Principals for the Conservation of Heritage in China

The principles of conservation of heritage sites in china are laws and regulations related to conservation and guide the conservation practices on those sites. The 2015 principle was issued in the year 2000. At that moment it was dependant on a wide review of heritage conservation practice in china. China collaborated with the Getty conservation institute and Australian heritage commission in the writing of this document (Demas & Agnew, 2002). It was therefore promulgated and distributed widely. Conservation practices were formalized in this document by providing definite procedures and principles undertaken for the conservation of a site. This helped in clarifying heritage conservation disputes and upgrading the theory level.

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China being the most populated nation in the world with a large territory, many ethnic groups and a long distance of continuous cultural development has a high legacy of cultural heritage. Over 300,000 sites have been registered since the beginning of 1950 to date. The heritage sites mark historical developments of china and the creativity of Chinese people. Chinese culture upholds integrity and a history of an outstanding science, technology and arts. The heritage conservation sites provide better understanding of the past and a foundation for the future.

Conservation of cultural heritage was initiated in china to prevent destructions and damages caused by both humans and natural effects. It was also meant to preserve the cultural values of heritage sites for future generations. The Chinese government presented the law of the people's republic of china on the protection of culture. The law stated that the cultural heritage conservation was primarily dependant on the various levels of government. Moreover, the national people's congress integrated the heritage conservation practice in china by presenting the UNESCO convention concerning the protection of the world and natural heritage.

The national committee of china ICOMOS drew up the two principles for conservation of heritage sites in china when the country accumulated numerous experiences and began to work out its own sets of heritage conservation theories that reflected Chinese conditions (Du Cros, Bauer, Lo, & Rui, 2005).. Advisory groups were set up by the SACH to ensure a comprehensive reflection of the practice and guide practitioners.

The general principles of conservation were meant to serve as conservation guidelines for heritage sites. Heritage sites are immobile physical residues that were created during mankind history. The sites include ruins and archaeological sites, tombs, traditional architecture, stone carvings among many others. there are six steps involved in the conservation of heritage sites. The first step is identification and investigation, followed by assessment. The next step is formal proclamation and classification of the sites. After proclamation a conservation master plan is prepared then implemented and finally a periodic review in master plans.

The identification and investigation process involve a wide general survey and inventory, deeper investigation of the selected site and an in-depth investigation of the biggest sites. Both principles developed specific action plans to implement the conservation master plan (Qian, 2007).. The action plans were to comply with the standards of the government for particular interventions. Sites interpretation and education action plans were also to be developed within the framework of the master plan. The conservation master plan for both principles needed periodical review to evaluate general affectivity and draw lessons from the experience gained during implementation. The principles stated regular maintenance as the basic and most significant conservation means. Therefore a maintenance programme routine aught to be established to conduct regular monitoring. This will help identify and avoid threats and also repair minor defects.

Research is an important step in conservation. The steps followed in conservation process are all based on the results of the research. The results should be availed to the public in order to assist the public to appreciate their values and promote further research into the heritage conservation sites (Barker, Lin, Tighe, Lung, Lai, Bell, & Huang, 2002). . Heritage sites can either retain their original functions or allow for new sustainable contemporary use. The use of heritage sites must follow the principles of appropriate use as it complies with its protection. As much as sites are used for the benefit of the society, the principles ensure that such use does not diminish the sites values.

The principles require personnel at the heritage sites to receive appropriate training and academic qualifications on a relevant discipline before commencing duty. This is because the management of heritage conservation sites is a specialized field that require only professional skills. The conservation practices also require broad community participation. Personnel should comply with professional ethics and make conservation of sites their first priority (Taylor, 2004). A conservation principle is an essential requirement when dealing with conservation of heritage sites. This principle ensures preservation of the historic conditions embodied by its values, integrity and authenticity. Fabrics preserved in sites for a long period should be able to identify the values and conserve the sites to retain all elements of significance.

