17 October 2025
MOWCAP is pleased to share the list of nominations deemed admissible for review by the MOWCAP Register Sub-Committee.
- Window for submission of comments (cf. MOWCAP Regional Register Guidelines (2025 version), Section L8):
Comments are welcome for submission between 15 November 2025 and 15 February 2026.
MOWCAP invites comments that a) support; b) provide other information or c) raise any initial concerns relevant to aspects of any current nomination. These may be sent by any individual or entity to the MOWCAP Secretary-General at mowcapnominations@gmail.com. For instance, the sender may wish to provide information to supplement the nominator’s case. All comments received shall be transmitted forthwith to the Chair of the RSC for consideration by the RSC in the process of its assessment. - Window for contestation (cf. MOWCAP Regional Register Guidelines (2025 version), Section N):
Contestations can be submitted between 15 February 2026 and 15 April 2026.
Please note that, given that this Incidental Process has the status of a formal contestation among one or more Member States, MOWCAP members are advised to consider whether any concerns they have might be able to be resolved more smoothly and amicably by first utilising the channel of Comments on nominations as outlined above (under section L8). Member States are urged to submit any contestations as early as possible during the contestation period window, to facilitate the possibility of resolution of the contestation within the current nomination cycle. These may be sent by Member States to the MOWCAP Secretary-General at mowcapnominations@gmail.com.
Full texts (with private data redacted) can be requested by writing to the MOWCAP Secretary-General at mowcapnominations@gmail.com.
| N. | Country | Title | Summary |
| JOINT NOMINATIONS | |||
| 1 | Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore | Batik Archives: Global Trading and Cultural Networks in the Asia-Pacific 1870–1990 | The nomination “Batik Archives: Global Trading and Cultural Networks in the Asia-Pacific 1870-1990” is a rare collection of documentary heritage comprising 319 textual, 58 photographic and audio archives from government office and private collections. Cantered in Batavia, Lasem (Central Java), Pekalongan (Central Java), Surakarta (Central Java), Singapore, and Malaysia, it includes trade ledgers, business correspondence, dye recipes, pattern books, photographs, audio records, documenting a century of the batik value chain between Indonesia and the neighbourhood countries both in colonial and republican period highlighting its trading and cultural network among different regions, countries, or communities in Southeast Asian countries and the Pacific. Batik Indonesia was Inscribed in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, but the documentary heritage of its trading and cultural networks has not received much research and preservation attention. Its uniqueness lies in its intimate, “history from below” perspective from the batik ecosystem, giving a direct voice to its creators, traders, and consumers,As well, the survival of these fragile paper archives through a century of social change and a tropical climate makes them exceptionally rare including the use of Dutch, Chinese, Malay language. |
| 2 | Indonesia, Timor-Leste | Manuscripts and Archives of Temulawak: Local Knowledge for Modern Medicine (1897–2024) | Temulawak (Javanese Tumeric) knowledge has been written down in ancientmanuscript as well as herbarium specimens scientific research and records of health technology innovations. Specimens of herbarium temulawak has social significanceregarding the benefits of maintaining health in the community. The manuscripts hadcaptured the role of royal family traditions in sustaining the knowledge overgenerations. Although temulawak has been recognized as a traditional medicine forthousands of years, Its application remains to this day. The archives comprise Number 157 of Ministry of Health archives which include 46 textual archives, 69 herbarium archives and 42 Photos. Wehave 10 manuscripts and 4 Timor-Leste archives. These archives and manuscriptscontribute to a repository of medicinal plants in Indonesia for future advancements inthe fields of science and technology, especially in global modern medicine. Temulawak is one of the main ingredients of jamu which is an awarded Intangible Cultural Heritage. Currently, temulawak has been utilized by Timor-Leste society. Furthermore,it also has entered the South Korean market, where it is used as a basic ingredient incosmetics. This international involvement indicates that temulawak knowledgeextends beyond Indonesian communities,resonating at regional and global levels. |
| SINGLE COUNTRY NOMINATIONS | |||
