April 28, 2020, Xinhua Daily, 16 pages
Since the new century, countries around the world pay more and more attention to the protection and utilization of architectural cultural heritage. However, for a long time, in the process of urban and rural development in China, there are still some problems in the protection of traditional villages, ancient towns, historical and cultural cities. How to integrate the protection of ancient buildings with human life, and how to make ancient buildings glow with new vitality in urban and rural development? Today we are talking to Zhou Xueying, Professor of the Department of Archaeology and cultural relics, School of history, Nanjing University.
Reporter: why do you emphasize the importance of "regeneration" of ancient buildings?
Zhou Xueying: looking at the world, more than 95% of the world's cultural heritage listed are historical and architectural cultural heritage or sites. The largest, largest and heaviest material cultural heritage and wealth created by human beings is architecture. Architecture is not only the material carrier of people's life, work, communication and play, but also affects everyone's spirit. This is the unique historical and cultural connotation of architectural heritage.
The "regeneration" of ancient buildings has three main meanings: first, the material carrier of urban and rural historical value preservation. This is an objective preservation and continuation of culture, but also to retain the context of the development of human civilization. Second, the foundation of urban space vitality. A city or town with a long history, its moving part is her vivid historical memory, witness and elucidation. Only when the historical buildings bearing memories are reborn, can the history of urban and rural areas continue. At this time, urban and rural space can continue in time dimension, and urban and rural space also has vitality. It can be said that "regeneration" of cultural relic buildings or general historical building heritage is the most intuitive and effective way to recall urban and rural history. Historical buildings are the "fresh" witnesses of historical events. Their "regeneration" transcends the charm of general new buildings. Third, the traditional construction technology can be inherited and continued. I don't think we can only understand and treat traditional crafts from the perspective of "stillness". In fact, the traditional craft is the rational thinking, choice and creation of our ancients under the material and scientific and technological conditions at that time. Their thoughts and thoughts are of great enlightening value to how we treat ourselves and others today, and then how we treat ourselves and all things in nature.
Reporter: at present, what is the current situation of the protection and utilization of ancient buildings in China?
Zhou Xueying: with the development of social economy and culture and the progress of ideas, China pays more and more attention to the proper protection and rational utilization of architectural cultural heritage. Shanghai, Zhejiang, Tianjin, Jiangsu and other places are in the forefront of the country. As far as Jiangsu Province is concerned, Suzhou has done better, especially in the integration of old city protection and modern life.
However, some problems still exist - either inadequate protection, dilapidated ancient buildings, ancient sites and so on, no one cares for them; or they can't, don't know how to repair, do good deeds, such as the recent exposure of ancient bridges, caves and so on in some places; or they are over utilized, over distributed commercial development, losing the original style and even breaking the bones.
In addition to various interests entanglements, there are also misunderstandings about the relationship between history and the present. To some extent, history is the present, which is a combination of "history" and "present". Naturally, we cannot correctly understand and treat history, or objectively grasp and accumulate the present. How can we talk about the future without combing the past and facing the present? How can we shape Chinese culture recognized by the public?
Reporter: in your opinion, how can we effectively protect and repair ancient buildings?
Zhou Xueying: first, use the original components as much as possible; second, keep the historical and cultural information as much as possible; third, adhere to the "reversibility" of relevant measures. That is to say, on the premise of meeting the requirements of safety, observation and utilization, on the basis of comprehensive, specific and profound research, try to "keep the status quo". Some people regard "keeping the status quo" as "immovable" and separate "protection" from "utilization", which is one-sided.
Historical buildings are ultimately to be used, and the use value is one of its core values. Ancient buildings are public cultural resources. If they are simply "preserved" rather than "utilized", they will alienate later generations, lose the opportunity to communicate with the public, hinder their education, influence their effectiveness, etc., and their intrinsic value will not be fully displayed.
In fact, "utilization" should be one of the contents of "protection" in essence. There is a more consistent contradiction between them. The key is how to make "utilization" follow the principle of "sustainable development". Mr. Liang Sicheng pointed out in the article why to study Chinese Architecture: "to study Chinese architecture can be said to be a work against the times." We believe that there is a kind of "reverse" which is a kind of retroactivity from the present to the ancient. What I want to say more is that the protection and utilization of ancient buildings should fully emphasize "reversibility".
