible heritage.

💫Intricate patterns, telling tales of romance and happiness 💫Vibrant hues, each thread a verse in nature's poetry 💫Complex techniques, embodying the depth of time and artistry 💫Versatile uses, from fragrance to enhancing well-being

Special Acknowledgement to Department of Culture, Radio, Television, Sports and Tourism of Baise Department of Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism of Jingxi

[themakeupbrush]

Miss International Taiwan 2023 National Costume

"MAZU: THE GODDESS OF THE SEA" Mazu's name is comprised of the characters ma, meaning "MOTHER" and zù which means "ANCESTOR." She has a few other formal titles, like Linghui Fürén , meaning "Lady of Light and kindness" or Tiânhòu which means "Empress of Heaven".Mazu has been a very popular religious figure since the immigration period of Taiwan. Mazu is often depicted wearing bright robes laced with shining jewels that help her be more easily seen by travelers at sea. Mazu wears an imperial headdress that represents her godly nature. Mazu was blessed with supernatural abilities and could accurately forecast the weather and predict the future. Before typhoons, sailors would claim to see the bright robes of Mazu on the water signaling the arrival of the impending storm. Mazu is said to appear as pure beam of light to sailors in need. Taiwan's "Dajia Mazu pilgrimage" is the biggest religious parade in the world that's for a female deity, attraction 3 million participants last year. In 2009, UNESCO added Mazu Belief and Culture to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

[beardedmrbean]

ULAANBAATAR – During the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in Paraguay, the “Mongolian Nomadic Practices” were officially inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This marks the 16th element from Mongolia to be included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

The “Mongolian Nomadic Practices” encompass a comprehensive system of traditional knowledge and rituals, including selecting suitable pastures, choosing auspicious dates for migration, preparing and loading livestock for travel, cleaning campsites, performing rituals to honor new settlements, and managing herds in harmony with the capacity of pastures, the structure and size of livestock, and the distribution of wildlife and plants. These practices also emphasize sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment.

Research and studies were conducted to support the nomination of this heritage element for inscription on UNESCO’s list.

UNESCO experts visited Mongolia to study its nomadic cultural heritage, and with the participation and support of scholars, researchers, and thousands of herders, the value and significance of these practices were recognized and officially inscribed, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth.

[lesbianalanwake]

Did some Pathfinder builds for Remedy characters, which I've done before, but there's been a PF2e remaster and I wanted to do it for Saga too, so.... Saga as a psychic, Alan as an oracle, and Jesse as a summoner, up to level 5.

Saga Anderson, Psychic 5

Ancestry: Human, Heritage: Aphorite Aphorites were first forged by axiomites, the primary inhabitants of the Eternal City of Axis, the plane of pure law. The original aphorites served as liaisons between their lawful progenitors and frustratingly unpredictable mortal allies. Marrying the logical thought processes of conformity to law and the gift of self-determination, early aphorites spread across the Material Plane to serve as Axis's proxies and enact its will. Over time, their appearances and personalities grew to resemble their mortal comrades as they were increasingly born among mortals. Aphorites still exhibit Axis's touch in their metallic skin coated in crystalline dust, aptitude for logic, strength in artisanship, and propensity for order and cooperation. But despite these links to their purpose-built origins, contemporary aphorites are undoubtedly their own masters. Background: Detective You solved crimes as a police inspector or took jobs for wealthy clients as a private investigator. You might have become an adventurer as part of your next big mystery, but likely it was due to the consequences or aftermath of a prior case.

Attributes: Strength +1, Dexterity +2, Constitution +1, Intelligence +3, Wisdom +2, Charisma +4 Perception: +9; Low-Light Vision, Darkvision Skills: Acrobatics +9, Athletics +8, Deception +11, Diplomacy +11, Intimidation +11, Lore: Underworld +12, Medicine +9, Nature +9, Occultism +10, Society +10, Survival +9

AC: 19 (Unarmored); Fortitude: +8, Reflex: +11, Will: +11 HP: 43; Resistances: Mental 2 Speed: 25 ft. Ranged Weapon: Jezail, Air Repeater, Crossbow