| 3 | China | Archives and Manuscripts of Macau Kiang Wu Hospital CharitableAssociation (1857-1961) | The Macau Kiang Wu Hospital Charitable Association (referred as “the Association”) was founded in 1871- the tenth year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty, donated from well-known Chinese businessmen, with the purpose to provide economic support and care to the deprived in the community. It began by offering free medical care and disaster relief, later expanding to include Nursing College for women, free education to children regardless of gender, public housing, and community mediation, etc. The Collection reflects i) Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, a highly reputation man, as the pioneer that integrating of western and traditional Chinese medicine in treating patients, ii) championing the cause for universal women’s right and social status, iii) promoting the spirit of humanitarianism by offering international rescue and providing haven for refugees during global turmoil, and iv) helping in governing Macau with compassion and wisdom in its most difficult times. All these activities had a profound impact not only on the Macau communities but on the region at large. The documentary heritages were properly managed and preserved. These include old photos, letters, gauze paper, plaques, stones’ inscriptions, minutes of meetings, activity reports, contracts, etc., covering the period from 1857 to 1961, with a total of 5,400 pieces. |
| 4 | China | Chinese Archives On Targeted Poverty Alleviation (2012-2020) | Eradicating extreme poverty is the primary goal of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Since 1978, China has carried out large-scale systematic and organized poverty alleviation efforts that achieved remarkable results, but regional poverty issues remained. From 2013, China launched targeted poverty alleviation. By 2020, all 98.99 million rural people living below the current poverty standard were lifted out of poverty, solving absolute poverty and achieving the above-mentioned poverty-eradication goals 10 years ahead of schedule. In 2018, the UN General Assembly incorporated the concept of “targeted poverty alleviation” into its resolution on eliminating rural poverty. Some countries in Africa, and the ASEAN and Central Asian regions, drew on experiences developed from the concept to advance their own poverty reduction. The Archives on Targeted Poverty Alleviation (2012-2020) are systematically collected original archives, covering the entire process in typical actions,— from targeted identification and assistance to the exit from poverty. The Archives present China’s poverty alleviation path as adapted to local conditions and its exploration of multidimensional poverty governance, recording innovative practices in helping rural populations, especially women and ethnic groups, escape poverty. |
| 5 | China | Fish-Scale Registers of China (1581-1934) | Fish-Scale Registers are cadastral archives compiled by Chinese government authorities since the Song Dynasty for land registration and taxation purposes. They were named after the interconnected plots of land in the registers, resembling fish scales. This nomination comprises 2,357 volumes of Fish-Scale Registers primarily from Tangxi County and Lanxi City (County-Level) in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, and Xiuning County in Huangshan City, Anhui Province, covering the Ming Dynasty, Qing Dynasty, and various periods of the Republic of China (1581-1934). These registers are continuous, systematic, and complete, making them typical and concentrated representations of the Fish-Scale Registers. They demonstrate the application of contemporary scientific techniques and reflect enhanced capabilities in grassroots administration, showcasing ancient cadastral archive management systems, practical features of ancient maps, unique engraving designs, and traditional papermaking techniques. They hold significant value for research into the history of global land resource management, the development of modern land management systems in East Asia, the grassroots populations and organizational structures, women’s rights protection, and the human-environment interactions and ecological protection. |
| 6 | India | Arthaśāstra by Kauṭilya – Ancient Foundational Treatise on Governance and Statecraft | The Arthaśāstra, composed two millennia ago, is a foundational Sanskrit treatise that integrates statecraft, economics, administration, diplomacy, law and military strategy into a systematic science of governance. Attributed to Kauṭilya, also called Cāṇakya or Viṣṇugupta, the adviser to Candragupta Maurya. Structured into fifteen adhikaraṇas (books), one hundred and fifty adhyāyas (chapters), and one hundred and eighty prakaraṇas (sections). The text articulates judicial procedure, rules of evidence, and graded daṇḍa (punishments); establishes a professional gupta-cāra (secret-agent) system for intelligence and counter-intelligence; and formulates foreign policy through the maṇḍala (circle of states), ṣāḍguṇya (six diplomatic measures), and the four upāyas – sāma (conciliation), dāna (gifts), bheda (dissension), and daṇḍa (force), integrating internal order with external strategy to secure stability and prosperity. It prescribes the ideal rājarṣi (philosopher-king), joining a ṛṣi’s discipline and wisdom with a rājā’s authority, governing for prajā-sukha (welfare of subjects) and the stability of the rājyam (kingdom). The text survives in a complete sixteenth-century palm-leaf manuscript in Grantha script at the Oriental Research Institute, Mysore. Rediscovered in 1905 by R. Shamasastry, it transformed understanding of ancient Indian polity and inspired extensive editions, translations, and comparative studies. Its insights remain relevant in governance, business, management, sustainable development, and contemporary fields. |
