36 years of China's application for heritage: from understanding the rules to providing a Chinese example to the world
Shan Jixiang said in an interview on August 6th at the Cultural East City Hall that the quality and value of these heritages is more important than the number of applications for heritage.
Photo by Tao Ran from Beijing News
After he ceased to be the president of the Palace Museum, Shan Jixiang's new status is the director of the Academic Committee of the Palace Museum.
He will also work in the Forbidden City. Without the interruption of business work, he has more energy to devote more energy to the protection and research of cultural relics and cultural heritage and the spread of value.
Recently, he is leading the team to prepare the second season of "A Thousand Miles Walk Alone".
The place where the team worked is a building in the Republic of China near Donghuangchenggen. This is now the "Cultural Dongcheng" meeting room. "Cultural relics can only be better protected when they are used," Shan Jixiang has always believed.
More specifically, the living room is inside the Huangchenggen Relics Park, which is the largest street-center park in Beijing.
On the west side of the park, just across the street is the World Heritage Grand Canal Clarification Lower Gate Site.
This canal with the longest mileage and the largest project in the world meets the Silk Road to the west at Luoyang and connects to the Maritime Silk Road to the east. Quanzhou, one of the starting points of the "Sea Silk", has just been listed as a World Heritage Site. Directory.
In this way, most of the world's cultural heritage are inextricably linked.
Connected in series is the evolutionary history of human civilization.
There are more and more members in this evolutionary history.
Up to now, the number of heritage items included in the "World Heritage List" has exceeded 1,000, and China occupies 56 seats, second only to Italy and second in the world.
From 1985, China formally became a signatory of the "Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage"; to 1987, China's first batch of heritage was included in the list; and then to the once-appearance of "heritage application fever"...Today, the "application for heritage" is in progress. Gradually return to the original mind of value cognition and normal protection.
Beijing News reporter Jiang Huizi and intern Xu Lindi
"Inadvertently" opened the way to apply for heritage and the rising popularity of “application for heritage” in various places
I know Shan Jixiang mostly because of the Forbidden City.
The largest surviving royal palace in the world was successfully applied for heritage in 1987. It was included in the "List" along with six projects including the Mausoleum of the First Emperor Qin and the Terracotta Warriors, Mogao Grottoes, Mount Tai, the Peking Man Site in Zhoukoudian, and the Great Wall. heritage.
Only by becoming a party to the "Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage" (hereinafter referred to as the "Convention") can participate in the assessment of World Heritage projects.
In 1985, Mr. Hou Renzhi invited Yang Hanxi, Zheng Xiaoxie, and Luo Zhewen to submit a proposal for the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, introducing the status of the "Convention" and suggesting that China should join in order to better preserve the precious ancestors left us. heritage.
Mr. Hou’s proposal was highly valued. In the same year, China became a signatory to the Convention, and Hou Renzhi was therefore known as the “first person in China’s application for heritage”.
According to Hou Ren's later recollection, his "contact" with the "Convention" began with a school visit in the 1980s.
In 1984, during a lecture at Cornell University in the United States, Hou Renzhi heard for the first time that there was a "Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage" in the world.
This "contact" facilitated China's conclusion of the treaty and embarked on the road of nomination.
Beginning in the 1990s, the enthusiasm for applying for a heritage in China began to rise.
Zhang Chaozhi, a professor at Sun Yat-Sen University, has long focused on the study of cultural heritage utilization. According to him, the application for heritage before 1997 was mainly promoted by the generation of Hou Renzhi and Luo Zhewen, and the local government was not very active.
In 1997, the success of Lijiang's application for heritage became a turning point.
Zhang Chaozhi recalled that in the late 1990s, the country began to attach importance to the development of the tourism industry. In 1999, the "Eleventh Golden Week" was launched. Therefore, the ancient city of Lijiang, which had just been successfully applied for heritage, became the most fashionable overnight. Travel destination.
The enthusiasm for the application for the heritage was thoroughly stimulated, and hopes to develop tourism through the application for the heritage and accelerate the development of the local economy.
At the same time, hundreds of millions of dollars of financial resources were invested in large-scale construction of civil engineering works, renovation and relocation, and the "gamble-style" application was once criticized.
People seem to forget that whether it is concluding the World Heritage Convention or establishing the World Heritage List, the original intention is for better protection.
"After all, we have gone through large-scale construction, and some historical regrets in urban development have to be made up. If there is enthusiasm for doing such things everywhere, a large number of our cultural heritage resources will be protected, which is positive."