For example, Japan's Shirakawa township is famous for its co built buildings and is listed as a world cultural heritage site. In order to meet the needs of the development of homestay, the traditional buildings have been transformed. Toilets, bathrooms, kitchens, etc. have been added at both ends or one end of the main body of the traditional buildings to keep the overall shape of the building unchanged and retain the traditional spatial structure and its unique folk customs. If the modified part is removed, it can still return to the original "original" appearance of the building. This is "reversible" and "sustainable development".
Reporter: how to combine the protection and utilization of ancient buildings with modern life?
Zhou Xueying: flexibly relocate and adjust the original use function and structural layout of cultural relic buildings, and combine modern technology construction technology to meet the needs of modern society, so that the "regeneration" of cultural relic buildings can be realized. Of course, to do this, we need to do a premise: comprehensive, concrete and profound research. Respect science, rationality and logic, and let professional people do professional things. This is just like this anti epidemic campaign. We fully respect the scientific opinions of medical workers.
For example, the architectural complex of Zhongshan Mausoleum designed by LV Yanzhi, the architect, has become a tourist attraction that everyone yearns for, reflecting the surrounding landscape; Gulou traffic island in Nanjing, Gulou park is surrounded by three-dimensional traffic These are the more successful examples around us.
In the protection and utilization of ancient buildings, if we say that the Nanjing Confucius Temple in the 1980s was version 1.0, and the Nanjing old gate East just completed in recent years is version 2.0, then we hope that there will be version 3.0 in the future. In my mind, version 3.0, that is, the ideal way to protect and utilize ancient buildings, is to let people experience the original life style historical and cultural scenes in the ancient buildings.
For example, in the north of Sichuan Basin, there are many ancient buildings in Langzhong old city with an area of nearly 2 square kilometers, and the aborigines are preserved at the same time. The old man basks in the sun leisurely, and the children play. The local government advocates equal emphasis on improving people's livelihood and developing tourism, and has achieved quite good results. Traffic restrictions in the ancient city are especially encouraging, with no bicycles allowed in. Thus, wandering in the ancient city, the leisure aborigines and the explorers become the "opposite scenery" of each other, forming a beautiful picture of heaven, earth and man.
The integration, openness and inclusiveness of multi culture are the source of excellent cultural vitality. Langzhong ancient city not only protects the heritage itself and the surrounding natural environment, but also pays more attention to the cultivation of human environment. The ultimate goal is to improve everyone's life and quality. This is the best way for me to protect.
Reporter: how to strengthen the cultivation of talents in the field of historical and architectural heritage research?
Zhou Xueying: as an important carrier of human civilization and a vivid field of historical events, historical architectural heritage is one of the most important cultural relics. Therefore, the research of historical architecture occupies an important position in the research of architectural history, archaeology, cultural relic, history, culture and sociology, and has profound significance for the economic, social and cultural development of today's region. At the same time, research achievements, social thoughts and environmental changes in other fields and categories also have an important impact on the concept and methods of historical architectural heritage protection.
The study of historical architectural heritage needs a broad academic perspective. As Mr. Guo Husheng said, "without breadth, there is no depth." Without interdisciplinary vision and thinking, there is no collision and agitation between disciplines, and it is difficult to achieve overall research results. The comprehensive perspective of cross culture, cross region and cross discipline naturally becomes one of the concepts that should be adhered to in the study of historical architectural heritage. For personal development, with a broad vision, the road will be wider and wider. Therefore, the cultivation of interdisciplinary and interdisciplinary talents has become one of the important topics in the study of historical architectural heritage.
Reporter: do you have any suggestions for the protection of the current architectural cultural heritage?
Zhou Xueying: in a word, we should cultivate the insight of treasure recognition and treasure cherishing, and then we can reasonably inherit and utilize them. We should let professional people do professional things and form a social atmosphere that respects science, rationality and logic. At the same time, the protection and utilization of historical and cultural heritage is a long-term process. We should be patient and do not rush for quick success and instant profits.
Xinhua Daily, Yang Li, Wei Xiaomin