| 7 | India | The Birch-Bark (būrjapatra) Manuscript of Mahābhārata: A Perennial Epic of South Asia | The Mahābhārata – the world’s longest epic—codified by Vyāsa, stands as a unique documentary heritage of humanity. It preserves India’s civilizational memory while offering profound reflections on Dharma (moral ethics), Artha (material prosperity), Kāma (pleasure), and Mokṣa (liberation), alongside explorations of Kartavya (duty), Rājadharma (principles of statecraft), Darśana (philosophical thought), and Niyati (the human destiny). Far more than a narrative of dynastic conflict, the text serves as an encyclopaedia of human experience and ethical inquiry. The influence of the Mahābhārata extended far beyond India’s borders, shaping the life and art of Asia for centuries. Its presence is etched into the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat, which vividly depict episodes from the epic, and it inspired adaptations such as the Japanese Kabuki play Naru-kami and narrative traditions in Mongolia. In Thailand, it emerged in the form of Krishna Son Nong, while in Indonesia it was transformed into the Bhāratayuddha, integral both to the shadow-puppet theatre (Wayang Purva) and to courtly literary traditions. This wide-ranging diffusion testifies to the epic’s enduring vitality as a shared cultural heritage across Asia. The Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute preserves a 400-year-old rare birch-bark manuscript of the Mahābhārata written in the Śāradā script. Acquired in Kashmir in 1875 by the eminent Indologist Georg Bühler, this fragmentary manuscript constitutes the most authentic extant genuine representative of the old Kashmiri version and is regarded as a codex archetype. As a unique witness to Asia’s cultural memory, it demands careful preservation to ensure its transmission to future generations. |
| 8 | India | The Manuscript of Rājataraṅgiṇī by Kalhaṇa: A Twelfth-Century Chronicle of Kashmir | The manuscript of Kalhaṇa’s Rājataraṅgiṇī, preserved at the Oriental Research Library, Srinagar, stands as one of the rare extant works of Sanskrit literature that embody the character of a true historical text (itihāsa-grantha). Composed in the 12th century C.E., it interweaves historical narratives, royal genealogies, political events, and socio-cultural elements of Kashmir within the aesthetic framework of kāvya (poetry). With earlier sources either lost or extant only in fragments, the text stands as a vital effort to restore a continuous and coherent history of Kashmir. The Rājataraṅgiṇī is a repository of the cultural essence of Kashmir. Demonstrating Kalhaṇa’s critical method, his use of sources, innovative chronological framework, and ethical reflections, the manuscript evinces an early historical consciousness rare in South Asian literature. Written in Śāradā script on old Kashmiri paper, the nominated manuscript is a direct copy of the lost codex archetype, making it the closest surviving link to the original source. It played a pivotal role in Marc Aurel Stein’s critical edition and bears neatly ruled folios with extensive marginal notes, reflecting scholarly engagement. In light of the disruptions to Kashmir’s intellectual heritage, the preservation of this manuscript is of lasting significance for both India and the Asia-Pacific region. |
| 9 | Indonesia | Bo’ Sangaji Kai: Royal Records of Bima, a Witness to the 1815 Tambora Eruption | The Bo’ Sangaji Kai is the sole surviving, authentic, and most comprehensive royal chronicle of the Bima Sultanate (17th-19th c.), a unique synthesis of historical narrative, legal document and diplomatic archive. It provides significant indigenous record of the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora, the most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded human history. The manuscript provides an unparalleled window into the history of eastern Indonesia, documenting Bima’s intricate network of relationships with kingdoms across Maritime Southeast Asia and its integration into global trade through interactions with Europeans. Furthermore, it preserves a unique cultural legacy, including a sophisticated and distinct historiographical tradition and remarkable evidence of institutionalized gender equality, with records of female sovereigns (Sultanah) and legal protections for women. Complete, physically intact, and with a continuous transmission, the Bo’Sangaji Kai is an invaluable primary source. Its profound significance at the local, regional, and global narrative makes it an irreplaceable document of world documentary heritage. |
| 10 | Indonesia | Kidung Bhuwana Wināśa or The Song of the Vanished World by Ida Pedanda Ngurah | Kidung Bhuwana Wināśa, or “The Song of the Vanished World,” is a significant Balineseliterary work composed in 1918 by Ida Pedanda Ngurah (circa 1830s – 1920s), a respected poet and high priest from Griya Gede Belayu in Bali, Indonesia. It reflects the depth of Balinese intellectual, political, and spiritual life in the early 20th century. Eight manuscripts of this work are known to exist in Bali and the Netherlands. Two are autograph manuscripts (an original and a handwritten copy), both inscribed by the author himself, which is exceptionally rare in the Balinese literary tradition. The copy is biscriptual, written in both Balinese and Roman script. The poetry itself blends Old Javanese, Balinese, Malay, and Dutch vocabulary, reflecting the multilingual landscape of colonial-era Bali. The nominated manuscript, the original.Kidung Bhuwana Wināśa, is the only known traditional Balinese Poetry (Kidung) to document political encounters, diplomacy, and resistance involving the Balinese kingdom, Lombok kingdom, and the Dutch colonial regime. It offers rare Indigenous perspectives on sovereignty, diplomacy, and warfare, and highlights the collective resistance of rulers, priests, women and children. |
| 11 | Indonesia | The Collection of H.B. Jassin Literary Documentation Centre (1764–2000): House of Literary Gems | The H.B. Jassin Literary Documentation Centre’s collection began as a personal project of the renowned Indonesian literary critic and scholar, H.B. Jassin, in the 1930s. From an initial private archive of literary materials, the collection was later developed into a public library housing the richness of Indonesian and Southeast Asian literature. Consisting of around 155,000 items, ranging from manuscripts, correspondence, research, clippings, magazines, books, photographs, and audio-recordings to literary periodicals in Indonesian, English, Malay, Russian, Mandarin, Korean, Dutch, French, German, and other regional languages in Indonesia, such as Sundanese, Javanese, etc., the collection serves as an invaluable source of knowledge for writers, researchers, and literary enthusiasts across the region and beyond. The collection is also valued for its unique origins and acquisition process by the wider public. As well as providing historical knowledge about Southeast Asian literature, the collection aspires to connect Indonesia’s rich literary tradition with the Malay World due to their longstanding cultural connectedness. It is reflected in the Malay literature included in the collection, including Chinese-Malay literature. This is the only known collection of Southeast Asian literary materials in the region. In view of its long historical development and unique heritage status, this collection is notable among literary scholars in Southeast Asia and beyond. |
| 12 | Kazakhstan | Collection of Mashkhur-Jusup Kopeev’s Printed Editions | In the intellectual and social life of the Kazakh intelligentsia at the beginning of the 20th century, three works by Mashkhur-Jusup Kopeev, published in Kazan in 1907, are of particular importance: “Who owns Saryarka: Modern Reflections of Kazakhs”, “Such a miracle seen in a long life: A Collection of Poems” and “Khal Akhval” (“The State of Affairs”). These works, combining prose and verse, address the most important issues of their time – cultural identity, moral values, education, and spiritual renewal. The first work highlights the historical memory and symbolic significance of the steppe through the images of famous beys and batyrs. The second expresses socio-moral ideas in a poetic form, touching upon the themes of knowledge, justice and responsibility of the individual in society. The third is didactic in nature, focused on the problems of morality, justice and social transformation. In his writings, Kopeev also formulates the principles of equality of people, regardless of their social status and gender differences. Published in Arabic graphics (the old Kazakh spelling is qadim), these works were reprinted many times during the years of independence and included in multi–volume editions, while their first publications were accompanied by censorship restrictions. |
| 13 | Kazakhstan | Issyk Inscription | The letter provisionally titled the “Issyk inscription” (Turkic runic inscription on a silver bowl from the Issyk kurgan) represents one of the oldest known examples of writing in Central Asia. Discovered in 1970 during excavations of a kurgan dated to the V–IV centuries BC, the inscription comprises approximately 26(27) signs. According to Alexander N. Garkavets (2022:41), questions remain regarding the grouping of these signs and whether they may represent a test or draft word on an area free from corrosion. The language of the text has not been definitively identified and remains undeciphered, though hypotheses include Turkic, Iranian-Scythian, and other possibilities. Despite the absence of consensus on its meaning, the inscription is widely acknowledged as a valuable testimony to the existence of early writing among the Saka people. It reflects aspects of their worldview, social order, and symbolic system, while also providing evidence for the emergence of early statehood and literacy among nomadic societies. The Issyk inscription is therefore regarded as a crucial source for comparative studies of ancient Turkic, Iranian, and Indo-European writing traditions. As such, it is not only an object of archaeological importance but also an integral part of the cultural heritage of Central Asia. |
