Cultural heritage restoration project launched

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Source: CCTV.com | 05-30-2008 16:25

The May 12 earthquake has done devastating damage to the historical and cultural relics of Sichuan's Qiang ethnic group. To address the problem, the State Council, the State Commission of Nationalities, the State Bureau of Cultural Heritages, along with relevant departments of Sichuan Province, have launched a project aimed at saving and restoring the Qiang heritage.

The State Council, the State Commission of Nationalities, the State Bureau of Cultural Heritages, along with relevant departments of Sichuan Province, have launched a project aimed at saving and restoring the Qiang heritage.

The project entails rescue and restoration work of the Qiang dwellings within the Sichuan Aba Tibetan Qiang Autonomous prefecture and Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County, as well as collecting and appraisal of the relics.

At a seminar held in Beijing Friday, experts said that in the process of such restoration, importance should be attached to both the tangible and non-tangible cultures of the Qiang ethnic group.

Li Shaoming, Researcher of Sichuan Ethnic Studies Center said "There are two steps to take in the restoration work. First off, we need to restore the Qiang ecosystem to its original state or better. And then the cultural heritages, including the preservation of the stories passed down in its culture."

Experts also suggest that high technology be brought in to carry out statistical studies on the historical origin and the extent of the spread of the Qiang cultural heritage. They also proposed making digital images of the Qiang relics, dwellings and costumes.

Sources say that the engraved villas and the Qiang villages - the best known symbols of Qiang ethnic culture - are mostly found in cities like Beichuan, Wenchuan, Maoxian and Lixian. They are also on the government's list for applications to be included in the world's cultural heritages. Beichuan was the hardest hit region in the quake, and is actually the only Qiang autonomous county in the country. It is also the place where ancient Qiang culture has been preserved to the greatest extent.

Editor:Xiong Qu