Class: Psychic The mind can perceive truths hidden to fine-tuned instruments, house more secrets than any tome, and move objects and hearts more deftly than any lever. By delving into both the conscious and subconscious aspects of your inner self, you have awoken to the might of psychic magic, allowing you to cast spells not through incantations or gestures but by the power of your will alone. While the thin line between your mind and reality means that a single errant thought could have unintended consequences for yourself and your companions, you know that anything is possible, if you can imagine it. Conscious Mind: The Infinite Eye Conscious Mind Spells: Sure Strike, Augury, Organsight Psi Cantrips: Detect Magic, Guidance, Glimpse Weakness The true strength of the mind lies in the knowledge it contains, with each new observation contributing to the totality of its experiences. To grow your experiences—and with them, your power—you devote yourself to observing as much as possible, casting your senses through space and time with clairvoyance and precognition. Subconscious Mind: Emotional Acceptance Psyche Actions: Restore The Mind The mind's truths come not in learned words or mathematical formulas but in deeper feelings and sensations. Emotions unlock the door to your power—you might consider your heart the source of your strength, or you might find that the infinite complexity felt in a moment expresses your power more efficiently than any string of mystic words ever could. Your thought components are emotions. You might summon the sense of freedom to buoy you through the air or let fear grip your heart even as you plant it in another's mind. Emotion components tend to impart abstract or vivid effects to your visual and auditory spell manifestations as well as more intangible flashes of emotion, such as swirls of joyous color or a sense of growing melancholy.

Other Psychic Features Clarity of Focus, Precognitive Reflexes, Signature Spells, Unleash Psyche, Counter Thought, Mental Buffer

Occult Spells 3rd: Hypercognition 2nd: Clear Mind, Umbral Mindtheft 1st: Object Reading, Runic Weapon Cantrips: Infectious Enthusiasm, Read The Air, Wash Your Luck

Aphorite Feats: Lemma of Vision, Internal Cohesion General Feats: Weapon Proficiency Skill Feats: Cognitive Crossover, Eyes of the City, Streetwise

---

Alan Wake, Oracle 5

Ancestry: Human, Heritage: Versatile Background: Artist Your art is your greatest passion, whatever form it takes. Adventuring might help you find inspiration, or simply be a way to survive until you become a world-famous artist.

Attributes: Strength +1, Dexterity +1, Constitution +2, Intelligence +3, Wisdom +2, Charisma +4 Perception: +9; Low-Light Vision Skills: Acrobatics +1, Arcana +10, Athletics +1, Crafting +12, Intimidation +11, Lore: Art +10, Nature +9, Occultism +12, Religion +9, Society +10, Stealth +8, Survival +9

AC: 18 (Unarmored); Fortitude: +9, Reflex: +8, Will: +11 HP: 58; Resistances: Physical 4 Speed: 25 ft. Ranged Weapon: Dragon Mouth Pistol, Double-Barreled Musket Melee Weapon: Stiletto Pen

Class: Oracle Your conduit to divine power eschews the traditional channels of prayer and servitude—you instead glean divine truths that extend beyond any single deity. You understand the great mysteries of the universe embodied in overarching concepts that transcend good and evil or chaos and law, whether because you perceive the common ground across multiple deities or circumvent their power entirely. You explore one of these mysteries and draw upon its power to cast miraculous spells, but that power comes with a terrible price: a curse that grows stronger the more you draw upon it. Your abilities are a double-edged sword, which you might uphold as an instrument of the divine or view as a curse from the gods. Mystery: Cosmos Celestial bodies great and small exert influence on you, giving you sublime cosmic power. Perhaps you see the glittering stars as a divine blessing, or perhaps you feel drawn to the infinitely dark spaces between. You might uphold deities like Desna, Sarenrae, or the deific lovers Shizuru and Tsukiyo who represent the sun and the moon—or you might draw power from dark entities from beyond the stars, like certain Outer Gods, or destructive gods of the night like Zon-Kuthon or the rat goddess Lao Shu Po. Mystery Benefit: Your body is as much an astronomical one as it is physical. You gain resistance equal to 2 + half your level against all physical damage. Mystery Cantrip: Dancing Lights; Revelation Spell: Spray of Stars Mystery Domain: Darkness; Domain Spell: Cloak of Shadow

Oracular Curse: Curse of the Sky's Call You have your head in the clouds—and not just figuratively. Your body is drawn toward the heavens, making you lighter and less substantial than you should be. Your eyes glow with starry light, and your hair and clothing float and drift around you. Minor Curse: Your unnatural lightness makes it hard to keep your footing and interact with other physical objects. You are enfeebled 1 and take a –2 penalty to saves and DCs against Grapple, Shove, and other forms of forced movement. Moderate Curse: Your body is drawn further skyward. You are enfeebled 2, and the penalty from your minor curse increases to –3. You are treated as one size smaller for wind effects. You gain a +2 status bonus against Trip attempts, you only take half as much damage from falls, and you gain the effects of the Powerful Leap and Quick Jump skill feats. You weigh only half as much, and your Bulk, should someone need to carry you, is also half as much. Major Curse: As your body rises, you float just above the ground beneath you. You become enfeebled 4, and the penalty from your minor curse increases to –4. You can walk on liquids as if they were solid; you gain the effects of the Cloud Jump skill feat; and you don't leave tracks, trigger weight-sensitive pressure plates, or otherwise connect with the ground below you.

Other Oracle Features Domain Acumen (Additional Domain: Moon, Domain Spell: Moonbeam), Glean Lore, Revelation Spells, Signature Spells

Divine Spells 3rd: Holy Light, Scrying Ripples 2nd: Radiant Field, Fear the Sun 1st: Breadcrumbs, Command, Bane Cantrips: Illuminate, Light, Message, Void Warp, Divine Lance

Human Feats: Gloomseer, Haughty Obstinacy General Feats: Fast Recovery, Weapon Proficiency Skill Feats: Arcane Sense, Magical Crafting, Specialty Crafting

---

Jesse Faden, Summoner 5

Ancestry: Human, Heritage: Versatile Background: Otherworldly Mission You're called to serve a specific purpose—your deity told you so, and so it must be true. Maybe you grew up knowing all along, or maybe it came to you one day in a vision, clear as a bell and twice as loud. You have some task that only you can accomplish. You mission might be as dangerous as killing a deadly tyrant or as simple as opening a particular door on a particular day. Once per adventure, you can ask the voice you believe to be a deity for orders and get some kind of instruction—you never get any kind of explanation, simply a command to go somewhere or do something. Following those commands isn't always safe, but it's usually interesting.

Attributes: Strength +1, Dexterity +3, Constitution +1, Intelligence +2, Wisdom +2, Charisma +4 Perception: +11 (+2 initiative) Skills: Acrobatics +10, Arcana +9, Athletics +8, Crafting +9, Intimidation +11, Occultism +11, Religion +9, Society +9, Stealth +10, Survival +9

AC: 20 (Unarmored); Fortitude: +10, Reflex: +10, Will: +11 HP: 63; Speed: 30 ft. Ranged Weapon: Pepperbox

Class: Summoner You can magically beckon a powerful being called an eidolon to your side, serving as the mortal conduit that anchors it to the world. Whether your eidolon is a friend, a servant, or even a personal god, your connection to it marks you as extraordinary, shaping the course of your life dramatically. Focus Spells: Boost Eidolon, Evolution Surge Eidolon Type: Construct; Tradition: Arcane, Home Plane: Astral Plane Evolution Feat: Energy Heart; Energy Type: Sonic Your eidolon is a mental construct based on an astral thoughtform and given physical presence and life by its connection to you, its shape limited only by your imagination. Your eidolon's appearance and physical form vary based on your shared vision for its construction, from clockworks to stuffed dolls and everything between, and it's not uncommon for that appearance to change greatly as your construct gains evolutions. Because it arises from an astral entity, your construct is no mindless servitor, but a fully thinking being with its own ideas, goals, and even emotions. These entities are extremely diverse; while many construct eidolons come from a powerful symbiotic connection with astral denizens, just as many arise from the forgotten memories of ancient empires and craftworks drifting across the Silver Sea of the Astral Plane.

Other Summoner Features Act Together, Link Spells, Manifest Eidolon, Share Senses, Shared Vigilance, Unlimited Signature Spells, Meld Into Eidolon, Defend Summoner

Arcane Spells 3rd: Levitate, Haste 2nd: Telekinetic Maneuver, Dancing Shield, Fleet Step (Heightened +1) Cantrips: Telekinetic Projectile, Phase Bolt, Read Aura, Warp Step, Telekinetic Hand

Human Feats: Clever Improviser, General Training General Feats: Fleet, Incredible Initiative, Untrained Improvisation, Weapon Proficiency Skill Feats: Skill Training (Athletics), Streetwise

---

I didn't do archetypes or multiclasses to keep it simple, but in the absence of 2e mythic adventures and origins (though they will be arriving soon), and since these babies are Very Special, I'd probably use it as a limited secondary leveling-up system with a bit more power (instead of archetype feats replacing class feats or alternating classes one level at at time).

