Recently, the second donor conference of the "International Union for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in Conflict Areas" was held at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Since the 1950s, China has relied on its own historical and cultural characteristics to provide assistance to other countries in various forms in the protection of cultural heritage. From Mongolia to Cambodia, from Nepal to Myanmar... Chinese cultural relics conservation workers continue to provide Chinese wisdom and solutions for the protection of international endangered cultural heritage, so that the representative buildings of different civilizations damaged will shine. This article reviews China's international practice of protecting endangered cultural heritage.
Exchanges and Mutual Learning China's road to aiding the protection of endangered heritage is getting wider and wider
In the summer of 1961, under the guidance of two experts, Yu Mingqian and Li Zhujun of China, the two-year renovation of the ancient buildings of the lama temples in Ulaanbaatar Xingren Monastery and bogda Khan Palace in Mongolia was completed.
In the past two years, it is difficult for Chinese cultural relics experts to know in detail the arduous process of overcoming various unfavorable factors, but from the rare photos, we can see the confident smiles and determined eyes of the two experts in their work in a foreign country. Through the study of local construction technology and their own excellent ancient building repair technology, they led 25 high-level building restoration workers to complete the task. This project also began the journey of Chinese cultural relics workers to go abroad to protect the cultural heritage in distress.
Yu Mingqian (left) and Li Zhujun (right) pose in front of the Bogda Khan Palace in Mongolia
In December 2018, Cambodia's Minister of Culture and Arts, Pangsagna, awarded the Medal on behalf of Prime Minister Hun Sen to representatives of various countries who have made outstanding contributions to the protection of Angkor monuments, and Xu Yan, Wang Yuanlin and Gu Jun of the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage were awarded the Knights of the Kingdom of Cambodia. This year marks the 25th year of China's participation in the conservation of Angkor monuments in Cambodia.
In 1992, Angkor monuments were inscribed on the World Heritage List as endangered heritage sites, and in 1993 Cambodia and UNESCO launched the International Action to Save Angkor Monuments. In 1996, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China sent a team of experts to investigate the monuments of Angkor. In 1998, China began a ten-year conservation and restoration project at the Zhou Sa Temple. In 2010, the eight-year conservation and restoration project of The Tea Gum Temple was officially started. In 2018, the Angkor Monument Palace Ruins Restoration Project was officially signed...
China is one of the earliest countries to start and participate in the protection of Angkor monuments. So far, it has undertaken the restoration of the Zhou Sa Temple, the Tea Gum Temple and the ruins of the royal palace that are currently underway. In the past 30 years, China, together with all countries in joint action, has also witnessed the process of Angkor's monuments from endangered heritage to de-endangered heritage and then to gradual development and improvement.
Careful research, classification and implementation of policies. China's participation in conservation actions is highly recognized by Cambodia.
For the protection of the Zhou Sa Temple, the work of the Chinese project team generally revolves around the cultural relics themselves.
For the protection of Theajiao Temple, the joint task force composed of Chinese and Cambodian technicians has also set its sights on the lives of local people while restoring cultural relics, improving the surrounding landscape, driving local economic and social development, and being recognized by the local people.
The ruins of the royal palace are the core area of the Angkor monuments, and the Sino-Cambodian joint task force is also more integrated in the field of protection and restoration of the palace ruins. In addition to the risk assessment and protection and repair of cultural relics, the Sino-Cambodia joint task force also carried out special research and design work on the historical research, ecological environmental protection, comprehensive display and utilization, and coordinated development of communities of the palace sites, and carried out the publicity and exchange of Chinese and Cambodian culture, the technical education and training of professionals, and the construction of digital platforms throughout the entire conservation and restoration process.
In the nearly 30 years that China has participated in the protection of Angkor monuments, generations of Chinese cultural relics workers have walked into Angkor monuments and integrated into the heritage of other countries with a sincere attitude and pragmatic spirit, winning the trust of locals.
Before and after the restoration of the north tower gate of the Zhou Sa Temple
The construction site of the Trajiao Temple was cleared and the statue of Shiva was found
Before the maintenance of the East Trail of Theojiao Temple
After the maintenance of the East Trail of Theojiao Temple
The ruins of the royal palace are the palaces in the air
Opening ceremony of the "Khmer Smile" Angkor Cultural Relics and Art Exhibition in Beijing
Angkor Historical Sites Research Center of Cambodia, China
On April 25, 2015, an earthquake of magnitude 8.1 struck Nepal, causing the collapse of several monuments in Kathmandu's Durbar Square and the partial collapse of the nine-story temple and its outbuildings. China undertook the "Restoration Project for the Nine-Story Temple in Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal".
The main project of the nine-story temple restoration project includes the evacuation and support of the single building that was in danger after the earthquake, the foundation reinforcement of the parts of the local foundation settlement deformation, and the restoration and reconstruction of the severely damaged buildings, including the top three floors of the nine-story temple and the top floor of the northeast corner tower. The existing buildings were repaired with emphasis, and the implementation of the restoration project adhered to the principle of minimal intervention, respected the local traditional practices and crafts, and fully communicated with Nepalese cultural heritage experts and craftsmen, so as to preserve the historical, cultural and artistic information of the building community to the greatest extent.