Shan Jixiang also emphasized that it is necessary to adopt a rational and scientific attitude towards the application and correct the purpose of the application. The application of World Heritage is not only for the development of tourism, but also for the comprehensive benefits of protection and development.
Civilization exchanges and mutual learning establish new protection regulations
Although the enthusiasm for applying for a heritage was once hot, the differences between Eastern and Western civilizations have become a difficult point for China to apply for a heritage. It took Chinese people decades to understand the rules and integrate into it.
Shan Jixiang introduced that the early protection of cultural heritage referred to Western standards. Western buildings were mostly brick and stone structures. People did not understand the eastern brick and wood structure. People believed that in the restoration of wooden structures, the original wood should be replaced and repaired. The original structure will destroy the value of the heritage.
During that period, the director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics went to the World Heritage Conference every year to "explain" and conveyed to the world over and over again: China's ancient building repairs were actually the protection of the authenticity of cultural heritage.
Before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the concentrated renovation of ancient buildings such as the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven caused international doubts.
In addition, the West believes that our repairing and repainting of colored paintings have also destroyed the authenticity of ancient buildings, because the colored paintings and murals on Western buildings are mainly for decorative purposes and do not affect the building itself.
In the same year, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage organized the "International Symposium on the Protection of Color Paintings on Wooden Structures in East Asia".
Shan Jixiang, then director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage at the time, invited the heads of the three most important institutions in the field of cultural heritage in the world: Bandlin, director of the World Heritage Center, Pesat, director of the International Council of Monuments and Sites, and International Cultural Property Protection Bush Nadi, director of the Center for Research and Restoration (Rome Center).
This seminar solemnly introduced to the world: the most important function of painted painting on East Asian architecture is to protect the wooden structure inside.
Not every time, international experts can be persuaded.
When the West Lake was inscribed, China hoped to include the Longjing Tea Garden as part of the West Lake landscape.
However, some international experts insisted that Longjing Tea Garden had nothing to do with West Lake, and in the end they had to reluctantly delete Longjing Tea Garden from the heritage application plan.
"It is this expert who proposed at this year's (World Heritage) Conference in Fuzhou that the body should be protected together with the environment. This change shows that she is also changing and making progress." 36 years of application for heritage, China Work with other countries in the world to exchange and learn from each other and make common progress in the protection of cultural heritage.
Provide a Chinese example to the world
In recent years, the domestic “favor of application for heritage” has gradually cooled, and China's application for heritage has gradually returned to rationality and common sense.
For the heritage that has been included in the list, how to coordinate the protection, utilization, and local social development in order to keep the title of "world heritage" becomes even more important.
There is a precedent for being delisted due to poor protection. Just as Quanzhou was included in the "List" this year, the British "Liverpool Maritime Mall" was delisted.
How to deal with the relationship between cultural heritage and urban development tests the wisdom of all parties.
"Protect the old city and build a new city", Mr. Liang Sicheng's words are often quoted by Shan Jixiang to answer the proposition of protection and development.
And some of China's concepts of heritage application have even begun to feed back to the world, providing more dimensions for the international formulation of heritage protection rules and methods.
For example, as a type of heritage, "mixed heritage" is distributed all over the world.
"Mixed heritage" refers to heritage items that not only meet the standards of cultural heritage, but also meet the standards of natural heritage, and have dual values of culture and nature.
In 1987, when the "Mount Tai" project was declared a world heritage, it was mainly to declare the type of natural heritage, but the text submitted by China fully stated the value of the natural heritage and cultural heritage of Mount Tai.
After investigation, UNESCO highly recognized that Mount Tai has two heritage values at the same time, creating a new type of "mixed heritage" in the world.
Changes in heritage types have also led to innovations in the concept of protection.
In the book "From "Cultural Relics Protection" to "Cultural Heritage Protection"", Shan Jixiang elaborated: People are beginning to realize that the original concept of "cultural relics protection" can no longer cover objects that need to be protected, and needs to be larger. Scope and broader "cultural heritage protection".
It has been more than 10 years since he proposed this concept. New cultural heritage protection plans such as cultural route heritage protection, cultural landscape heritage protection, and canal heritage protection have been proposed, gradually changing the pattern of cultural heritage protection in China.
"This is an unprecedented cultural atmosphere." Shan Jixiang said.
At the just-concluded 44th World Heritage Conference, the Great Wall was rated as a model case of world heritage protection and management, providing a Chinese example for world heritage protection.
"China is moving from a big country with cultural heritage to a powerful country with cultural heritage." Shan Jixiang said that at present, the formulation and interpretation of international rules are still controlled by some countries. We must continue to strive for greater right to speak and show more The Great Wall also has exemplary examples, making China's contribution to the development of world heritage.
