UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage from Azerbaijan includes twenty-three elements: twenty-one of them were included in the "Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity", and two (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 elements selected from Azerbaijan are taken in the "Europe and North America" category. Eleven of Azerbaijan's heritage elements are unique to Azerbaijan, and twelve 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 elements 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 element, Azerbaijani mugham, was included into the list in 2008.Azerbaijan – Information related to Intangible Cultural Heritage
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Legend and domains:
Representative List Name (date) Description Image Registration UNESCO National Azerbaijani Mugham (2008) Mugham is the classical musical and poetic art of Azerbaijanis.Гуревич П. С. Музыка народов нашей страны. — М.: Знание, 1975. — С. 27. — 143 с. Until the 19th century, mugham art developed in the palaces of feudal lords, and later in literary and musical gatherings.Карагичева Л. В. Азербайджанская ССР. — М.: Государственное музыкальное издательство, 1956. — С. 37. — 100 с.Всемирное наследие Содружества Независимых Государств. — М.: Новая Элита, 2013. — С. 480. The Azerbaijani mugham currently includes of seven primary mughams (Rast, Shur, Segah, Chahargah, Bayaty-Shiraz, Shushtar, Humayun, and Kurd-Ovshari), as well as percussion mughams (Heyraty, Arazbari, Samayi-Shams, Mansuriyya, Mani, Ovshari, Heydari, Kara (Mahur-Hindi, Orta Mahur, Bayaty-Qajar, Dughah). In Azerbaijan, a mugham trio made up of performers of the tar, kamancha, and gaval is typically used to accompany mugham performances.
The tasnif can be done either before or after the mugham. Ghazals make up the majority of the texts for the classifications, while couplets, garayli, bayati, and other syllable-weighted poetry may also be utilized. The classifications cover topics such as love songs, societal issues, and Azerbaijani culture.Azerbaijani folk songs and classifications/Azərbaycan xalq mahnı və təsnifləri. Gafar Namazaliyev/ Qafar Namazəliyev, 1985.
Related topics: Sufism, religious experience etc.
Biome: mountain, urban places
Risk Factors: rapid socio-cultural changes 00039 FM0300000001 Art of Azerbaijani Ashiq (2009) Ashik art is a continuation of the minstrels' history and is a synthesis of poetry, narrative, dance, and vocal instrumental music.C. F. Albright. ʿĀŠEQ (англ.) // Encyclopædia Iranica. — 2011. — Vol. II. — P. 741–742 In the past, ashiks wrote poems in the style of epics, fairy stories, lyrical and satirical songs about love, beautifications, master poems, mukhammas, dubeyt, and dodagdymez while performing in teahouses, caravanserais, and market squares.К. А. Касимов. Народы Азербайджанской Советской Социалистической Республики. Азербайджанцы. Народное творчество / Под редакцией Б. А. Гарданова, А. Н. Гулиева, С. Т. Еремяна, Л. И. Лаврова, Г. А. Нерсесова, Г. С. Читая. — Народы Кавказа: Этнографические очерки: Издательство Академии наук СССР, 1962. — Т. 2. — С. 160. — 684 с. Ashiq music spread in Ganja (north-west, Tovuz, Gazakh), Karabakh and Nakhchivan regions of Azerbaijan, as well as in Salyan, Tabriz, Garadag, Maragha, Khoy and Urmia regions of South Azerbaijan.Jean During. Azerbaijan 2. Musical categories. // Nеw Grоvе Ditiсtiоnаrу оf Мusiс аnd Мusiсiаns / Stanley Sadie, John Tyrrell. — 2. — Oxford University Press, 2001. — 2500 с. — Tariyel Mammadov mentions the names of eleven Ashiq schools: Goyche, Tovuz, Borchali, Ganja-Shamkir, Shirvan, Karabakh, Garadag, Tabriz, Urmiya, Childir and Derbent.
Related topics: Nomad, Storytelling etc.
