UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List In Azerbaijan

UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage from Azerbaijan includes 15 examples. 13 of them were included in the "Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humatiy", and 2 (the Chovgan horse-riding game played with the Karabakh horse and the traditional group dances of Nakhchivan – yalli, kochari, tanzera) were included in the " Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Protection". No examples from Azerbaijan were included in the "Register of Good Safeguarding Practices". The Azerbaijani mugham, the first sample from Azerbaijan to be added to the list of intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO, was included in the list in 2008.

The concept of intangible cultural heritage is regulated by the Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which was adopted at the 32nd session of UNESCO in Paris in 2003 and entered into force in 2006. The inclusion of new heritage elements in UNESCO's lists of intangible cultural heritage is determined by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage established by the convention. According to UNESCO, intangible cultural heritage includes holidays, festivals, performances, oral traditions, music and handicrafts.

UNESCO intangible cultural heritage samples selected from Azerbaijan are taken in the "Europe and North America" category. 10 of Azerbaijan's heritage examples are unique to Azerbaijan, and 5 are multinational. Countries with shared multi-ethnic heritage patterns are from West, Central and South Asia. Iran, Turkey and Kazakhstan are the countries with the most examples of shared heritage with Azerbaijan.

Some cultural artifacts are exclusive to certain Azerbaijani localities ( Nakhchivan , Basqal, Lahic, Goychay, Shaki). Particularly, the Ismailli district is the one with the greatest amount of cultural treasures (Basqal pottery and Lahic copper art).

The first object, Azerbaijani mugham, was included into the list in 2008.

List

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

} en, According to historical sources, the six Caspian districts of Azerbaijan produced 18,000 rugs and carpet fabrics in 1843. Carpets from Shirvan and Guba were sold in Baku and those from Kazak and Ganja in Tabriz and Istanbul. The main region for the production of Caucasian carpets was Azerbaijan, and the ideas and weaving prowess of Azerbaijani weavers were felt all throughout the Caucasus.

The intricate geometric designs found in Guba, Shirvan, and Gazakh carpets, which feature animal and human schematic figures positioned along the same axis in the center of polygonal or star-shaped medallions, are their defining feature. Karabakh carpets are distinguished by their numerous flower themes and various plant embellishments. Among the geometric shapes seen in Azerbaijani carpets are the swastika, which goes back to the historical beliefs of polytheism, and the octagonal star surrounded by rhombuses and squares. Later, under the influence of Tabriz culture, elements of the plant world appear in other schools.

Related Topics: Azerbaijani mythology, natural dyes etc.

Bioms: Agroecosystem
,

00389

SD0100000001
, -
, 5
, The performance of tar and the mastery of its craftship (2012)

''(See also: Tar (Azerbaijani instrument))''
, 1) ənənəvi sənətkarlıq
2) ifaçılıq sənətləri
, Tar is the main musical instrument of Mugham triads in Azerbaijani folklore orchestras and ensembles, and played an important role in the formation of the cultural identity of Azerbaijanis. Tar has been popular in Azerbaijan since the 18th century. Azerbaijan tar was created in the 19th century by Mirza Sadiq and swiftly gained popularity in Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and, after some time, Dagestan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkey.

The bowl part of the tar is made of mulberry wood, the handle is made of walnut wood, and the head part is made of pear wood.The art of making tar is frequently passed down to family members who work as apprentices. There are currently numerous such masters in Baku and the country's surrounding areas.

Bioms: pastures, mountains
,

00671

ST0803000001
, -
, 6
, The traditional art of making and wearing Kelaghayi and its symbolism (2014)
, rowspan="2" , 1) traditional crafts
2) social practices, rituals and celebrations
3) knowledge and experiences of nature and the universe
, Kalagayi is a square-shaped headdress woven from silk thread belonging to women in Azerbaijan. The art of making kalaghayi, whose origins go back to traditions along the Great Silk Road, is being developed in the city of Shaki and Basgal. This process includes cloth weaving, painting, and decoration using wooden molds. Since the art of making kalagai is passed down within the family, each family has its own characteristics and ornaments. The color of pumpkins has a symbolic meaning and should be appropriate for weddings, funerals, daily activities and participation in events.

Geographical indicators: yalkhi ispirak kelagayi, duvag kelagayi, Heirati kelagayi, 7-colors kelagayi, Abbasali kelagayi

Related topics: illustration printing, natural dyes, etc.

