Humankind stands out from animals in the way of passing knowledge on in the form of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). According to UNESCO’s Convention, community-based ICH including oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, etc., is an important factor in maintaining cultural diversity. It also reflects the way of understanding the living world by the community.
In order to preserve for our descendants the unique form of ICH in Southern Jiangsu and Wu Culture therein, the Department of Chinese Language and Literature (Key Disciplines at the Provincial Level) in Changshu Institute of Technology recruited nine teachers to form the Innovative Team of Wu Chinese, Oral Traditions and Intangible Cultural Heritage in Southern Jiangsu (©WU-ICH), mainly funded by Jiangsu Education Department (No. 2017ZSTD015) in 2017.
Led by Prof. WANG Jian who has published over 10 papers in Studies of the Chinese Language [Zhongguo Yuwen], Dialect [Fangyan], Chinese Linguistics [Hanyu Xuebao], ©WU-ICH aims to decipher the cultural genes of Jiangnan with special focus on three fields.
Wu Chinese and Linguistics
Wu Chinese is the carrier of some forms of ICH, and also a representation of cultural cognition. Our linguistic research hereof includes A Contrastive Study on Grammar of Dialects in Jiangsu and Anhui (Commercial Press, 2014), Merger reversal in chinese dialects influenced by contact with Mandarin (Zhongguo Yuwen, 2019(4)), etc.
Investigation and Collection of ICH
Distinct forms of oral ICH scatter over Jiangnan, which call for thorough investigation and careful compilation. Our efforts thereon is showcased by Changshu Baojuan (Guwuxuan Press, 2015), Compilation and Study of “Avatamsaka Sūtra Ongi Shiki” (Fenghuang Press, 2014).
Music and Oral Traditions
The oral traditions records down Wu Culture. We have recorded down the oral traditions and the arts of sound hereof by An evaluation of melody and types of Quyi in traditional JiangnanXuanjuan (Chinese Music [Zhongguo Yinyue], 2011(4)), A Research into Music Stability of YangzhouQingqu (Guangming Daily Press 2013), etc.
