The Principles for the Conservation of Heritage Sites in China () is a conservation charter promulgated in 2000 by China

ICOMOS The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS; french: links=no, Conseil international des monuments et des sites) is a professional association that works for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage places around the worl ...

with the approval of

National Cultural Heritage Administration The National Administration of Cultural Heritage (NCHA; ) is an administrative agency subordinate to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China. It is responsible for the development and management of museums as well a ...

(NCHA ). It provides a methodological approach to the

conservation Conservation is the preservation or efficient use of resources, or the conservation of various quantities under physical laws. Conservation may also refer to: Environment and natural resources * Nature conservation, the protection and manageme ...

cultural heritage Cultural heritage is the heritage of tangible and intangible heritage assets of a group or society that is inherited from past generations. Not all heritages of past generations are "heritage"; rather, heritage is a product of selection by soci ...

sites in

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

Background

While sustained debate on approaches to conservation dates from the nineteenth century, only in the mid-twentieth century were the first international and national conservation charters drawn up. In China, the development of modern conservation concepts and practice began in the 1930s. In 1950, the

People's Republic of China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

began a national inventory and assessment of the significance of its cultural sites. As of 2004, over 400,000 heritage sites had been identified nationwide, with over 1,230 listed as being of national importance. In 1982, the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics, consolidating previous legislation, entrusted primary responsibility for the conservation of cultural heritage to the government, while regulating the actions of conservation professionals. In 1985 China ratified the UNESCO

World Heritage Convention The World Heritage Convention, formally the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, is an international treaty signed on 23 November 1972, which created the World Heritage Sites, with the primary goals of ...

. In May 1997 SACH requested that the

Getty Conservation Institute The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI), located in Los Angeles, California, is a program of the J. Paul Getty Trust. It is headquartered at the Getty Center but also has facilities at the Getty Villa, and commenced operation in 1985.J. Paul Getty T ...

assist in drawing up China's first conservation charter, with the

Burra Charter The Burra Charter is a document published by the Australian ICOMOS which defines the basic principles and procedures to be followed in the conservation of Australian heritage places. The Charter was first endorsed in 1979 as an Australian adaptati ...

proposed as a model. A tripartite project with the

Australian Heritage Commission The Australian Heritage Commission (AHC), was the Australian federal government authority established in 1975 by the ''Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975'' as the first body to manage natural and cultural heritage in Australia until its de ...

was launched in October 1997. By involving foreign parties as well as drawing upon domestic experience, it was intended that international best practice should guide local heritage practitioners. The Preface to the China Principles states 'China's magnificent sites are the heritage not only of the various

ethnic groups in China China's population consists of 56 ethnic groups, not including some ethnic groups from Taiwan. The Han people are the largest ethnic group in mainland China. In 2010, 91.51% of the population were classified as Han (~1.2 billion). Besides the H ...

but are also the common wealth of all humanity … it is the responsibility of all to bequeath these sites to future generations in their full integrity and

authenticity Authenticity or authentic may refer to: * Authentication, the act of confirming the truth of an attribute Arts and entertainment * Authenticity in art, ways in which a work of art or an artistic performance may be considered authentic Music * A ...

Economic development In the economics study of the public sector, economic and social development is the process by which the economic well-being and quality of life of a nation, region, local community, or an individual are improved according to targeted goals and o ...

mass tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring (disambiguation), touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tour (disambiguation), tours. Th ...

globalization Globalization, or globalisation (Commonwealth English; see spelling differences), is the process of interaction and integration among people, companies, and governments worldwide. The term ''globalization'' first appeared in the early 20t ...

, and

national interests The national interest is a sovereign state's goals and ambitions (economic, military, cultural, or otherwise), taken to be the aim of government. Etymology The Italian phrase ''ragione degli stati'' was first used by Giovanni della Casa around t ...

have all affected the country's historic legacy.

Promulgation and publication

The 38 articles of the China Principles, with accompanying commentary, were promulgated by China ICOMOS in late 2000 with the approval of SACH. The principles are grouped into five chapters: (1) General Principles; (2) The Conservation Process; (3) Conservation Principles; (4) Conservation Interventions; and (5) Additional Principles. An English-language translation was first published in July 2002 and a bilingual version with a Chinese-English and English-Chinese glossary was published in May 2004. It is recognised that, as use of the guidelines reveals the need for change, the Principles will be revised. A planned further document is to comprise illustrated examples of successful conservation measures.

The 38 Articles

:(1) Definition of heritage sites :(2) Conservation to include both intervention and preventive measures :(3) Heritage values :(4) Benefit of society not short-term gain :(5) Conservation to comply with laws, regulations and standards; significance is the highest priority throughout :(6) Research :(7) Documentation :(8) Management and training :(9) Conservation process :(10) Survey and inventory :(11) Assessment of values, condition and management :(12) Listing and buffer zones :(13) Conservation plans :(14) Actions plans for conservation, interpretation and education :(15) Periodic review of conservation plans :(16) Peer review of conservation plans :(17) Day-to-day management :(18) Conservation in-situ :(19) Minimum intervention :(20) Maintenance programme :(21) Intervention must be reversible, 'unobtrusive' yet 'distinguishable', and disclosed to the public :(22) Conservation techniques and materials must be proven :(23) Aesthetic criteria, derived from historic authenticity :(24) Landscape and setting :(25) No reconstruction, except in special cases :(26) Excavation entails conservation :(27) Disaster plans :(28) Intervention should have clear objectives, use proven methods and materials, and be documented :(29) Regular maintenance :(30) Physical protection :(31) Minor restoration :(32) Any restoration should preserve traces of periods of significance :(33) No conjectural reconstruction :(34) Treatment of setting and landscaping should not adversely affect site :(35) Archaeological sites should typically be reburied to conserve and prevent theft :(36) Principles may also be applied to commemorative places :(37) Principles may also be drawn upon for cultural, historic, and submarine landscapes and historic cities :(38) Principles drafted and adopted by China ICOMOS and approved by SACH; amendments should follow similarly.

Commentary

Extended commentary clarifies the way in which these principles should be interpreted and implemented.

References

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External links

Getty Conservation Institute: "Principles for the Conservation of Heritage Sites in China"

Getty Conservation Institute: Field Project — China Principles
Historic sites in China Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage Cultural heritage of China Heritage registers in China