Bioms: Agroecosystem, Mountain,
,

00669

SD0302000001
, -
, 7
, Lahıc copper craft (2015) 1) traditional crafts 2) social practices, rituals and celebrations 3) knowledge and experiences of nature and the universe
, Lahıc settlement has been famous for coppersmithing, tableware and weapon decoration for a long time. LLahij tableware spread in the Caucasus, Persia and Asia Minor. The development of coppersmithing in Lahij affected the structure of the settlement and the daily life of the residents, and led to the development of about 40 types of crafts and auxiliary fields in the 19th century. At the end of the 19th century, the import of cheap Russian products led to a decrease in the number of copper workshops. However, despite this, the traditions of this type of craftsmanship have survived to this day.

Related Topics: Engraving, Furniture etc.

Bioms:mountain, urban places
,

00675

ST0702000001
, -
, 8
, LavashLavash is the name given to this asset by UNESCO for Azerbaijan. katyrma, jupka, and yufka for other nations. preparation and sharing culture (2016)
, 1) social practices, rituals and celebrations
2) oral traditions and forms of expression
3)knowledge and experiences of nature and the universe
, (Sharing with 4 countries)
, Lavash is one of the most common types of bread in Azerbaijan. The word lavash is used in the sense of "thin bread". This type of bread is baked on a tava. When the bride comes home after the wedding in Sabirabad region, the mother-in-law throws lavash on the bride's shoulder: "Blessings come to this house with you, may your feet fall." After mourning in Novkhani, sometimes " kulche", lavash with halva is served. In Erzurum, taking into account the fact that lavash is also prepared in Azerbaijan, the expression "acem bread" ( tr, acem ekmeği) is used.A STUDY ON TURNING ERZURUM LAVAS (ACEM) BREAD INTO A TOURISTIC PRODUCT. NESLIHAN CETINKAYA, SALİH YILDIZ. Journal of Current Tourism Studies.

Related Topics: nomad, fertility ritual, commemoration of the dead, etc.

Bioms: Agroecosystem, urban places
,

01181

ST0901000002
, -
, 9
, The tradition of making and sharing tradition of dolma, an indicator of cultural identity (2017)
, 1) social practices, rituals and celebrations
2) knowledge and experiences of nature and the universe
,
,
There are different types of Azerbaijani dolma according to the material in which the minced meat is wrapped (leaf stuffing, stuffed sorrel, cabbage roll, eggplant stuffing, plantain stuffing), as well as the characteristics of the prepared stuffing (false stuffing, wonderful stuffing, etc.). In Azerbaijan, dolma is divided into two groups: leaves and stuffing. Leaf stuffing is made by wrapping the filling in various vegetable leaves. Grape leaves, as well as mulberry leaves, plantains, pip (peanuts), zikh (sorrel, sorrel), quince, and cabbage leaves are used for this purpose. Stuffed dumplings are made by filling vegetables or fruits with stuffing. Tomato, sweet pepper, eggplant, apple, quince, borage, cucumber, onion, etc. are included in this dish. It refers to the types of stuffing. In addition, the stuffing of the dolman is cucurbita stuffing (made from cucurbita filled with filling), mushroom stuffing (stuffing is made from cheese and crumbled bread), quince stuffing (stuffing is made from meat, quince, chestnut, salt and herbs), cucumber stuffing, potato stuffing, onion stuffing although there are types, they are characteristic of certain regions.

Geographical indications: lemon stuffed, dry stuffed, white egg stuffed, olive stuffed, kira stuffed, walnut filling, apple stuffed, fish stuffed, pip stuffed, guba stuffedAnalytical review of industry examples, geographical indications and trademarks in Azerbaijan. Intellectual Property Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Baku, 2020

Related topics: hospitality, gender distribution of work, etc.

Bioms: agroecosystem, mountains, urban places
,

01188

ST0902040001
, -
, 10
, Kamancha performance art and the mastery of its craftship (2017)
, 1) traditional crafts
2) performing arts
,

,
Kamancha is the main element of Azerbaijani classical music and Azerbaijani folk music. The art of playing kamancha plays an important role in social and cultural gatherings. Sosial və mədəni yığıncaqlarda kamança ifa sənəti vacib yer tutur. According to the Encyclopædia Iranica, Azerbaijani musical art was performed in other regions of the Caucasus, especially among Armenians who mastered the mugham system and stringed musical instruments such as tar and kamanchah.Encyclopedia Iranica. Azerbaijan. Music of Azerbaijan
/ref>

Related topics: epic poetry, hospitality, etc.

