ICHCAP

UNESCO ICHCAP and the International Institute for Central Asian Studies (IICAS) jointly published the book Nowruz Traditions Along the Silk Roads: Sociocultural Significance of Shared Cultural Heritage on September 1.

Nowruz is a festival celebrated across the Eurasian region to mark the arrival of spring and the new year. It is observed with various traditional games and rituals and serves as a time to wish for peace and well-being in the year ahead. In 2019, thirteen countries—India, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Iraq, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Kazakhstan—jointly inscribed Nowruz on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This publication is especially significant, as scholars from all thirteen countries contributed articles, highlighting the value of cultural exchange through comparisons with Korean New Year traditions.

The book is organized into three parts. Part I, “Eurasian Shared Cultural Heritage and Multilateral Cooperation,” explains the concept of shared heritage in the Eurasian region and examines UNESCO’s efforts and international initiatives to safeguard and transmit these traditions. Part II, “Commonalities and Differences in the Spring Festival to Celebrate the New Year,” presents comparative analyses of Nowruz transmission patterns, contributed by scholars from all thirteen countries. Part III, “Contemporary Significance of Spring Festivals to Celebrate the New Year, and Regional Cooperation,” explores the social values of Nowruz today and includes a contribution from a Korean scholar comparing Seollal with Nowruz, analyzing their similarities and differences. The foreword, written by Huh Min, administrator of Korea Heritage Service, adds further scholarly and cultural authority to the publication.

This book systematically documents historical and cultural exchanges between Korea and Eurasia along the Silk Roads. It also serves as an academic resource on shared heritage, particularly Nowruz, for scholars, policymakers, and the general public. The publication is expected to strengthen mutual understanding and cultural solidarity among Eurasian countries, and to support future regional cooperation, educational initiatives, and cultural exchange programs.