News
Good Practices of Conservation and Utilization of Timber-framed Structures in East Asia Exchanged in an International Symposium in Quanzhou
On 25 Nov. 2023, taking place at the Confucius Temple of Quanzhou, The International Symposium on Conservation and Utilization of Timber-framed Structures in East Asia was successfully co-organized by UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, Fujian Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and Quanzhou Municipal People鈥檚 Government, with the support from Quanzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Broadcasting and Tourism and Quanzhou Municipal Bureau of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.
The symposium highlights the architectural traditions shared by East Asian countries. Integrating the transmission development of 鈥Minnan Traditional Architectural Craftsmanship鈥, 13 experts and scholars in the area of timber-framed structures from China and other East Asian countries were invited to share their insights and experiences on further promoting conservation and utilization of this important type of architectural heritage. Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, FU Qisheng, Deputy Director of Fujian Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and Director of Fujian Provincial Bureau of Cultural Heritage, CHEN Xiaohui, Deputy Mayor and Party Member of Quanzhou Municipal People鈥檚 Government attended the opening ceremony.
The case studies shared at the symposium covered a wide range of typologies 鈥 from an individual residence to a palace building, from a single house to a whole street. The cases have also demonstrated the interventions in conservation, in connecting craftmanship with scientific innovation, in engaging with the communities, and in continuing to maintain the relevance of traditional architecture in everyday life of local citizens.
Prof. Shahbaz Khan stated, 鈥淲e join hands to explore and share good practices in culture-driven sustainable development at the city-level, and foster dialogue among East Asian countries and beyond鈥. By discussing the conservation of timber-framed structures for which Minnan Traditional Architectural Craftsmanship is an exemplary case, the symposium has served as a platform for such dialogue and exchange to take place. Experts and scholars from East Asian countries came together to deepen cooperation with universities and professional teams on cultural theoretical research and practice, to facilitate new ways to promote safeguarding, transmission, and utilization of cultural World Heritage and living heritage.
An exhibition of Minnan Traditional Architectural Craftsmanship also kicked off during the symposium, which showcased multiple living heritage elements such as carpentry, joinery, tile and brick work, paintwork, watercolor painting, heap-cutting work. Living heritage bearers were also invited to demonstrate their craftsmanship and skills, showing the unique connection of Minnan Traditional Architectures and living heritage.
In the spirit of the theme of the 50th anniversary of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, 鈥淭he Next 50: World Heritage as a source of resilience, humanity and innovation鈥 in 2022 and on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2023, UNESCO and Quanzhou jointly launched the 鈥Traditional Architecture in New Vibe鈥 pilot activity in June 202 within the framework of the UNESCO - China Youth Development Foundation Mercedes-Benz Star Fund 鈥淐onservation and Management of World Heritage Sites in China鈥 Project Phase IV to explore new horizons of heritage conservation and new pathways of sustainable development.
