Forward

There is a Korean proverb, ‘Ten years is an epoch.’ A lot can happen in ten years including changing the face of nature.

In this respect, publishing Volume 11 of the International Journal of Intangible Heritage in 2016 means a lot. Since starting the journal in 2006, we have established a solid foothold as an international journal. 2015 was a momentous occasion as we celebrated our tenth anniversary. This is the time to begin the next ten years, and it is a good opportunity to remind everyone about the importance of intangible heritage.

The National Folk Museum of Korea has strived to provide high quality archival resources and to cooperate with researchers through collecting and recording both tangible and intangible resources, while publishing the International Journal of Intangible Heritage along with various other projects.

We think intangible cultural heritage is just as valuable as tangible heritage. In particular, cultural heritage is not a dying legacy but is continuously reproduced and rejuvenated generation after generation. Intangible heritage is credited with being the procedure and practice that provide the bridge between past and present. Hence, the National Folk Museum of Korea will continue to pursue a combination of research into intangible and tangible folk heritage, along with exhibitions and experiential education.

Articles in Volume 11 of the International Journal of Intangible Heritage present a variety of themes in terms of subject, field of research and period. The subjects covered in this volume include sacred natural sites, vanishing music, ‘sailing’, policies and issues about intangible heritage, the hidden meaning of space and cultural icons bridging past and present. From a geographical point of view, the journal includes the outcome of research about hidden cultures all over the world including Nigeria, India, Barbados, Brazil, Spain, China, and many more.

In addition, through a book review of UNESCO on the Ground, Local Perspectives on Intangible Cultural Heritage the journal stresses the importance of intangible heritage, along with heightening its role at the national level. Likewise, we need to expand the research about the intangible heritage of vanishing cultures so they can be safeguarded. As a publisher I am proud of the fact that this journal has been issued for over a decade by the National Folk Museum of Korea.

This year begins our second decade; a new challenge is developing our publication facilities to improve this resource for researchers. The first change is to upgrade our website to improve accessibility and utility as well as to collect more information, including through the continued development of our author, subject and volume indexes. Secondly, we shall try to stay up to date with today’s technology, publishing the journal as both a printed book and as an E-book; our goal is to increase interest in intangible heritage by utilising various media. We are very excited about finding new ways to further raise the status of the International Journal of Intangible Heritage to the highest global standards. We will continue to improve and will strive to do our very best.

Finally, I would like to express appreciation to the people who support the publication of the journal. First of all, thank you to the authors who contributed their valuable articles from their in-depth research. They are the ones who make it possible to create the journal. Next, the advisory committee, the editorial board members, and the text editor for all their hard work and enthusiasm. Also, the publication secretariat and the journal team at the National Folk Museum of Korea who are so dedicated to their work. Above all, I want to express a debt of gratitude to the editor-in-chief, Alissandra Cummins, for her unwavering passion from abroad. It is the interest of such people that provides the best support that enables us to continue to publish high quality journals. I look forward to your unstinting advice and continued cooperation for a brighter future for the International Journal of Intangible Heritage.