Authenticity and Wooden Architecture Preservation in Asia – a Chinese perspective

Tomasz Tomaszek

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN:
  9781032331799
• eBook ISBN:
  9781000843507
• Topic: Tecnología e ingeniería
• Subtopic: Ingeniería civil

The tradition of Chinese wooden architecture dates back to ancient times. The construction solutions developed in this country over the centuries enchant with their refined character, while the historical wooden structures delight future generations with their dignity and aesthetic excellence. China`s wooden architecture, deeply rooted in its spiritual and religious traditions, is undoubtedly the pinnacle of this type of building in Asian culture. At the same time, it is a testimony to the national identity and reflects the specificity of the country`s material heritage.

The accelerated social and economic changes in China and the constantly advancing globalization of the world have contributed to this country's assimilation of Western concepts related to the protection of cultural heritage. The issue of authenticity in the preservation of wooden built heritage proved particularly problematic. This book brings closer the theoretical understanding and practical application of the idea of authenticity from Chinese perspective. To do this, the issue of living heritage and the reception and understanding of traditional Chinese wooden architecture and its preservation as a direct materialization of Chinese religious and philosophical traditions is discussed. The above topics are treated within the cyclic concept of time, i.e. in terms of progress and repetition, with preservation being understood as a religious practice. Finally, trends in the preservation of wooden heritage in present-day China are mentioned, including new attempts to interpret the tradition and the reinvention of the tradition of wooden building.

The book aims to contribute to the understanding of the protection of wooden architectural heritage in China from a new perspective, and will be of particular interest to academics and professionals interested in or involved in the preservation of built wooden heritage.

'(…) a highly valuable contribution to the field of wooden architecture protection and preservation', Xiaoming Zhu (Tongji University, Shanghai, China)

This book '(…) successfully explains the inheritance characteristics of Chinese wooden architectures from the perspective of cultural philosophy for a wide audience (…)', Yasufumi Uekita, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• About the author
• A brief introduction to traditional Chinese wooden architecture
• The significant remaining historic wooden buildings in China – some examples and characteristics
• The birth of the idea of cultural heritage and the history of development of architectural heritage protection policy in China – overview
• The term ‘authenticity’ and attempts of its interpretation and notions from a Chinese perspective
• The protection of architectural heritage and the meaning and application of the concept of authenticity in China and wider context of Asian culture
• Authenticity of historic wooden building – A Chinese perspective and interpretation
• Living Heritage and continuity as a reference level for authenticity in a Chinese context
• Wooden temples and Sacred Mountains – Chinese tradition and spirituality as a voice in the discourse of authenticity
• The essence of wood, continuity, change and preservation as a religious practice
• Balancing authenticity and interpretation – contemporary Chinese practice in the protection of wooden architectural heritage
• Technical solutions in the conservation of wooden architecture in China and the question of authenticity
• Final remarks
• References