| 14 | Korea, Republic of | Danwon High School 4.16 Archive: Records of Citizens’ Memory and Healing Movements | The nominated archive, a collection of 235,220 pieces of records, was compiled by some of the bereaved families of the students who perished in the maritime accident on April 16, 2014. The Sewol Ferry, with 476 people on board, sank while en route to Jeju Island, resulting in 304 fatalities, including 250 students and 11 teachers from Danwon High Shcool of Ansan City, Gyeonggi-do Province. The tragedy elicited an unparalleled level of social reactions that evolved into a political campaign to condemn the ineptitude of the government. Some of the bereaved families, however, were inspired by the messages of condolence and support that poured in from across the nation to establish an archive to preserve the memories, and to overcome the grief and trauma of losing their beloved children. With help from local government and relevant NGOs, many records, including those obtained from victims’ personal items, were integrated into the archive, now acknowledged as an essential resource for emphasizing the significance of safety measures. The efforts to establish this archive were broadly acknowledged as a distinctive approach to social healing, especially for the rejuvenation of the community devastated by the catastrophe. |
| 15 | Korea, Republic of | Suunjapbang and Eumsikdimibang: Community Archives of Traditional Korean Culinary Knowledge | This nomination includes two volumes of handwritten documents pertaining to Korean culinary tradition: Suunjapbang, meaning “Various Ways to Entertain Refined Gentlemen,” was authored in the 1540s by Kim Yu and supplemented in the 1610s by his grandson, Kim Ryeong, and is written in classical Chinese script; Eumsikdimibang, translating to “Correct Ways to Appreciate Food Taste,” was composed in the 1670s by Lady Jang of a prominent lineage in Andong, and is written in Korean script. The oldest surviving literature on Korean food culture reflects the unique interests in the sophisticated culinary traditions of aristocratic households in the southeastern province of the Korean peninsula, where Confucian lifestyles were most prominent. These documents are rare evidence of men and women’s collaboration in knowledge transmission, highlighting female agency in a male-dominated scholarly context. They illustrate that cooking was not merely a culinary endeavor but profoundly integrated with the social rituals of the elite at that period. These writings also underscore the transition to a meat-centric diet and the incorporation of distilled liquor as significant elements, both thought to have been introduced from Mongolian practices in the 14th century, into the culinary culture of the literati community during the Joseon Dynasty. |
| 16 | Mongolia | Iconographic Biography of the Buddha | The Buddha was born in 624 BC, and his teachings have since spread across the world. For centuries, his biography and portraits have been widely disseminated throughout Asia, becoming an enduring part of Buddhist culture. The biography of the Buddha, comprising a collection of narratives and images, serves as a vital source of spiritual and historical knowledge. It records his birthplace, lineage, the origin of his name, the wisdom he attained and imparted, and the methods by which his religion was preserved and transmitted to future generations. Although depictions of the Buddha are common in Buddhist nations, the rare 34-part series of biographical paintings presented here is seldom encountered. The Iconographic Biography of the Buddha, preserved in the Fine Arts Zanabazar Museum, portrays the stages of the Buddha’s life, emphasizing both the moral values of humanity and the essential teachings that have evolved into a profound cultural heritage of global significance. This Mongolian Buddhist artwork, dated to the nineteenth century (1800–1899), consists of five paintings illustrating 34 episodes from the Buddha’s biography. Executed with mineral pigments on paper, each sheet measures 28 × 22 cm and represents a quintessential example of traditional Mongolian Buddhist art. |
