- Living National Treasures of Japan
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For similar honors awarded in other countries, see Living National Treasure. For the designation awarded to cultural properties, see National Treasures of Japan.
Living National Treasure (人間国宝 Ningen Kokuhō) is a Japanese popular term for those individuals certified as Preservers of Important Intangible Cultural Properties (重要無形文化財保持者 Jūyō Mukei Bunkazai Hojisha) by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as based on Japan's Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties (文化財保護法 Bunkazai Hogōhō). The term "Living National Treasure" is not formally mentioned in the law, but is an informal term referencing the cultural properties designated as the National Treasures of Japan.
Contents
Overview
Living National Treasure is a term for those designated as keepers of important intangible cultural properties. Under the 1950 Law for Protection of Cultural Properties, intangible cultural properties are defined as dramatic, musical, artistic, and other intangible cultural artifacts of high value in terms of Japanese history or art (Article 2, Section 1, Part 2). Those intangible cultural properties of especial importance can be designated as "Important Intangible Cultural Properties" by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Article 71, Section 1). In other words, intangible cultural properties are certain artistic skills. Those individuals or groups who have attained high levels of mastery in those certain skills can be designated as preservers of them by the Japanese government for the purpose of ensuring their continuation.
Types of Certification
There are three types of certification:
- Individual Certification (各個認定 Kakko Nintei): this designation is for individuals who "have attained high mastery" of an art or craft.
- Collective Certification (総合認定 Sōgō Nintei): this designation is for groups of 2 or more who as a group working in common have attained high mastery of an art or craft.
- Preservation Group Certification (保持団体認定 Hoji Dantai Nintei): this designation is for large groups who have mastered an art or craft in which individual character is not emphasized.
Of the three types, generally only those to have received "Individual Certification" are referred to as Living National Treasures. Those working in artistic fields such as drama and music receive Individual and General Certifications, while those working in the crafts receive Individual or Preservation Group Certifications.
Support System
The Japanese government, with the goal of preserving important intangible cultural assets, provides a special annual grant of 2 million yen to Living National Treasures. In the case of groups, the government helps defray the costs of public exhibitions and activities necessary to continue the group. The National Theater of Japan provides training programs to help train successors in such arts as Noh, Bunraku, and Kabuki.
Categories
To date Living National Treasures have been certified for 16 categories of Intangible Cultural Properties:
- Performing Arts: Gagaku, Noh, Bunraku, Kabuki, Kumi Odori, Music, Dance, and Drama
- Crafts: Ceramics, Textiles, Lacquerware, Metalworking, Dollmaking, Woodworking, Papermaking, and Miscellaneous Crafts
List of Living National Treasures
- List of Living National Treasures of Japan (performing arts)
- List of Living National Treasures of Japan (crafts)
See also
- National Treasures of Japan
- List of National Treasures of Japan
References
National Treasures of Japan Buildings and structuresFine Arts and craftsAncient documents · Archaeological materials · Crafts: others · Crafts: swords · Historical materials · Paintings · Sculptures · Writings: Chinese books · Writings: Japanese books · Writings: othersCultural Properties of Japan Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan Designations/Registrations National Treasures of Japan · Important Cultural Properties of Japan · Registered Tangible Cultural Properties of JapanLists Lists of National Treasures of JapanIntangible Cultural Properties of Japan Designations Important Intangible Cultural Properties · Preservers of Important Intangible Cultural PropertiesLists List of Important Intangible Cultural Properties · List of Living National Treasures of Japan (crafts) · List of Living National Treasures of Japan (performing arts)Folk Cultural Properties of Japan Designations/Registrations Lists List of Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties · List of Important Intangible Folk Cultural PropertiesMonuments of Japan Designations/Registrations Lists List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural MonumentsCultural Landscapes of Japan Designations Lists Groups of Traditional Buildings Designations Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings · Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional BuildingsLists List of Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional BuildingsConservation Techniques for Cultural Properties Designations Selected Conservation TechniquesLists List of Selected Conservation TechniquesBuried Cultural Properties This culture-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