Bioms: agroecosystem, urban places
,

01286

ST0803000002
, -
, 11
, Dede Gorgud heritage, epic culture, tales and music (2018)
tales and music (2018)
, 1) performing arts
2) social practices, rituals and celebrations
3) oral traditions and forms of expression
,

, The Dede Gorgud saga is about the wars "against the infidels" in the Caucasian lands captured by the Oghuz Bahadirs. Although its origin is Central Asia, it was formed in the territory of Azerbaijan, where the Oghuz are densely populated. The last form of the saga was written in the XV century in the territory of modern Azerbaijan. The epic is written in Azerbaijani in the Dresden manuscript and Anatolian Turkish in the Vatican copy.Kitabi Dede Gorgud = Kitabi-Dədə Gorgud / Compiled, transcription, simplified version and foreword by Farhada Zeynalova and Sameta Alizade. - B.: Writer, 1988. - 265 p. — ISBN 5560002518. (Azerbaijani) There are fantastic motifs of Azerbaijani fairy tales along the border. The theme of the Dede Gorgud saga has been used in Azerbaijani literature, theater and cinematography.

In 2018, the third copy of the Dede Gorgud epic was written in the dialect of South Azerbaijan, especially Tabriz. It belongs to the XVII-XVIII centuries.

Related Topics: nomad, Mythology of Azerbaijan etc.

Bioms: agroecosystem, mountains
,

01399

FL0104010003
, -
, 12
, Pomegranate Festival,
traditional pomegranate festival and culture (2020)
, 1) traditional crafts
2) art performing

3) social practices, rituals and celebrations

4) oral traditions and forms of expression

5) knowledge and experiences of nature and the universe
,
, , Pomegranate Day is a holiday that celebrates the traditional use and symbolic meaning of the pomegranate product in Goychay district every year in October–November. Pomegranate cultivation is not only a source of inspiration for culinary arts, but also for handicrafts, decorative arts, legends, storytelling and other creative fields. Both the pomegranate and the holiday itself serve a variety of cultural and social functions, from traditional food to poetry. Symbolically, the pomegranate is associated with long-lasting fertility and abundance, and is considered a source of energy. In Azerbaijani legends, pomegranate is a symbol of love and desire.

Pomegranate holiday was celebrated in Moscow on the initiative of cultural autonomy of Moscow Azerbaijanis.

Related Topics: Myths, storytelling etc.

Bioms: agroecosystem, mountain
,

01511
,
, -
, 13
, Miniature(2020)
, 1) traditional crafts
2) knowledge and experiences of nature and the universe
, (Sharing with 3 countries)
, In the middle of the 15th century, the " Turkmen" style of the Tabriz miniature school, which was widespread in the territory of the Qara Qoyunlu and later Aq qoyunlu states, appeared. Many miniature examples of this style appeared not only in Tabriz, but also in some medieval cities located in the territory of modern Azerbaijan, in Shamakhi, the capital of the Shirvanshah state (Shamakhi anthology manuscript, 1468, British Museum, London)."Популярная художественная энциклопедия." Ed. Field V. M.; M.: Publishing house "Soviet Encyclopedia"", 1986.
/ref>Efendi R. Azerbaijani art. — B.: East-West, 2007. — 160 с. — ISBN 978-9952-34-116-4.

In the Middle Ages, book illustration was a traditional art in Azerbaijan. The famous miniaturists of the 19th century, Avazali Mughani (" Kalila and Dimna", 1809), Mirza Aligulu ("Shahnameh", 1850), Najafgulu Shamakhili ("Yusuf and Zulaikha", 1887) continued this art. The book miniatures of artist Mir Mohsen Nawab have reached our time. The most famous of them are the 5 miniatures he painted in 1864 for "Bahr ul-hazan" ("Sea of Sorrow"). Miniature art continued during the Soviet and independence periods.Art critic Ziyadkhan Aliyev. "Arif Huseynov. Wisdom of Lines". Baku. Aspolygraph. 2013

Related topics: dying technology, handwritings etc.
,

01598

SV0400000001
, -

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

No example from Azerbaijan is included in this UNESCO list.

Nominations

Ongoing Nominations

Reserved Nominations

Intangible cultural heritage cooperation

Notes

References

{{, en, The art music of Azerbaijan is connected with the Irano-Arabo-Turkish art of the maqām, of which the great theoreticians were notably Ṣafī-al-dīn Ormavī (d. 693/1294) and ʿAbd-al-Qāder b. Ḡaybī Marāḡī (d. 838/1435), who were originally from Urmia and Marāḡa in Azerbaijan.
UNESCO
Azerbaijani culture
Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity