Research & Article

Nowadays, the addressing of significance and values for cultural heritage has been extended from tangible to intangible properties. Such awareness could be evident from recent definition by UNESCO in 2003, which signify the importance of “co-existence” between tangible objects (such as cluster of buildings, archaeological site, or antiques) together with abstract matters, so-called “intangible cultural heritage”, which express people’s way of living and community evolutions. This study aims to understand the intangible cultural heritage. Through the review of articles, this paper addresses the key points of “intangible cultural heritage” as an important component for the whole cultural heritage – it connects and reflects the inseparable meanings and values between tangible and intangible matters. Furthermore, this paper illustrates the concepts and development of value and significance given for intangible cultural heritage; and also comparatively discusses issues relating to the protection of intangible cultural heritage both in the global and local level.

This paper concluded that three important aspects in the ‘reading’ of intangible cultural heritage consisting of definitions, manifestations, and key principals of intangible cultural heritage are the key to build up knowledge regarding the protection of cultural heritage of the city in every aspect. Such understanding could bring benefits to the conservation of old town, historic city, as well as the value evaluation process for cultural heritage or even the city, and also steering the registering process as a heritage site in the future.