Navigating Cultural Preservation in a Globalized World

 What Is Culture?

Culture refers to the shared beliefs, values, customs, traditions, behaviors, and practices that characterize a particular group of people. It encompasses the way of life of a community or society, including its language, art, music, literature, religion, social norms, and more. Culture is a complex and multifaceted concept that influences almost every aspect of human life and shapes the way individuals perceive the world and interact with others. Cultural diversity also enriches humanity, fostering creativity, innovation, and different perspectives on life. However, it can also lead to misunderstandings and conflicts when people from different cultural backgrounds interact. Cultural understanding and respect are essential for promoting harmony and cooperation in a globalized world. Moreover, culture is not limited to national or ethnic boundaries. It can also exist within smaller groups, such as subcultures, organizations, or even families. Furthermore, individuals may identify with multiple cultures due to factors like migration, globalization, and exposure to different cultural influences.

Why Culture Should Be Preserved?

Preserving culture is essential for several reasons, as it plays a significant role in shaping societies and individuals. Culture provides a sense of identity and belonging for individuals and communities. It gives people a shared history, values, and traditions, fostering a sense of unity and pride in their heritage. Its preservation ensures that valuable traditions, customs, and knowledge are passed down from one generation to the next. This continuity helps maintain a connection between the past, present, and future. In addition, cultural diversity is also a source of enrichment for humanity. Preserving different cultures allows us to appreciate and learn from a wide range of perspectives, art forms, languages, and ways of life.

Culture acts as a binding force in societies, fostering social cohesion and cooperation among community members. Shared cultural values can promote understanding and harmony within diverse populations. Cultural preservation safeguards artistic expressions, literature, and intellectual achievements that are unique to a particular culture. This heritage contributes to the global collective of human creativity and knowledge. Many indigenous cultures have deep connections to their natural environments and possess valuable knowledge about sustainable practices. Preserving their cultural practices can contribute to environmental conservation efforts. In an interconnected world, preserving culture promotes cross-cultural understanding and reduces the potential for cultural stereotypes and misunderstandings.

How Culture Is Preserved?

Culture is untouchable. So, it is very different from protecting a physical object. Generally, culture is preserved through a variety of mechanisms and practices that ensure its continuity and transmission from one generation to another. The preservation of culture is essential as it helps societies maintain their identity, values, traditions, and knowledge. Many cultures pass down their history, stories, myths, and knowledge through oral traditions. Elders and storytellers play a crucial role in this process, passing on knowledge to younger generations through storytelling, songs, and rituals. Written documents, books, manuscripts, and historical records help preserve culture by recording important events, traditions, beliefs, and practices. These written records serve as valuable resources for future generations to understand their cultural heritage.

Schools and educational institutions play a critical role in passing on cultural knowledge to the younger generation. Curriculum, textbooks, and educational materials often include cultural elements that help students understand their heritage. Festivals and cultural events celebrate a community's traditions and bring people together to share and pass on cultural practices. These events serve as a way to reinforce cultural identity and values. Encouraging cultural exchange between different communities and countries helps in the preservation of diverse cultural elements. Such exchanges promote mutual understanding and respect for different cultures. Language is indeed a vital carrier of culture. Efforts to preserve endangered languages help protect unique cultural expressions and traditions that are tied to specific linguistic communities.

Culture Keeping in Taiwan

Generally, I believe Taiwanese culture is actively being kept alive through various efforts aimed at preserving and promoting its traditions, language, arts, and heritage. Taiwan has a rich cultural history that reflects influences from its indigenous peoples, as well as from various immigrant groups. Taiwanese culture and language are integrated into the education system. Taiwanese is taught in schools alongside Mandarin Chinese, and efforts are made to promote bilingualism. Cultural education includes the teaching of Taiwanese history, literature, and arts. In addition, Taiwan celebrates numerous traditional festivals throughout the year, such as the Lunar New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival. These events showcase traditional customs, performances, and culinary delights, helping to pass on cultural practices to younger generations.

Moreover, traditional craftsmanship, such as pottery, weaving, and wood carving, is valued and supported. Artisans receive recognition, and efforts are made to ensure the continuation of these crafts through training programs and apprenticeships. Taiwanese cuisine is also an integral part of the culture and is promoted both domestically and internationally. Efforts are made to preserve and document traditional recipes and cooking methods. Throughout the history, Taiwan actively engages in cultural exchange programs with other countries, promoting its culture and gaining exposure to diverse cultural influences. This exchange helps to enrich Taiwanese culture and fosters cross-cultural understanding. 

