Something More Than a Monument—The Long-term Sustainability of Rural Historic Temples in China

Lui Tam

doi:10.3390/rel10040289

Abstract

The southeast part of Shanxi Province in China is a region with the highest concentration of early timber structures in the country, among which a majority are located in rural and semi-rural religious spaces. Social changes regarding rural population, religious demography as well as the ‘heritagisation’ process of these places of worship have presented unprecedented challenges to their long-term survival. A national campaign, the Southern Project, which lasted from 2005–2015 has facilitated a series of restoration projects in this region, covering 105 national heritage sites with pre-Yuan Dynasty structures, yet their maintenance, management and sustainable functions remain uncertain despite their improved ‘physical’ health. It also raises the question of how these (former) places of worship can be integrated into contemporary society. By analysing the data collected through reviews of the relevant legislative and administrative system and policies, interviews with various stakeholder groups, as well as on-site observations in the case region, this paper aims to identify not only the observable challenges in the long-term sustainability of religious heritage sites, but also the underlying issues situated in China’s heritage management mechanisms and systems behind, in order to pave the way for further discussions of a sustainable way forward.

Highlights

By analysing the data collected through reviews of the relevant legislative and administrative system and policies, interviews with various stakeholder groups, as well as on-site observations in the case region, this paper aims to identify the observable challenges in the long-term sustainability of religious heritage sites, and the underlying issues situated in China’s heritage management mechanisms and systems behind, in order to pave the way for further discussions of a sustainable way forward
Based on the status of accessibility and functions, several categories can be summarised to help illustrate the current situation of these historic religious places as heritage sites
For religious spaces as cultural heritage, while all three systems are intrinsically relevant to their management, they do not have an effective overlap that covers the complex status of these sites

Summary

Introduction

The cultural heritage industry in China has experienced an unprecedented boom in the last three decades. The development of the cultural heritage industry is made possible through the resources brought by the economic development of the country since the ‘Opening Up’ (SACH 2008), and partly due to the perceived ‘threat’ associated with the heritage sites lost (or potentially lost) to the process of the very same development. This perceived ‘threat’ is one of the main characteristics of the ‘heritage’ concept in the context of post-Cultural-Revolution China The policy includes four short phrases which means ‘conservation as the main purpose; rescuing as the priority; reasonable utilisation; and enhancing management.’

Objectives

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Discussion

Conclusion