Abstract: The transmission of the traditional crafts is a dynamic process with a strong cultural logic,and its characteristics can be seen through core markers and arbitrary markers.The core markers consists the core part of the traditional crafts that must be held firmly,which constitutes the essential characteristics of the process,the evaluation system,the cultural values,and the vitality across history.Arbitrary markers,on the other hand,is the part of the traditional process that can be transformed and alternated,which embodies the effectiveness of technology,utility,and the adaptation through development.The traditional craft with a balance of these two symbolic markers is positively inherited by integrating both the tradition and the innovation.Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage is not only to preserve,record and rescue the discontinued or lost traditional crafts,but is also to develop variant products through research and marketing.At the same time,we should establish confidence in Chinese culture,and believe that the discontinued or lost traditional crafts may be recovered at the right time when the “self-healing mechanism” is activated,and that those traditional crafts will return to our social life.

Key words: traditional craft, Inheritance characteristics, ICH protection, core markers, arbitrary markers, self-healing mechanism