Example:

If I did a multiclass for Saga, it would be Interrogation Investigator, and probably the Psychic Duelist archetype. Also, godlings are from 1e, but if the shoe fits....

If I did a multiclass for Alan, it would be Enigma Bard (less "people person" charisma and more "force of personality" charisma), and maybe with the Shadowdancer archetype as well (less "you choose the shadows" and more "the shadows choose you"). Or maybe even the Curse Maelstrom archetype...

If I did a multiclass for Jesse, it would be Spellshot Gunslinger, and then the Pactbinder or Living Vessel archetype (or both!) for sure.

Also: I need to finish QB for real before I do Jack, but I think he'd be another Oracle, for the Time Mystery, and Chronoskimmer or Time Mage for an archetype. Which means it's Oops All Charisma Classes so far.

[the-monkey-ruler]

Lovely China - The Great Qingdao of New Journey to the West (2022) 可爱的中国-新西游研学旅行记之了不起的青岛

Director: Li Minghao Screenwriter: Chen Penglin Genre: Comedy Country/Region of Production: Mainland China Language: Chinese Date: 2022-11-12 (Mainland China) Number of episodes: 13 Single episode length: 45 minutes Type: Crossover

Summary:

This is a national study and travel program that uses ancient astronomy, archeology, and oracle bones to reveal the secrets of Chinese civilization. This season, the old artists of the 86 version of Journey to the West and Professor Feng Shi, the founder of ancient astronomy and archaeology, led the children to explore more than 30 natural and cultural heritage resorts in the Haidai Civilization Zone of China, ranging from astronomical and ancient relics, geography and folk customs, The five dimensions of humanistic intangible cultural heritage, Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, and red culture provide a clear understanding of the origin and development of the Haidai civilization in the Jiaodong Peninsula.

Source: https://www.zhihu.com/topic/26562958/intro

Link: https://www.bilibili.com/bangumi/media/md28340178

[tsunflowers]

So I did some research into the what the different descendants are based on (except the ones descended from orihime and hikoboshi, because I figure more anime/manga fans already know about those, and Namahage because I know you looked into that one)

Polar Bear guy:

So "Kukeri" is named after a Bulgarian tradition, but there are many closely related traditions are found throughout the Balkans and Greece. The associated costumes cover most of the body and include decorated wooden masks of animals (sometimes double-faced) and large bells attached to the belt. "Around New Year and before Lent, the Kukeri walk and dance through villages to scare away evil spirits with their costumes and the sound of their bells. They are also believed to provide a good harvest, health, and happiness to the village for the year ahead." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukeri

ItaParu may have gotten the Polar bear costume from the North Macedonia equivalent where it is known as babari or mechkari ("bear-man").

Bucket head:

"The Paantu festival is an annual festival on the island of Miyako-jima in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture. Every year during the ninth month of the lunisolar calendar, male villagers will dress up as paantu, supernatural beings meant to spread good luck and scare away evil spirits. The common feature is a wooden mask with a large forehead, small eyes, and a thin mouth, and the spreading of sacred mud onto newly built houses or onto newborn children's faces. In some villages, the Paantu are accompanied by traditional animist noro priestesses. In other villages, the Paantu will chase after small children, making them cry, or chase after people who are avoiding having their faces smeared with the sacred mud." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paantu

[Seems to be a Ryukyuan tradition]

Weird Scale things/Palm tree bark maybe??? head:

"Akusekijima [island in the Ryukyu Archipelago] is also famous for the masked god Boze (ボゼ), the island deity. Islanders donning Boze masks come out during the annual lunar O-Bon matsuri. Protectors of the island and its natural assets, the Boze frighten small children to ensure their safety for the coming year." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akusekijima#Culture