■ Dialogue
Shan Jixiang:
More important than quantity is to protect the quality and value of the heritage
Compared with Hou Ren's generation of old gentlemen, Shan Jixiang is obviously a "comer".
Shan Jixiang had just joined the work in the year China joined the Convention.
At that time, he didn't think that his future destiny would be related to this.
In an exclusive interview with a reporter from the Beijing News recently, he said that the success of the application is not the end, but a new starting point, and more importantly, he must bear the responsibility of protection.
More important than quantity is to protect the quality and value of these heritages.
Make up for "historical regrets" with inscriptions
Beijing News: Our country started late in applying for heritage, but the results have been remarkable. This time the Great Wall was also awarded a demonstration case of protection and management.
At present, have we entered the stage of exporting Chinese methods to the world?
Shan Jixiang: Whether it is strong or not depends on our efforts.
We still have a lot of imperfections, but after all, we have decades of experience accumulated, the concept of sustainable development, and the national consensus on cultural heritage protection, so we are confident that cultural heritage protection will go to the world.
Among them, it is very important to tell the Chinese story well, because the right to speak is not in our hands. Many interpretations formulated by the conventions are controlled by some countries. Therefore, we need to come up with more exemplary examples of protecting the world’s cultural heritage for international culture. Make more contributions in the field of heritage to win our voice.
Beijing News: There was a period of time in the middle, which also triggered the “application fever”. Now the popularity has decreased. What do you think of this change?
Shan Jixiang: Indeed, after Lijiang and Pingyao’s successful applications, a powerful and controversial "craze" broke out.
In this process, the key is to correct and make up for the regrets in history. After all, after large-scale urban construction, if everyone can make sufficient preparations for the heritage application, a large number of cultural heritage resources will be protected and even rescued. Sexual protection, this is positive.
On the other hand, we must clarify to people that the success of the application is not the end, but a new starting point.
The purpose of applying for World Heritage is not only to develop tourism, it is a comprehensive benefit.
When you successfully declare your heritage, you have become a world cultural heritage that has attracted much attention, and you have to assume the responsibility of protection.
More important than quantity is to protect the quality and value of these cultural heritages.
The Beijing News: From leaving regrets to making up for it, is this process impossible to cross?
Shan Jixiang: China’s urbanization process is the fastest, largest, and most intense in the world. The call for cultural relics protection has always been in conflict with the pace of urban construction. We have left some regrets, but we have also achieved conservation results.
The criteria for judging a modern city must not only include high-rise buildings, overpasses, and motor vehicles, but also to maintain the living environment.
The archaeological site can be turned into an archaeological site park and the historical river can be reproduced in the center of the city. People will feel the cordiality of the city more and the quality of life will continue to improve.
Let people "walk in" Let cultural relics "live"
Beijing News: Where did the concept of building archaeological sites into archaeological sites parks come from?
Shan Jixiang: The concept of archaeological site park started in Beijing, and there was the Yuanmingyuan site park at first.
Many people disagree, thinking that archaeology and parks cannot be in the same term.
After the archaeological excavation of the Daming Palace site in Xi'an began, a site museum was built semi-underground, and an archaeological exploration center was built for citizens and tourists.
During the construction of the Archaeological Site Park, Daming Palace became one of the heritage sites on the World Cultural Heritage Silk Road in 2014.
Through these examples, experts realized that archaeological sites can become parks.
Beijing News: In terms of integrating archaeology into modern life, the "activation of cultural relics" in the Forbidden City is a relatively successful attempt. What experience can be shared?
Shan Jixiang: When I was working in the Palace Museum, the collections in the warehouse were piled up there, giving off a musty smell.
After walking around the 9371 houses in the Forbidden City, we made up our minds to expand the opening.
Only when the cultural relics are displayed in front of the public will they be radiant.
General Secretary Xi Jinping said, "Let the cultural relics collected in the museum, the heritage displayed on the vast land, and the words written in the ancient books all live." To live is to let it enter the society in a healthy and dignified manner.
We have seen that if the repaired wooden structure is locked up, it will decay faster.
But after repairing it and giving it new functions, such as displaying it in an exhibition hall for people to watch, it is healthier.