Preserving Cultural Identity

Preserving culture is not as easy as “Hey! Let’s preserve our culture!” and it all be done. Preserving Taiwan's cultural identity requires a multifaceted approach that involves various aspects of the society. I reckon that there are some strategies to rightfully preserve Taiwan's cultural identity. For instance, conduct in-depth research and documentation of traditional Taiwanese recipes, cooking techniques, and food culture. Collaborate with local chefs, elders, and communities to preserve and record authentic culinary practices. Encourage the use of locally sourced and traditional ingredients in cooking. Support farmers and producers who grow heirloom crops and rare ingredients, helping to preserve traditional flavors and food diversity.

Also, we can integrate culinary education into school curriculums to teach students about the importance of traditional Taiwanese cuisine. Organize cooking workshops and classes for both locals and tourists to learn about and appreciate Taiwanese dishes. Promote culinary tourism that focuses on traditional Taiwanese food experiences. Encourage the establishment of food trails, gastronomic festivals, and food-themed cultural events. In addition, we can continue to celebrate and support traditional festivals with a focus on preserving their authentic customs and rituals. Educate the public about the significance of these events and their role in Taiwanese culture. Promote Taiwanese values and social norms through education and media platforms. Create TV shows, films, and literature that reflect and reinforce positive aspects of Taiwanese culture.

Cultural Traditions Are Changing 

Globalization has undoubtedly had a significant impact on Taiwan's cultural traditions, leading to both positive and negative changes. As Taiwan has become more connected to the global community, various aspects of its traditional culture have evolved in response to external influences and modernization. Globalization has facilitated the exchange of ideas, practices, and values between Taiwan and other cultures worldwide. As a result, Taiwanese culture has experienced a blending of traditions from different parts of the world, leading to a more diverse and dynamic cultural landscape.

Mandarin Chinese has become the dominant language in Taiwan due to its widespread use in international trade and communication. While Taiwanese (Hokkien) and indigenous languages are still spoken, there has been a gradual decline in their usage, particularly among younger generations. Globalization has also introduced a wide range of international cuisines to Taiwan. Fast food chains, coffee shops, and global restaurant franchises have become popular, leading to changes in eating habits and preferences. However, Taiwanese cuisine has also adapted and integrated global influences, creating innovative fusion dishes. In addition, as global media, entertainment, and fashion trends penetrate Taiwan, there is a risk of cultural homogenization, where certain aspects of traditional culture are overshadowed by dominant global trends. This can result in the loss of unique local traditions and practices.

Moreover, Taiwanese youth, in particular, have been influenced by global pop culture, social media, and internet trends. This has led to the emergence of new subcultures and youth movements that may challenge traditional values and practices. Globalization has also influenced Taiwan's education system and work culture. English proficiency and international qualifications are increasingly valued, leading to changes in educational priorities and career choices. While traditional religious practices remain important in Taiwan, globalization has introduced new religious and spiritual beliefs from around the world. Some individuals have adopted syncretic approaches, blending elements of different faiths.

Reference

Academic.oup.com. (n.d.). https://academic.oup.com/ejil/article/22/1/101/436591 

Cultural heritage: 7 successes of UNESCO’s preservation work. UNESCO.org. (n.d.-a). https://www.unesco.org/en/cultural-heritage-7-successes-unescos-preservation-work?TSPD_101_R0=080713870fab2000b176d4afef78783893cb23d7953836e0075ad72ec2469e3a5b275ffc45ce874708dfe2527e143000ec2c7c19f9e5c901ea40064d738912f2c5f4bce7f582168bb45e45b98f6b7142758971e091fb36c18d7f666fb43e0d40 

Culture & Heritage Travel suggestions. Tourism Bureau, Republic of China (Taiwan)-Taiwan Tourism Bureau’s Taiwan Tourism Information Website. (n.d.). https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002034 

Globalization101. (n.d.). Culture and globalization. The LEVIN Institute. https://my.uopeople.edu/pluginfile.php/1714100/mod_book/chapter/446701/glob101cultureandglob.pdf

How has globalization and modernization changed Taiwan’s culture in recent years? Quora. (n.d.). https://www.quora.com/How-has-globalization-and-modernization-changed-Taiwans-culture-in-recent-years 

Intangible cultural heritage: UNESCO inscribes 47 elements. UNESCO.org. (n.d.-b). https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/intangible-cultural-heritage-unesco-inscribes-47-elements?TSPD_101_R0=080713870fab200009595927ab38b3aff5ed82a0ed5b0d5745227843d0209368e420daf8405288a80873dfcbbc143000c4b1c3a58b4184c779f469a5211459bd983b2316d4e8c2f649311da06d0e533e0071bfd3954b5f704c869edf2160b35f 

What is culture | IGI global. (n.d.). https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/social-media-and-cultural-tourism/6442