"Usually people call it the Boze Festival, but it’s actually a Bon dance. It is also a valuable dance that has been passed down from generation to generation and is unique to this island. The festival is held for three days starting on July 14 of the lunar calendar. On the evening of the last day of the festival, the masked god Boze suddenly appears. Boze wears a strange mask made of a bamboo basket with gods and other objects pasted on it. He wears leaves of a palm tree wrapped around his body. In his hands, he holds a stick called a “bozemala.” This stick has red clay on its tip. At the end of the dance, they suddenly appear out of the forest. They chase the people around. Children and women are especially prone to attack, as it is believed that if they are poked with the sticks, they will become healthy and have children. Then, after throwing everyone around into confusion, he vanishes into nowhere. In the past, everything was burned down right away, but nowadays, they are left for while to take a photo with tourists later. The dance continues throughout the night. What is this “boze” that destroys Bon dance, causing chaos and leaving like a whirlwind? According to one theory, they are responsible for returning the souls of the dead to stay forever in the other world after life. Others say it is a way to purge the surroundings of the souls of the dead. No one knows the real reason now. The only thing I know for sure is that his appearance is nothing like any other masked deity in Japan." https://discoverdeeperjapan.com/2021/08/30/boze-the-strangest-visiting-deity/

And finally Plants Pants:

"Designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event, Yonekawa Mizukaburi is a traditional event in northern Miyagi prefecture where local men become divine messengers to protect the town from fire." https://visitmiyagi.com/events_festivals/yonekawa-mizukaburi-festival/

"The Yonekawa Mizukaburi (米川の水かぶり Yonekawa Water Pouring Festival), is a strange, amusing event that takes place every year in Miyagi Prefecture. A tradition with a history of over 800 years, the festival was originally a ritual to ward off fire in the upcoming year. Still performed on the first day of the horse in February, men gather early in the morning to put on hats, coats, and sandals made of straw and pain their faces with soot from a furnace. After offering a prayer the god of fire prevention, they begin to run through the town, yelling and shouting. Meanwhile, residents prepare water buckets to give to the men as they pass by. The men will throw the water on the houses in the area to help protect them from fire. As the men run by, town residents will also try to pluck pieces of straw from the costumes. If they get a piece of straw, it is considered a lucky charm to ward of disaster." https://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/doc/Teaching%20Tuesday/2016/02-09-16-yonekawa-mizukaburi.pdf

I still don't understand why mizukaburi would be a guy whose crotch is a flowerpot that plants grow out of

[inariedwards]

What is cultural heritage? Where does it come from and what does it do for a society?

First, there is the actual heritage – the objects, statues, memorials, buildings, and a wide variety of cultural products, customs, and traditions. These elements are not inherently heritage; they have been made so. In a process of selection, these objects – not a wide variety of other ones – were chosen to carry a specific meaning for our society.

Secondly, there is a narrative dimension – the multitudes of ways we talk about this heritage, the names we give to it, the stories we tell. This, too, is about selecting whose stories we tell as part of our shared heritage. When approached from the colonial context, deciding who gets to have a voice becomes even more important.

Finally, there is what I call the cultural archive. This archive is not a physical place. It is the manifestation of the values, stereotypes, and sentiments that societies hold. It is also where the intangible heritage of colonialism lives on. The cultural archive includes the learned behaviours we repeat without realising their harmful nature. Our cultural heritage – the selected collection of objects, traditions, and customs that we have learned to cherish and the stories we repeat in association with them – is a crucial way the coloniality of this archive is reproduced and kept alive.

Johanna Turunen: European cultural heritage and the politics of decolonisation (link)

[gtenvs3000w24]

04: Interpreting nature through art.

As a student with an appreciation for art and nature, I find myself constantly drawn to both of these two elements. Nature, with its intricate patterns, vibrant colours, and the sense of tranquility it has, can serve as a source of inspiration for many artistic endeavors. I see interpreting nature through art as a way to connect with the world around me.

I think that interpreting nature through art can be seen as a sort of “dialogue” between the artist and the natural world. It is a way for someone to engage with the environment on a deeper level, and capture not only what is seen but also the emotions and connections that come with it. Art can be used as a language for someone to convey their appreciation for the natural world. 