| 17 | Philippines | Baybayin Documents in the Archivo de la Universidad de Santo Tomás | The Baybayin documents in the Archivo de la Universidad de Santo Tomas (AUST)consist of two sets of manuscripts, known as “Document A” and “Document B.” These documents, which are deeds of sale for pieces of land in Manila, are dated 1613 and 1625 respectively, and are therefore recognized as the oldest and longest-known records that are entirely written in the Baybayin script, an ancient Filipino syllabary used since the pre-colonial times. In addition to its antiquity and its importance in mapping out pre-colonial linguistics, it also gives us an insight in the imposition of the Spanish legal system and how it interfaced with the indigenous concepts of property and justice, as well as a glimpse of the role of women (in particular, single women) in Manila society of that period. It is also among the oldest attestation of the direct and systematic correspondences of Sumatra- Sulawesi-Philippine scripts to North-Indian scripts, in particular early informal Gujarati. On 22 August 2014, the National Archives of the Philippines (NAP) declared these documents as the first archival “National Cultural Treasure”, the highest rank of recognition and protection given under the Philippine legal framework of cultural properties, including archives and documents. |
| 18 | Philippines | Laguna Copperplate Inscription (LCI) | The Laguna Copperplate Inscription is the earliest known historical document of the Philippines. It is a dated document using India’s Saka lunar calendar. It was converted into the Julian calendar (the calendar of the time): 21 April 900 CE, Monday. This marks the beginning of the Philippine historical period, debunking the centuries-old notion that Philippine history only began in 1521, when Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition reached the archipelago. Aside from its content (i.e., a certification of acquitting a family and its succeeding generations from debt), the Laguna Copperplate Inscription is interesting because of the place names mentioned in it. reflecting the far-reaching interconnectivity of the ancient peoples in Southeast Asia—from the Manila Bay region to Mindanao all the way to Medang, the seat of the Sailendra Kingdom of Indonesia in the 10th century. The document is made of a thin copperplate that is similar to those found mainly in Java, Indonesia from the same period until the 16th century. It is written in old Javanese script called Kawi. the use of the Indian calendar called Saka, , and that it talks about a common theme with those in Indonesia: acquittal from debt and tax exemption of a community (i.e., Panunggalan Inscription) and a family (i.e., Laguna Copperplate Inscription). Furthermore, the Laguna Copperplate Inscription underscores the craftsmanship of our Southeast Asian in writing edicts on copperplates. |
| 19 | Philippines | The Ramon Folkloric Group (ROFG) Audiovisual Archive | The Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group (ROFG) Audiovisual Archive is a rare collection of ethnographic films and video recordings that preserve the Philippines’ and Asia-Pacific’s cultural memory of dance and ritual traditions. Covering 1970 to 2016, it comprises 3,733 catalogued items—including Super 8 reels, Betamax, VHS, MiniDV, and digital files—documenting more than four decades of performances, rituals, and community practices. Initiated by Philippine National Artist for Dance Ramon Obusan, the archive reflects his lifelong commitment to documenting folk and indigenous dances in their authentic contexts. Unlike stylized theatrical reinterpretations, these AV materials capture movements, gestures, music, and lifeways as they were lived. Many of the traditions preserved have since disappeared due to modernization. The earliest reels feature Bayanihan performances from the early 1970s, while later recordings extend beyond Philippine traditions to include those of Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Japan, and Polynesia. The archive’s significance lies in its scope, authenticity, and rarity. It serves as both a cultural time capsule and a vital research resource for scholars, artists, and communities. As one of the most comprehensive ethnographic audiovisual archives in Asia, it ensures that future generations can study and draw inspiration from the region’s diverse cultural heritage. |
| 20 | Thailand | The Royal State Railway Film Collection | The documentary heritage being nominated is the Film Collection from the Topical Film Service of the Royal State Railway. This collection primarily consists of original 35mm black and white nitrate film, with their 35 mm film duplication. It is proposed for its exceptional historical and artistic significance and its rarity as a surviving archive from early Thai cinema. Established in 1922, this was Siam’s first and only fully-fledged state film production unit, pioneering the use of film for education, public relations, and national propaganda. The collection documents crucial royal activities, infrastructure development and national events during the reigns of King Rama VI and VII. These films offer unique insights into Siam’s political, economic, and social modernization. Its survival, despite the inherent fragility and flammability of nitrate film, makes it unique and invaluable as an example of an obsolete document type. |
