From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the 2004 film, see National Treasure (film)

The idea of national treasure, like national epics and national anthems, is part of the language of Romantic nationalism, which arose in the late 18th century and 19th centuries. Nationalism is an ideology which purports the nation is the fundamental unit of human social life, which includes shared language, values and culture. Thus national treasure, part of the ideology of nationalism, is shared culture.

National treasure can be a shared cultural asset, which may or may not have monetary value, such as a skilled banjo player would be a Living National Treasure. Or it may refer to a rare cultural object, such as the medieval manuscript Plan of St. Gall in Switzerland. The government of Japan designates the most famous of the nation's cultural properties as national treasures of Japan, while the national treasures of Korea are a numbered set of artifacts, sites, and buildings which are recognized by South Korea as having exceptional cultural value.

National treasure can be taken more literally and signify the actual monetary worth of a nation. For example, going to war can cost national treasure.

There are thousands of national treasures around the world. Listed here are a representative sample of the different types of things that can be national treasure:

• People
  • Lalo Guerrero was declared a national treasure by the Smithsonian Institution in 1980.
  • After the World Cup in 1962, wealthy European clubs offered massive fees to sign the young player, but the government of Brazil declared Pelé an official national treasure to prevent him from being transferred out of the country.

• Places
  • Horyu-ji temple in Japan.
• Cultural artifacts
  • The Fairy Queen in India.
  • The Declaration of Independence for the United States.
• Geographic features
  • The Constitution of Greece of 2001 declared that the Greek coastline is a national treasure (see Patras).
  • United States National Parks are considered to be national treasures.

• Treasures