I've played around with various art forms like painting, sketching, or photography. Photography has been my favourite form of interpreting nature through art, and even though I haven’t done it in a while, it really allowed me to connect to nature. Each way of art allows me to communicate a specific aspect of nature's beauty that I enjoy. This process is not about replicating nature, but more about sharing my perspective and feelings, and turning the intangible aspects of nature into something visual. I view myself as a sort of middle-person in this process, sort of like a  storyteller. My goal is to convey the qualities of nature, like its beauty and resilience, in a way that resonates with others. Essentially, I'm sharing the gift of beauty, creating a connection between the viewer and the natural world.

"The gift of beauty" is an important concept that holds significance. It states that “Interpretation should instill in people the ability, and the desire, to sense the beauty in their surroundings - to provide spiritual uplift and to encourage resource preservation” (Beck et al., 2018). This statement highlights the positive impact of interpretation by emphasizing its role in nurturing people's ability to appreciate the beauty in their surroundings, creating a deeper connection to the environment. It also promotes a sense of responsibility by encouraging both spiritual uplift and a commitment to preserving resources, which contributes to a more mindful and sustainable relationship with nature.

Overall, as someone who is passionate about both art and nature, I aim to use my creativity to interpret and share the beauty that nature freely gives us. I hope to inspire others to appreciate the incredible beauty in every part of our planet in a similar way!

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., Knudson, D. M. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Available from: Sagamore Publishing LLC, Sagamore Publishing LLC, 2018.

[sepublic]

Narellus

         Meet Narellus! She wields the Blue Magestone, which turns the wielder intangible, as well as whatever and whoever they please. Narellus is a diplomat and a manipulator. She grew up in an aristocratic household, a once-famous family that has since faded into obscurity. She alone is the last one alive, but even Narellus has become a bit of a ghost since the decline.

         Found within the ruins of her family mansion, Narellus was the only participating in its upkeep; All servants had already left. Narellus was unnoticed, as was the mansion, as was her forgotten family. But she was used to it, for her secret is that she was never a part of his family lineage; She was actually a servant. And like many servants, she was an invisible ghost to her masters. One time, she was seen, just so Narellus could be struck by an angry master; Hence her eye of broken glass, which she leaves that way as a reminder. The few other times, she was recognized and acknowledged by Arkley, who validated her, though he himself was eventually exiled to the Shining Void.

         Arkley became a ghost too; And then he truly died. They’re all dead now, Narellus has outlived them and what can they do to protest Narellus claiming their heritage and inserting herself into their memory? It is a complicated and abusive relationship, her greatest shame and thrill. Still, without a household alive, what good is there in having that name? She would become a memory herself, and then a forgotten one. She was already a ghost.

         She alone kept the mansion intact; It was a living creature, its state of decay reflecting the life of a place in the most literal sense. It had seen much, but Narellus helped it live, and so it listens to her alone. In her spare time, Narellus read through the vast library left behind, teaching herself all of the manners of the aristocratic trade, all of the hidden rules, so as to become indistinguishable.

         Majikus and all others believed her. When Majikus traveled in search of someone who could wield the Blue Magestone, she heard tales of a haunted mansion and its ghost, so she checked it out. There she met Narellus, and was impressed by her pre-existing magic of intangibility, and illusions of decay that hid the carefully-maintained grandeur of the mansion.

         As a servant, Narellus learned to pick up on all of the intricacies and unspoken rules of interaction, of politics. She had to figure out fast how people work, how to decipher moods so as not to anger her masters. This made her effective at reading not just books but people, and she offered these and many skills to Majikus, bowing and putting on a display like any performer. She was here to entertain, to dazzle, and to serve.

         Majikus, deep down, didn’t entirely trust Narellus; Yet she invited her anyway. She was gifted the Blue Magestone, and despite Majikus’ suspicions, Narellus was actually quite loyal. She found a way to breathe new life into the family name and revive her clan; They would be known by all now, and she would no longer be a ghost. But for now, Narellus would pursue this idea more literally with powers of intangibility enhanced. And with invisibility and silence, she could act as a spy, an observer.

         Narellus learned the local politics and power dynamics of the Monster Realm, acting as adviser to Majikus on who to trust, who not to; What to do, what displays were needed to impress others, or terrify them. Sometimes she would suggest things such as false flag attacks to bolster the Warlocks’ popularity, which Majikus and the others turned down in disgust; But Narellus respected these refusals, for she really did mean well.

