The Committee

1. Takes note that the Republic of Korea has nominated Seokjeon Daeje, ceremony in honour of great Confucian scholars for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, described as follows:

Seokjeon Daeje is a traditional rite that pays tribute to the teachings and virtues of Confucius and other ancient sages and scholars. It is held twice-yearly in the second and eighth lunar months at the Confucian shrine, Munmyo, located in Sungkyunkwan, the National Academy of the Joseon Dynasty. The participants include twenty-seven officiants, forty-two musicians and sixty-four dancers. Memorial tablets of the sixteen greatest sages, including Confucius, his early disciples and Korean Confucians who spread his teachings, are found in the shrine. The ceremony in their honour is characterized by the observance of ritual etiquette, order and the performance of traditional music and dance based upon Confucian ideals. Embedded within the Seokjeon Daeje ceremony is the concept of harmony among the universe, nature and man, encompassed in the theories of yin and yang and the five elements. The ceremony is transmitted through education and apprenticeship in the form of lectures and courses given at the Seokjeon Daeje Safeguarding Association and the Seokjeon Education Centre in Sungkyunkwan. Although the ceremonies are held at the Munmyo shrine, participants are often invited to other parts of the country to demonstrate their ritual.

2. Decides that, from the information provided in nomination file 00449, Seokjeon Daeje, ceremony in honour of great Confucian scholars satisfies the criteria for inscription on the Representative List, as follows:

R.4:   The nomination has been submitted with the participation of the community, and key institutions and a master gave their free, prior and informed consent;

R.5:   At the request of the groups and individuals concerned, Seokjeon Daeje was designated in 1986 as an Important Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Division of the Cultural Heritage Administration.

3. Further decides that the information provided in nomination file 00449, Seokjeon Daeje, ceremony in honour of great Confucian scholars, is not sufficient to allow the Committee to determine whether the criteria for inscription on the Representative List are satisfied, as follows:

R.1:   The submitting State is requested to provide additional information on the present-day significance of the element as well as to describe the specific roles or categories of persons involved in this ritual;

R.2:   Because the viability of Seokjeon Daeje is said to be in great danger, the submitting State should clearly demonstrate how its inscription on the Representative List could contribute to visibility and awareness of the significance of the intangible cultural heritage;

R.3:   Although numerous safeguarding measures are proposed, they focus on promoting the music associated with the element and enhancing tourism more than on strengthening the viability of the Seokjeon Daeje rite as a whole; additional information would be needed on the involvement and commitment of the community in ongoing and future safeguarding measures.

4. Decides to refer the nomination of Seokjeon Daeje, ceremony in honour of great Confucian scholars to the submitting State Party and invites it to resubmit the nomination in a subsequent cycle, providing the additional information specified with regard to criteria R.1, R.2 and R.3.