Risk Factors: Migration to cities from villages 00253 FM0100000001 Nawrouz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowrouz, Nawrouz, Nauryz, Nooruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nowruz, Navruz (2009) +(See also: Nowruz in Azerbaijan) The Nowruz celebration honors the beginning of a new year and the regeneration of the natural world. Kosa and Kekal are two of the holiday's most well-known heroes. During the celebrations held over the holidays, jugglers demonstrate their skills and various performances are given. People build bonfires in the streets in the nights and leap over them while chanting, "May my struggles and successes be poured into the fire, may it be burnt in the fire." On holidays, they prepare pilaf, shakerbura, baklava, and gogal at home. During the holiday, they also fight eggs and sprout malt. On the table is placed a festive khoncha decorated with candles. Everyone should spend the holiday at home with their family.Rafael Huseynov. Azerbaijani Novruz. — magazine "İRS", 2004. — № 3. — С. 16. Before the holiday, Wednesdays named after four elements are held. Related Topics: Celebrating the New Year, fertility ritual, etc. 02097 DB0102000001 Traditional art of Azerbaijani carpet weaving in the Republic of Azerbaijan (2010) Groups of carpets from Azerbaijan include those from Absheron, Ganja, Gazakh, Shirvan, Karabakh, Guba, and Tabriz.Latif Kerimov. Azerbaijani carpet. Volume III. VI. Tabriz type. A) Tabriz group. B.: "Ganjlik", 1983. The Safavids' rise to power in the 16th century marked the beginning of carpet weaving's unmatched perfection and rise to industrial significance in Azerbaijan.Siawosh AZADI; Latif KERIMOV; Werner ZOLLINGER. Azerbaijani-Caucasian Rugs. — Switzerland Ulmke Collection, 2001. — p. 135. — Britannica Encyclopedia. Iran. Shah Abbas. 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.Carpets are still made today in Daghestan, Georgia and Armenia, but the real home of Russian Caucasian carpets remains Azerbaijan and the skills and ideas of Azerbaijanian weavers are felt throughout the Caucasus. P. R. J. Ford. The oriental carpet: a history and guide to traditional motifs, patterns, and symbols. Abrams, 1981. , стр. 225.
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.Joyce C. Ware. The Official Identification and Price Guide to Oriental Rugs. — House of Collectibles: 1992, p. 221. — 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.Mehdi Zarif. Carpets. Translation from Italian. I. Zamoyskaya. - M: AST, 2006 — стр. 19 —
Related Topics: Azerbaijani mythology, natural dyes etc.
Bioms: Agroecosystem 00389 SD0100000001 Craftsmanship and performance art of the Tar, a long-necked string musical instrument (2012) 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.Saadet Abdullayeva (Doctor of Art History, Professor). Musical instrument of world sound // İRS : journal. — 2011. — № 1 (49). 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, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.F.I. Chelebiev Морфология дастгяха. — S. Petersburg, 2009.
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.Majnun Kerimov. Tar // Atlas of traditional Azerbaijani music: site.
Bioms: pastures, mountains 00671 ST0803000001 Traditional art and symbolism of Kelaghayi, making and wearing women’s silk headscarves (2014) Kalagayi is a square-shaped headdress woven from silk thread belonging to women in Azerbaijan.CLOTHING xxi. Turkic and Kurdish clothing of Azerbaijan — статья из Encyclopædia Iranica. P. A. Andrews And M. Andrews 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.Traditional art and symbolism of Kelaghayi, making and wearing women's silk headscarves // UNESCO.
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 Copper craftsmanship of Lahij (2015) Lahıc settlement has been famous for coppersmithing, tableware and weapon decoration for a long time.Miklashevskaya N. M. Wall paintings of Azerbaijan in the 18th–19th centuries. // Architecture of Azerbaijan. Essays. - Baku: Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR, 1952. - P. 471. LLahij tableware spread in the Caucasus, Persia and Asia Minor.Fituni A. History of the last capital of Shirvan. (Historical-ethnographic and archaeological essay.) // News of the Azerbaijan Committee for the Protection of Antiquities, Art and Nature (Azkomstaris). Issue. 3. - Baku, 1927. 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 forty 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.Alizade A. Lagich, historical and cultural reserve of Azerbaijan // journal: İRS. - 2005. - No. 4.
Related Topics: Engraving, Furniture etc.