         The others saw her as a bit of a creep, for Narellus engaged with everyone like they were fairies with a million different rules to tiptoe across carefully. She was naturally curious, and an eavesdropper who wanted to know all of the lore and deepest, darkest secrets of everyone else. Due to her knack for performance and display, as well as to attending the whims of others, Narellus is a diplomat and propagandist. She knows how to appeal to the hearts of others, even if she doesn’t truly empathize herself; But she can make herself care and has.

         Narellus’ use of the Blue Magestone makes her not just intangible, but selectively so; She can make her torso ghostly, while her arm is solid. Thus she can avoid a blow while still inflicting one. However, she cannot wield any other form of magic, which makes this a bit limited. Still, if Narellus can make herself selectively intangible, she can do the same to others and the environment; The Blue Magestone is linked to souls and thus unbothered by their presence, for it mimics them.

         So she can make someone’s entire body intangible… Except for their brainstem, and then easily tear through it. This is a clean, minimal, and instant wound that leaves the body well-intact for Viracious or Editaurus to scavenge. Narellus can torture with this, too; Squeezing someone’s heart, striking key organs. Scratching an eyeball from the inside. Sometimes she’ll make a wall intangible and push a person through it halfway, then turn it solid to fuse it with them, effectively bisecting the person.

         Narellus can flicker someone on and off between their intangible state so this fusion and unfusing keeps happening until their flesh is rendered ruined. She can be a bit of a sadist. More constructively, she can use intangible and tangible states to fuse things together for construction; If two things are intangible, they can interact physically. Narellus simply operates on a different plane than everyone else, and it is unassailable, but also distant. Being intangible removes all feeling; Pain or pleasure, it can make Narellus feel distant and dissociated.

         Narellus is attuned to the moods of others, but she also has a mischievous side that likes to occasionally provoke, for she is ultimately defiant and a dreamer. Her intangibility makes her easy to avoid consequence, and she’s good at getting into people’s heads. This can help her interrogate or sway others, even get the other Warlocks into a better mood so they get along, push aside doubts over the cause, etc.

         Narellus can scream like a banshee, make things louder or more silent. Telekinesis works only on solid objects, like a poltergeist. She can mess with people’s perception of reality with illusions, and speak telepathically to better navigate situations in seemingly perfect coordination. She might even be able to peer into minds and memories… This again makes her someone to be feared, and an interrogator for a reason. She is a glass cannon; Narellus can strike brutally hard and efficiently, but her petite frame makes her easier to go down. But you have only one chance to strike her; She is otherwise invincible, yet able to slip past any defense like it doesn’t even notice her (just as she did as a servant attending to every intimate need).

         For Doylist reasons, this makes a fight more balanced; But also, Narellus is glass. Fragile, delicate, beautiful; But capable of breaking to reflect a cracked, distorted reflection. Like the lies and truth of her past, like the scars her ‘family’ inflicted upon her. Glass is impermanent in that way, like the cracked windows of the mansion that Narellus had to replace. And sharp and dangerous, something to step around carefully. Maybe Narellus is just a broken, lonely person who is more vulnerable than she seems, and not so intangible after all. And easy to see right through, in plain sight yet missed.

         If she wants to reach others, some part of her must be on the same plane; It must also be tangible, or that person intangible. In order to touch another, and make contact, Narellus herself must also allow herself to be touched; Even if she makes only a fingertip tangible, that is still opening herself to engage with the physical. That is the curse of connection, its risk, that she struggles with, and it’s why she puts everyone else at a distance to better observe them with, while obscuring herself with.

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Blog #4 Nature Interpretation Through Artwork

Personally I feel as though nature interpretation through art can encourage a specific set of feelings and emotions that is entirely unique to the individual who is interpreting it. The beauty behind nature interpretation through artwork is the fact that the experience an individual shares during this process can be different from someone else. These interpretations can form as a result of culture, experience, location, etc. Nature especially portrayed through artwork can evoke perspectives that can become eye-opening experiences for individuals who would not have interpreted it that way. Art and its use of education and depictions of nature have been a common staple throughout history, go visit a museum, they are full of artwork and pieces that tell stories!

