Heritage Conservation

Facts: Watch this video to enrich your understanding on cultural heritage

Let's recap the important facts mentioned in the video above:

Heritage conservation has a price because it involves the use of public funds and social resources. For example, the repair and maintenance of historical buildings may cost a lot of money or due to the preservation of historic buildings
The “Venice Charter” is a set of guidelines that provides an international framework for the conservation and restoration of historic buildings.
When conserving heritage buildings, the international community commonly places a priority on authenticity and integrity.
Authenticity is defined as “those characteristics that most truthfully reflect and embody the cultural heritage values of a place”. Some of these values include historical value, architectural value, social value and so on.
Integrity is a measure of the wholeness and intactness of the cultural heritage. Nowadays, integrity requires that the conservation of a historic building should include not only preserving the building itself, but more importantly, protecting the cultural and ecological environment and ambience around it.
The need for economic development and land for urban infrastructures, such as the construction of new buildings, shopping centres, and entertainment venues, has led to the demolition of many historic buildings. The situation has only worsened due to urbanization as people move into urban areas.
The controversy is about how to strike a balance between economic development and heritage conservation.
Heritage conservation becomes even more difficult when authenticity and integrity also need to be considered. Over-development of the tourism industry means that tourist attractions are often damaged during construction or visits. This is contrary to the “authenticity” principle. On the other hand, the preservation of a specific heritage while removing its surroundings may contradict the “integrity” principle as its preservation should include the overall setting in which the heritage sits.
Tourism must be properly managed to protect cultural relics. Some of the measures given in the video clip include:
- Restricting the number of visitors
- Establishing a comprehensive system for the protection of cultural heritage
- Designating a day as “Cultural Heritage Day” to educate or raise awareness among the public
- Improving China’s cultural relic protection laws and bringing them in line with international standards

The importance of heritage

Heritage is the embodiment of traditional culture. It shows a country’s soft power and lays the foundation for sustainable economic and cultural development.

文化古蹟是傳統文化的載體，它展現了一個國家的軟實力，是經濟和文化可持續發展的重要基礎。

Situation before 1978

Heritage conservation was inadequate before 1978. The situation was not much better in the early days of the reform and opening up. The Cultural Revolution once advocated posijiu (破四舊, destruction of the Four Olds, i.e., Old Customs, Old Cultures, Old Habits, and Old Ideas). Many people lacked awareness about cultural conservation. They even destroyed much heritage.

What are the challenges faced by cultural conservation in China?

First Read the Source Page by clicking on the link here. Then click on this link to Padlet to post what you think.

During debriefing, you can use this graphical organizer to take note.

Concepts: Integrity and authenticity

Definition:
Authenticity is defined as “those characteristics that most truthfully reflect and embody the cultural heritage values of a place”. Some of these values include historical value, architectural value, social value and so on.

Integrity is a measure of the wholeness and intactness of the cultural heritage. Nowadays, integrity requires that the conservation of a historic building should include not only preserving the building itself, but more importantly, protecting the cultural and ecological environment and ambience around it.

Case Study: Murray House (美利樓) in Hong Kong (1)

Murray House was part of Murray Barracks, one of the earliest public buildings in Hong Kong, and was demolished in 1982 to make way for the Bank of China Building in Hong Kong when the city was experiencing rapid economic growth and there was a strong demand for commercial land in Central. In 1990, Murray House was redeveloped in Stanley as part of the Hong Kong Housing Authority's Ma Hang Estate development.

Although every part of Murray House was recorded, some of the fittings, such as the stone chimney, were lost when it was relocated. When it was rebuilt, the chimney was borrowed from the High Street Mental Hospital, which was built at the same time. Other borrowed parts include the flagpole at Tamar and the stone pillars of a pawnshop in Shanghai Street.

