BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: In the vibrant tapestry of human civilisation, intangible cultural heritage (ICH) serves as a living thread, weaving together the wisdom, creativity, and spiritual essence of diverse communities across time and borders.
For China’s Yunnan Province and Brunei Darussalam, two regions blessed with profound cultural roots, this thread has evolved into a sturdy bridge of friendship, fostering deep mutual understanding and inspiring civilisational exchange through the shared appreciation of their unique living traditions.
Yunnan, a captivating melting pot of more than 25 ethnic groups in southwest China, boasts an extraordinarily rich and diverse intangible cultural heritage landscape. It is a sanctuary for countless national treasures.
The Hai Cai Qiang, a melodic and high-pitched folk song of the Yi people, echoes across the mountain valleys and is inscribed on China’s national ICH list.
The intricate Yi embroidery, renowned for its bold colors, symbolic patterns of animals and flowers, and exquisite needlework, tells stories of ethnic history and identity.
The ethereal Dongba paintings of the Naxi people, a unique pictographic art form dating back over a millennium, represent one of the world’s last surviving pictograph systems.
Additionally, the energetic Yi Da Ge (group dance) and the gentle Dai Paper Making further exemplify the province’s vibrant, living heritage.
These are not static relics but dynamic expressions of life, passionately sustained by generations of dedicated inheritors.
Similarly, Brunei’s cultural heritage is a profound reflection of its unique Malay-Islamic identity and maritime history.
A landmark achievement came in 2025 when Pantun, the traditional Malay poetic form, was officially inscribed onto the Unesco Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
This elegant four-line poetic art, rich in metaphor, wit, and moral wisdom, is a cornerstone of Brunei’s oral tradition and social etiquette.
Complementing this literary gem are Brunei’s exquisite traditional crafts: masterful silver-smithing, delicate songket weaving, and the crafting of the iconic Songkok cap, all meticulously preserved and promoted at the Brunei Arts and Handicrafts Training Centre.
A deep cultural resonance exists between Yunnan’s ethnic communities and Brunei, rooted in shared values of reverence for nature, strong family and community bonds, and a harmonious way of life.
Recent years have witnessed a flourishing and tangible era of people-to-people ICH exchanges. During the 2026 “Harbour Night” cultural gala held in Brunei, Yunnan’s ICH masters captivated local audiences.
Dongba painting inheritor Yang Zhengyuan showcased the ancient pictographs live; custom-made bookmarks and calligraphy featuring the Year of the Horse blessings became highly sought-after souvenirs.
Master Liang Junli’s exquisite dough figurines, depicting vivid scenes from the ancient Silk Road, beautifully paralleled Brunei’s glorious maritime Silk Road legacy. These living art forms transcended language barriers, creating heartfelt moments of connection.
This meaningful cultural dialogue extends far beyond mere exhibitions. During Yunnan’s famous Water Splashing Festival, Bruneian students discovered a shared cultural language in water, which symbolises purity, renewal, and blessing in both cultures.
On the international fashion stage, Yun-nan’s world-famous Yi embroidery has been showcased alongside traditional textiles from Brunei and other Asean nations, vividly promoting the vision of “Beauty in Shared Diversity.”
Such exchanges are a powerful testament to the beauty and necessity of civilisational mutual learning. They clearly demonstrate that despite geographical distances, the human heart beats to the same rhythm of creativity, respect for tradition, and pursuit of beauty.
Yunnan’s multi-ethnic vibrancy and Brunei’s refined Malay heritage do not exist in isolation; instead, they enrich, inspire, and elevate one another.
Looking ahead, strengthening this ICH partnership holds immense promise for the future.
Joint re-search projects, youth inheritance workshops, and digital innovation will ensure these ancient arts adapt and thrive in the modern world.
The story of Yunnan and Brunei’s cultural connection is ultimately a story of shared humanity.
It proves that by sincerely cherishing our own heritage and openly embracing that of others, we weave a stronger, more harmonious, and infinitely more colourful tapestry for our global community, a true celebration of harmony in diversity.
– Liu Ting, Director and Professor International Collaboration Center, Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences & Chinese (Kunming) Academy of South and Southeast Asia Studies via Borneo Bulletin/ANN
