Following his latest mission to China, Dr. Michael explains GHF’s Lead with Expertise method – going into a heritage sites in a developing region not with a massive restoration plan but with the best minds in modern conservation.

Some highlights from the piece

  • Weishan was the home of Zhi Ni Ni who founded the Nanzhao Empire in 7th century AD. It contains national landmark North Gate dating back to 1390, as well as several Ming era temples and courtyards, and much more.
The Weishan North Gate, 1390

The Weishan North Gate, 1390

  • GHF brought international mural conservation experts to Weishan to develop recommendations for preserving the Yi people mural “Dancing Under The Pine Trees” at the Wen Chung temple on the sacred mountain Weibaoshan. Painted in 1759, the mural is the symbol of the Yi people of Weishan and documents their cultural traditions, but is threatened by moisture, structural weakness, and environmental factors. Karena Morton, an international mural conservator who works for the National Museum of Ireland, spent three days meticulously documenting and analyzing the issues affecting the mural, which include its position on a pavilion situated in a pool in the innermost temple courtyard.

    Wen Chung Palace pavilion, Weibaoshan

    Wen Chung Palace pavilion, Weibaoshan

  • GHF’s own Han Li, China Project Director since 2008, is the organizational nexus of the combined efforts of UNESCO, the Guizhou Cultural Ministry, Peking and Tongi Universities, and the Chinese NGO You Cheng, which works to conserve intangible heritage.
  • Global Heritage Fund also brought Gerald Adelmann, director of Openlands Project and Board member of the Center for US-China Arts Exchange at Columbia University, to Guizhou to see our project at Dali Dong village.  Jerry brings a wealth of experience to the challenge of preserving traditional villages, not just their architecture but their agricultural lands, their crafts, and their patterns of life. This is the greatest challenge of the 21t century, one GHF is tackling from Transylvania to Timbuktu.
Jerry Adelmann, Karena Morton and Han Li at Yi people mural, Wen Chung Palace, Weibaoshan.

Jerry Adelmann, Karena Morton and Han Li at Yi people mural, Wen Chung Palace, Weibaoshan.

  •  As a rapidly developing country, China has arguably emerged from developing status and does not present the same economic challenges as other GHF sites. But their need for expertise is clear and explicit, from the overreliance on tourism that threatened to destroy the city of Lijiang (GHF’s first project in China) to the current cultural landscape challenge in Guizhou.
  • By Leading with Expertise, GHF is helping Weishan make the right conservation decision for this cultural icon, ensuring that local officials spend their money wisely.
  • Read full post at: bit.ly/1je45uE