56 World Heritage Sites in China (as of July 2021)
List of China's World Cultural Heritage (38 items)
●Ming and Qing imperial palace (Beijing Imperial Palace, selected year (the same below): 1987; Shenyang Imperial Palace, 2004)
●Qin Shihuang Mausoleum and Terracotta Warriors and Horses Pit (Shaanxi, 1987)
●Mogao Grottoes (Gansu, 1987)
●Zhoukoudian "Peking Man" Site (Beijing, 1987)
●The Great Wall (Beijing, 1987; Liaoning Jiumenkou Great Wall (Water Great Wall) 2002)
●Ancient buildings in Wudang Mountain (Hubei, 1994)
●The historical buildings of the Potala Palace (Tibet, 1994; Jokhang Temple, 2000; Norbulingka, 2001)
●Chengde Mountain Resort and surrounding temples (Hebei, 1994)
●Qufu Confucian Mansion, Confucian Temple, Confucian Forest (Shandong, 1994)
●Lushan National Park (Jiangxi, 1996)
●Pingyao Ancient City (Shanxi, 1997)
●Suzhou classical gardens (Jiangsu, Humble Administrator's Garden, Master of the Nets Garden, Lingering Garden and Huanxiu Villa, 1997; Yipu, Lotus Root Garden, Canglang Pavilion, Lion Forest and Tuisi Garden, 2000)
●The ancient city of Lijiang (Yunnan, 1997)
●Beijing Royal Garden—Summer Palace (Beijing, 1998)
●Beijing Royal Altar-Temple of Heaven (Beijing, 1998)
●Dazu Rock Carvings (Chongqing, 1999)
●Ancient villages in southern Anhui——Xidi and Hongcun (Anhui, 2000)
●Ming and Qing imperial mausoleums (obvious mausoleum (Hubei), Qing Dong Mausoleum (Hebei), Qingxi Mausoleum (Hebei), 2000; Ming Xiao Mausoleum (Jiangsu), Ming Tombs (Beijing), 2003; Shengjing Three Mausoleums (Liaoning)) , 2004)
●Longmen Grottoes (Henan, 2000)
●Qingcheng Mountain-Dujiangyan (Sichuan, 2000)
● Yungang Grottoes (Shanxi, 2001)
●Goguryeo King City, Tombs and Tombs of Nobles (Jilin, Liaoning; 2004)
●Macao Historic District (Macau, 2005)
●Yin Ruins (Henan, 2006)
●Kaiping Diaolou and Ancient Villages (Guangdong, 2007)
●Fujian Tulou (Fujian, 2008)
●Mount Wutai (Shanxi, 2009)
●"Heaven and Earth Center" historical sites (Henan, 2010)
●Hangzhou West Lake Cultural Landscape (Zhejiang, 2011)
● Yuan Shangdu Site (Inner Mongolia, 2012)
●Honghe Hani Terraced Fields Cultural Landscape (Yunnan, 2013)
●Silk Road "Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor Road Network" (Shaanxi, Henan, Gansu, Xinjiang, 2014)
● "The Grand Canal" (Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, 2014)
●Tusi site (Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, 2015)
●Zuojiang Huashan Rock Paintings (Guangxi, 2016)
●Gulangyu Island (Fujian, 2017)
●Remains of Liangzhu Ancient City (Zhejiang, 2019)
●Quanzhou: Song and Yuan China’s World Ocean Trade Center (Fujian, 2021)
List of China's World Natural Heritage (14 items)
●Huanglong Scenic Area (Sichuan, 1992)
●Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area (Sichuan, 1992)
●Wulingyuan Scenic Area (Hunan, 1992)
●Three Parallel Rivers Protection Area in Yunnan (Yunnan, 2003)
●Sichuan Giant Panda Habitat (Sichuan, 2006)
●Southern China Karst (Yunnan, Guizhou, Chongqing, 2007; Guangxi, Chongqing, Guizhou, 2012)
●Sanqingshan National Park (Jiangxi, 2008)
●China Danxia (Guizhou, Fujian, Hunan, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, 2010)
●Chengjiang Fossil Site (Yunnan, 2012)
●Xinjiang Tianshan (Xinjiang, 2013)
●Shennongjia (Hubei, 2016)
●Kekexili (Qinghai, 2017)
●Fanjing Mountain (Guizhou, 2018)
●The habitat of migratory birds in the Yellow (Bo) Sea (Yancheng, Jiangsu, 2019)
List of China's World Cultural and Natural Double Heritage (4 items)
●Mount Tai (Shandong, 1987.12) ●Mount Huang (Anhui, December 1990)
●Emei Mountain-Leshan Giant Buddha (Sichuan, 1996.12) ●Wuyi Mountain (Fujian, 1999.12; Jiangxi, 2017.7)
According to the People’s Daily