"The nine-story temple project combines Nepal's ancient religious art with modern Chinese restoration techniques to protect cultural relics, which is worth learning." On February 8, 2020, Nepalese President Bhandari said when inspecting the site of china's assistance to the restoration project of the nine-story temple in Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Recently, the launching ceremony of the Chinese government's assistance to the Restoration Project of The Ice Yu Pagoda in Bagan, Myanmar was held in Bagan. In August 2016, a strong earthquake struck Myanmar, and nearly 400 pagodas in the Bagan area were damaged to varying degrees. The Chinese government immediately sent a team of experts to Bagan to investigate, jointly agreed with the Myanmar side on a plan for the restoration of the pagoda, and provided cash assistance to the Myanmar side to help the Myanmar side carry out the initial emergency maintenance work.
The Tha Bing Yu Pagoda is the tallest Buddhist building in Bagan and one of the most famous in Myanmar. After many negotiations, China and Myanmar jointly determined that the Chinese side would repair the Ta BingYu Pagoda damaged by the earthquake. When attending the launching ceremony, Myanmar's Deputy Minister of Religion and Culture, Thong Ong, said that Myanmar will work with China to promote the restoration of his Bingyu Pagoda, deepen cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, strengthen technology sharing and inheritance, and let Myanmar and China pass on the torch from generation to generation.
Where the heart of the people belongs, there is only word and righteousness. China's sincere concern for and equal respect for the cultures of other countries has made China go wider and wider on the road of assisting in the protection of endangered heritage.
Three-dimensional laser scanning of the nine-story Divine Pagoda Luohan Palace Courtyard
The Chinese project team of the nine-story god tower project took a group photo at the scene
Bagan Ancient City, Myanmar, He Bingyu Pagoda
Gather consensus and jointly safeguard the common cultural heritage of mankind
"The Chinese government will select and encourage national museums and cultural relics protection institutions to actively respond to the initiative of establishing an international network of cultural relics 'refuges', actively undertake international obligations, and accept temporary refuge in endangered cultural heritage; the Chinese government appreciates the proposal to establish an international fund for the protection of endangered cultural heritage, is actively studying and providing financial support, and will mobilize, encourage and support Chinese enterprises to make positive contributions to the fund." In December 2016, Liu Yuzhu, then director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, said in a speech at the International Conference on the Protection of Endangered Cultural Heritage as a representative of the Chinese government.
In May 2017, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage promoted the National Museum of China and the Louvre Lens Branch and the Zurich National Museum to become three "international cultural relics refuges" in the world. From 2018 to 2020, the mainland provided ongoing financial support to the alliance.
In June 2018, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the National Museum of China respectively sent representatives to join the board of directors and the scientific committee of the alliance to substantively participate in the management work, and to practice the responsibility of safeguarding the common heritage of all mankind with practical actions, which is also the embodiment of China's active and deep participation in the governance of international cultural heritage.
"We believe that when one day, Afghan artifacts return to their homeland, they will not only carry the wishes of the audience at each stop of the exhibition, but also add to their historical memories the beauty of the journey, and when they say goodbye, they will be displayed in front of us with a more exalted posture." In February 2020, when returning to China after three years of touring The Afghan cultural relics, some netizens said so.
In the 1980s, Afghan heritage workers risked their lives in the war to protect a number of precious cultural relics from periods such as the Baptria Kingdom and the Kushan Empire. At the beginning of the 21st century, the Afghan government used these cultural relics to organize the "Afghan Treasures Exhibition" to tour the world to show Afghan civilization while protecting cultural relics from the re-destruction of war. In March 2017, the exhibition debuted in China and was exhibited at the Palace Museum, and the response was enthusiastic. The State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China actively coordinates domestic resources, instructs the China Cultural Relics Exchange Center to coordinate and cooperate with the Afghan side, and fully supports the continued exhibition of Afghan cultural relics in China.
On May 15, 2019, President Xi Jinping proposed in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations that "China is willing to carry out asian cultural heritage protection actions with other countries to provide necessary support for better inheritance of civilization." "It has been widely responded to by Asian countries.
From October 27 to 28, 2021, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the Beijing Municipal People's Government successfully held the Asian Cultural Heritage Protection Dialogue conference online. High-level representatives of five international organizations, including the Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, 20 cultural ministers from 36 Asian countries, 19 envoys to China and other high-level officials, and speakers from 18 countries attended. At the meeting, 10 countries jointly initiated the establishment of the Asian Cultural Heritage Protection Alliance, and 27 countries jointly issued the "Initiative on Jointly Carrying Out Asian Cultural Heritage Protection Actions", proposing that Asian countries cooperate to carry out Asian cultural heritage actions, safeguard the achievements of civilization, promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and let all countries work together to protect the endangered cultural heritage of mankind.
On January 31 this year, Li Qun, representative of the Government of the People's Republic of China, vice minister of culture and tourism, and director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, attended the second donor conference of the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas held at the Louvre in Paris, France by video and delivered a speech. In his speech, Li Qun reviewed the Abu Dhabi Declaration on Responding to the Destruction of Cultural Heritage Caused by Armed Conflict, which China participated in in December 2016, praised the achievements of the Alliance in the past five years and grew into a specialized international organization focusing on the protection of endangered cultural heritage, and made recommendations to the international community. The International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas is a global cultural heritage special international organization that the mainland has been deeply involved in planning and creating since the beginning, which is conducive to promoting the integration of China's cultural relics protection concept with the international governance system of cultural heritage, and contributing Chinese cultural wisdom and strength to the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.
(Written by Xu Xiuli)