I recently went to Rome this past summer with my family and we did a lot of walking tours. On these tours, we were educated on so many of these historical pieces. When most people think of Rome they think of the Colosseum or the Forum which is an area in Rome that is surrounded by ruins that were apart from ancient government buildings. One piece in particular that I remember vividly is Trajan's Column. It is a 98-foot column made from marble and is located in the heart of the city (Becker, n.d). This column is inscribed with artwork that resembles a movie-like story. Essentially, as you follow the artwork up the column it tells a story, like a film that keeps spinning to tell a story, and so does the column if you follow it in order. Artwork was and still continues to be a form of communication. As Beck et al. (2018) suggest, “Through the connection between a tangible thing and an intangible meaning the full spirit of a place or event may emerge”. Storytelling has become so prominent through art and the beauty behind this form of communication is there can be multiple ways to interpret these meanings. There are many different interpretations of the story depicted on Trajan’s Column however we will never really know the exact meaning beyond the artwork. Only the people who created it were the ones who would truly know the full story. 

Upclose Photo of Trajan's Column inscriptions.

My Photo from afar.

Interpretation through art and tangible and intangible things is a universal concept that allows individuals to relate to what they are interpreting (Beck et al, 2018). We can relate to certain artwork because we know what rocks feel like or the sound of waves, and in turn, these ultimately help encourage emotions and feelings from the intangibles present in the artwork. There are so many hidden meanings in artwork and each individual has the freedom to interpret it in a way that is uniquely their own. I find a sense of peace and blissfulness knowing that nature interpretation through art can facilitate messages throughout our bodies and the fact that this experience is different for everyone. The message being conveyed can impact each individual diversely. It truly can be an eye-opening experience and a way in which we can learn and bond with each other. 

Becker., J.A (n.d). Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/roman/early-empire/a/column-of-trajan#:~:text=The%20column%20itself%20is%20made,weighing%20a%20total%20of%20c.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore Publishing. 

Cartwright, M. (2013, June 09). Detail, Trajan's Column. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/1271/detail-trajans-column/

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21 Facts about the 𝗖𝘇𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰:

1. The Czech Republic was formed in 1993, following the peaceful split of Czechoslovakia in what is known as the Velvet Divorce.

2. The country is home to over 2,000 castles, making it one of the highest densities of castles in the world.

3. Prague, the capital city, is home to the largest ancient castle in the world, Prague Castle, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

4. The Czech Republic is the birthplace of the world-famous Pilsner lager, originating from the city of Plzeň (Pilsen) in 1842.

5. The country has a long tradition of puppetry and marionette exhibitions. Puppetry was added to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016.

6. The Gregor Mendel, the founder of genetics, was born in 1822 in what is now the Czech Republic.

7. The Czech Republic ranks as one of the top countries in terms of beer consumption per capita. The tradition of brewing dates back to the 10th century.

8. The currency used is the Czech koruna (CZK), as the country has not adopted the Euro.

9. The Charles University in Prague, established in 1348, is one of the oldest universities in the world.

10. The traditional Christmas dinner in the Czech Republic often includes carp, which families sometimes keep alive in their bathtubs before preparing it for the meal.

11. The Czech Republic is the birthplace of the renowned Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha.

12. The country's landscape is quite diverse, including bohemian paradise's rock cities, Moravian karst caves, and mountain ranges like the Krkonoše, home to the highest peak in the country, Sněžka.

13. The Czech Republic is known for its spa towns, including Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně, and Františkovy Lázně, attracting visitors seeking relaxation and therapeutic treatments.

14. The Moravian Karst, a protected nature reserve in the eastern part of the Czech Republic, features more than 1,000 known caves and gorges.

15. The Velocipedes Museum in Česká Třebová is one of the world's largest museums dedicated to bicycles and motorcycles.

16. The Czech language belongs to the West Slavic group of languages and is known for its challenging pronunciation and grammar.

17. Traditional Czech glassmaking and crystal production have a long history, with Bohemian crystal being highly prized worldwide.

18. The Olomouc cheese, known as Olomoucké syrečky or tvarůžky, is a smelly, aged cheese from the region of Olomouc, famous throughout the country.

19. The Czech Republic has a significant tradition of animation and film, with filmmakers like Jan Švankmajer gaining international acclaim.

20. Kutná Hora, a town in the Czech Republic, is home to the Sedlec Ossuary, a small Roman Catholic chapel, adorned with decorations made out of human bones.

21. The Czech Republic was the first former Eastern Bloc state to gain developed economy status according to the World Bank, showcasing its successful transition from a state-controlled economy to a market-driven one.