| 21 | Timor-Leste | Xanana Gusmão Reading Room Library | The Xanana Gusmão Reading Room is a nonprofit Foundation, established by Mrs Kirsty Sword Gusmão on 20 June 2000 in the aftermath of the 1999 conflict, recognized as the first public library in Timor-Leste. Created to provide a safe, inclusive space for children, students, young people, and the wider community, it became a hub for education, knowledge-sharing, and cultural exchange at a time when the nation was rebuilding from devastation. The Reading Room is housing one of the biggest in country collections of Timor-Leste related materials – books and audiovisual and a museum which houses important items related to Xanana Gusma o. While focusing on collecting resources about Timor-Leste, the XGRR will still continue to provide and develop its collection of general information resources available for loan to the public. The XGRR has contributed significantly to library development in Timor-Leste and has hosted a range of educational and other activities aimed at nurturing pride in East Timorese culture and promoting skills development through events, discussions and exhibitions of local art. The XGRR “recognises the importance of, and strongly supports the development of a public library service to inform and educate all Timorese people. It acknowledges the valuable role libraries increasingly play in communities around the world in promoting life-long learning and providing a safe public space”. |
| 22 | Turkmenistan | Archival Sources on the Life and Work of Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Adham | The nominated archival sources consist of 21 handwritten books and 50 lithographic editions reflecting the life and teachings of Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Adham (718-782), one of the revered leaders of early Sufism, whose name is included in many biographical and hagiographic sources of the 8th century. These sources are kept at the Institute of Language, Literature and National Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, their total volume includes about 75 units of handwritten and lithographic copies of books, dastans, stories and legends written in old Turkmen and Persian in prose and poetic genres such as “Dastan-i-Ibrahim Adham”, “Kissa-i-Ibrahim Adham”, “The Tale of Sultan Ibrahim ibn Adham”, as well as many non-voluminous, varying handwritten works that make up a valuable part of these sources. Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Adham (hereinafter Ibrahim Adham), was the heir to the ruler of Balkh, an Afghan province bordering Turkmenistan. At an early age, his name became a legend, the reason for which was his abdication of the throne and unwavering devotion to the Almighty, which was rare for his time, especially for a man of his status. |
| 23 | Vietnam | Inscriptions on the stelae of Phố Hiến | The Inscriptions on the Stelae of Phố Hiến comprise 41 stone inscriptions in Hán (classical Chinese) and Nôm (Vietnamese) script, dating from the 17th to the 20th century, located at monuments within the Special National Relic Site of Phố Hiến. These inscriptions constitute a documentary heritage of integrity and authenticity, preserved in situ by the community for centuries, and serve as a vivid memory of the historical epoch of Phố Hiến – a prominent international trading port in Asia at the time. Phố Hiến emerged and developed from the 16th century, reaching its peak during the 17th century, when it became one of Vietnam’s major cultural and commercial centres as well as a hub of trade in Southeast and East Asia. Its growth was closely connected with the establishment of guilds and marketplaces across different historical stages, attracting numerous foreign merchants, including the Chinese and Japanese, and, from the latter half of the 17th century, the Dutch, Portuguese, and English. Beyond reflecting the process of urban development and commercial activity, the stelae provide detailed accounts of guild practices, the contributions of women, the dynamics of cultural and religious exchange, and the integration of foreign communities into Vietnamese society. |
| 24 | Vietnam | Ma Nhai (inscriptions) on Non Nuoc Mountain, Ninh Binh Province | The Ma nhai – cliff/rock-carved inscriptions on Non Nuoc Mountain, Ninh Binh Province, are a repository of documentary heritage comprising texts in Classical Chinese (Sino characters), Nom script, and the Romanized Vietnamese script (Quoc Ngu), engraved directly onto the cliff surfaces of the Non Nuoc Mountain Special National Historical and Scenic Relic (Hoa Lu City, Ninh Binh Province). Dating from the 14th to the 20th centuries, a total of 43 inscriptions are extant. They display diverse content and unique forms, representing irreplaceable originals that encompass various genres such as royal autographs, stele documents, poems, literary works, and dedicatory writings. They were composed by kings, mandarins, cultural figures, scholars, and poets, and engraved in stone by Vietnamese artisans employing traditional and highly skilled carving techniques. This corpus represents a valuable source of historical, cultural, linguistic, artistic, and scientific significance, which has drawn the attention of both national and international researchers. The outstanding values of the Ma nhai inscriptions manifest the cultural creativity of local communities and affirm the long-standing cultural traditions of Viet Nam. |