By Wu Meng

Recently the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) revealed its latest list of "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity."

The 22 examples of national heritage that China submitted are all included. China now has 26 traditional crafts recognized on the UNESCO list, out of 166 worldwide, the largest contribution from any single country.

As a multi-ethnic country with a time-honored history and splendid ancient civilization, China enjoys an extremely rich cultural heritage. From festive paper cutting, a traditional art in China, to the Water- Sprinkling Festival of the Dai and some other ethnic minority groups, China's varied and deep culture is well-represented.

However, the protection and promotion of Chinese cultural heritage requires more than just inclusion on a paper list.

China's cultural heritage has often been threatened in the past. During the 19th century, important items, such as the Dunhuang scrolls, were either bought by Westerners from entrepreneurial locals or, during war, outright looted.

It might seem that skills and crafts are less subject to such pillaging (although the Japanese once kidnapped hundreds of Korean potters during an invasion).

But during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), traditional crafts were attacked as part of an unwanted past. Skills that had been passed down for hundreds of years were lost in a decade of chaos.

These arts aren't just important because of the tangible goods they produce, however beautiful. They represent part of our link with the past.

Watching a potter working on his wheel, or a guqin player strumming her instrument, we see an unbroken tradition going back to our ancestors, who could have watched the very same things.

It acknowledges our past, our art, and our shared appreciation of beauty.

A recent report is a reminder of how endangered the heritage we take for granted might be.

For instance, block printing was invented in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province in the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD). There are only two people alive who have the skills of this "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity," as the government describes it.

It's not a financially rewarding job and the government gives little support, so block printing faces a shortage of apprentices.

Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) – or living heritage – is the mainspring of our cultural diversity and its maintenance a guarantee for continued creativity.

It reflects the way our ancestors lived. When people are in a celebratory mood for the victory of inclusion on the UNESCO list, we should also realize the urgency of concretely protecting China's ancient culture as soon as possible.

Compared with neighboring Japan, the Chinese government offers much less financial support for traditional crafts.

The Chinese government gives practitioners of ancient arts 8,000 yuan ($1,172) every year as a subsidy for their contribution in passing the tradition on to the next generation.

In Japan, by contrast, the subsidy per person is as high as 2 million yen ($22,338). Chinese living costs are lower than those in Japan, but not that much lower!

Intangible heritage is confronted with great challenges in China. The protection of intangible cultural heritage brooks no delay.