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TCM Bids for "Intangible Heritage Status"

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) could join Chinese arts such as Kunqu Opera as "world intangible heritages" if the State Administration of Medicine gets its way, according to China Daily.

Shen Zhixiang, director of the administration's International Co-operation Department, said government bodies are working to submit a bid. Once the application is approved by the UNESCO, the protection and development of TCM can be advanced.

"Intangible cultural heritage" is defined by UNESCO as the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.

Cao Hongxin, president of the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said the application would highlight the fact that traditional Chinese medicine is a cultural treasure that has existed for thousands of years.