(Click here to watch an introduction video if time allows. (Cantonese only))

Question: Murray House, originally a Grade I listed building, has been downgraded to unrated following its relocation to Stanley. Explain what led to that decision in terms of authenticity or integrity. (Click here to use Google Workspace to have our discussion together)

Point: The site ITSELF

Case Study: Murray House in Hong Kong (美利樓) (2)

Built in 1846, Murray House was originally located on Garden Road in Admiralty, the current site of the Bank of China. Murray House is one of the few remaining classical European buildings in Hong Kong and is of great historical value. Originally used as a dormitory for the British Army in Hong Kong, the building was adjacent to the 20-odd former barracks in what is now Hong Kong Park, and was one of the most important military buildings built by the British Army in the Central area. Together with the nearby Tamar Naval Headquarters in Admiralty and the residence of the Commander of the Three Services, it forms a complete series of military buildings. Murray House is located on a hill overlooking Victoria Harbour, which is a good example of the British colonial administration's military planning. The barracks were also located in Central (then Victoria City), adjacent to the commercial buildings and the government headquarters to help provide an important defence.

Question: Explain how the integrity of the Murray House is lost due to its relocation.

(Click here to use Google Workspace to have our discussion together)

Point: The SURROUNDING of the site

Ways to achieve cultural conservation in China

Way 1: By enlisting in the UNESCO World Heritage List

Taking ‘economic development is of overriding importance’ to heart, local governments develop their local economy through tourism by promoting their local heritage This has not only increased revenues from admissions to tourist attractions; but has also boosted the development of the hotel, catering, retail and services industries. As a country, China’s effort to have its heritage added to the UNESCO World Heritage list has caught much attention in recent years.

Possible reasons for China’s World Heritage Application：

Economic:

The economic benefits brought by tourism improve local people’s lives.
Once cultural relics are widely recognized, the income brought by tourism can provide the fund needed for repair and maintenance.

Cultural:

The heritage can be a means for China to integrate into the world.
Traditional values such as family-centred promoted by cultural heritage help balance out western values such as individualism.
Cultural heritage raises the people’s awareness of their own culture.
A country will put extra effort into heritage protection to live up to its reputation for having multiple sites listed in the World Heritage List.

National strength:

It helps the building of people's sense of identity as they know more about their own culture.

Train your elaboration

How does tourism help the conservation of China’s cultural relics? (Click on the arrow for hint if needed)

Money, cultural awareness

Here are some examples from different parts in China before and after their World Heritage applications. Each has different fate.

Ancient City of Ping Yao

Ticket income rose by 60 times ten years after its recognition as a World Heritage

Danxia Mountain

Preparation cost for World Heritage application: Over RMB 1 billion

Libo County in Guizhou Province

The county government incurred a high debt of over 200 million yuan for its World Heritage application over 10 years

Concept: ‘Economic thrives in culture’s name’ (文化搭台經濟唱戲)

Countries from all over the world are bidding to have their cultural sites enlisted on the World Heritage List. However, Western countries and China differ in their intention toward their application. Explain the difference after reading this Source.

Over-tourism

Tourism development is encouraged in many countries as it has many advantages such as generating income and giving soft power to the country. However, improper management of cultural heritages often damages their integrity and authenticity due to over-exploitation. Click here to study three examples that happened in China.

Way 2. By legislation

In 2002, the Central Government announced a new Law on Cultural Relics Protection (文物保護法). The Law provides four guidelines for heritage conservation, that is,

‘proper preservation’ 保護為主
‘timely rescue’ 搶救第一
‘rational utilisation’ 合理利用
‘scientific management’ 加強管理

Examination corner:

" 'The application to include cultural heritage in the World Heritage List' brings more good than harm to China." To what extent do you agree with this statement? (8 marks) (T)

Stance: Good more than harm
Good

(National Overall Strength) Boost international image by having multiple sites listed in WHL
(Economic) Increase overall national income through tourism
(Social) Help villagers get out of poverty through tourism
(Cultural) Provide funding for repair and maintenance
(Cultural) Raise people's cultural awareness to protect cultural relics

Stance: Harm more than good
Bad

(Economic) A process that may amount to nothing / high risk - a thoughtless trend out of the desire to earn political credit by officials
(Economic) Provincial governments may get deep in debt
(Environmental) Structurally sound buildings are knocked down - necessary waste created
(Social) Community is disintegrated as they are forced to leave
(Social) The livelihood of the inhabitant is affected as they are not compensated properly and they may be left out of a job.

Counter-argument:

Continuing from the question above, let's practise how to form our counter-arguments.

First, let's click here to revisit the ways how to refute an argument. Then, click the button below for your copy of the counter-arguemnts

Click here to for your own graphical organizer

Reading List:

EDB reading
奪星起步點：通識教育答題萬能key (Chinese)

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