Authenticity principle is the foundation of physical remains conservation. Cultural and traditional elements should be conserved based on overall site values understanding. Authenticity principle is related to heritage that is both tangible and intangible. Living heritage sites aspects and diverse range of cultural value possessed by some sites are also considered as important components in the authenticity of sites. The values of heritage sites are not only revealed through a Ruins site or structural remnants, but also through elements such as spatial layout, natural landscape, roads and lanes settings, associated heritage components and Intangible heritage. Since conservation of a heritage site is the conservation of all its values, the significant elements that reveal these values should be conserved. Conservation of every element requires integrity to show the entire sites values. Directly involved cultural heritage must be presented directly by a site.

Heritage sites conservation alters the conditions of the intervention lifespan. The principles ensure minimal intervention by conducting preventive measures that do not compromise future treatment. However, the principles restrict intervention on parts of a site that are not eminent risk of damage. Technical measures such as physical protection and strengthening are used to reduce damage possibility. Conservation of heritage is also involved with the diversity of cultural traditions. Sites may be located in places where traditional practices are still practiced. The traditions means of production mark a significant value of sites. The sites should therefore enable every type of traditional activities and the intangible heritage to adapt to and maintain the vitality of the contemporary needs. Efficient conservation of heritage require appropriate technology. Evidences of original technology and historical material should also be preserved by maintaining traditional craftsmen that contributed to the long term preservation of the site. These kinds of technology will not damage the sites while providing a solution to problems at the sites. However, the technology conservation measures should not be ones that prevent the undertaking of future intervention. It is advisable to use reversible measures so that in case better technology arise, the original treatment may be reversed without posing danger to the site.

Both principles involve disaster preparedness and prevention that requires a timely understanding and elimination of possible threats. Response plans should be developed to minimize damage in case of any damage shown in the detailed assessment of threats. Relevant individuals should therefore be offered appropriate training on how to conduct these plans (Groves, Jensen, Valutis, Redford, Shaffer, Scott & Anderson, 2002). The government helps in conservation of sites under its jurisdiction each level of government proclaims a list of protected sites under jurisdiction by marking boundaries of officially proclaimed sites and erecting plaques to declare the status of the site as an officially protected entity.

Each principle involves a conservation master plan which is a comprehensive working document that contains everything related to the conservation of heritage. The master plan should meet relevant industrial standards (Whitehand & Gu, 2007).. The plan should be written by an organization working with professionals from relevant disciplines with a background of detailed investigation ad survey. When conducting the master plan, it is important to consider the needs of providing protective facilities for security and protection against lightning strikes

After conducting a master plan, it should made public by the local government. This can be realized through an implementation of the master plan and incorporating the subsistence into the local urban and rural and development plan. After implementation of the master plan, a periodic review is conducted to verify the effectiveness of the implementation. This process is the most fundamental method used by the government entity in monitoring and supporting implementation of the master plan. A periodic review ensures progressive implementation and effective project

Changes to the structure should be considered during construction of protective structures on a site future use. Permanent solutions should not undertake quickly and should not prevent future implementation of more effective protection measures. The installation of these structures must not change or damage the designated protective use. erected protective structure on a site, it should be used only on the parts that are exposed to danger. The structure should be located as far as possible and should be unobtrusive by allowing the retention of the site's original physical characteristics. Sites relocation involves moving a site to a new location. This intervention is rear because of strict control and need for special approval. Relocation of a site decision must be based on substantial justification deliberated by a panel of experts and approved in accordance with the law.

The two principles require treatment of the settings. This measure is meant to protect the site, reveal its historic condition and ensure an appropriate use of the measure. The practice majorly involves modification, removal and structural purchase that affect the landscape in the protected area. Minor restorations involve rectification of deformed, collapsed or displaced components. The eliminated elements are therefore kept in a record of a detailed documentation to enable differentiating the new from the original fabric elements. The modern landscapes should respect the historic features of the site by avoiding damages and visual intrusions through the use of indigenous vegetation.

Living heritage and community participation continue to rise with the cultural heritage conservation as more attention is paid to cultural diversity. Constant reforms of basic conservation principles have generated a new approach in ideas that reflect the conservation of cultural heritage diversity (Keddy, 2010). . China and International conservation communities shared an understanding of the values of cultural heritage therefore the world heritage convention was ratified in 1985. The ratification helped...