Asian Buddhist Heritage

This publication contains papers presented at a series of forums organized in 2013 by ICCROM and the Cultural Heritage Administration of the Republic of Korea (CHA) in Seoul. This is the first in a series of five books that will cover some of the most relevant topics in cultural heritage preservation and management in Asia.

Throughout the world, religious sites are at the top of the lists of protected heritage properties. Consequently, the needs of communities, who value these sites for their sacred values, are confronted with the demands of heritage conservation and site management practices.

This book brings together articles addressing these concerns as they relate to Buddhist heritage sites in Asia. It considers Buddhist philosophy and how it shapes the definition of cultural heritage and its preservation. What needs to be conserved and restored and who needs to be involved in this process? How is the Buddhist worldview reflected in contemporary Asian society, and how does this translate into the management and maintenance of a sacred place? How do the tangible and intangible attributes of Buddhism relate to established conservation theory, ethics and practice?

For cultural heritage professionals, policy makers, and communities, including teachers and students in Asia and around the world, this book offers a series of insights and case studies highlighting the challenges and positive outcomes of conserving living religious monuments. Although the focus is on Buddhist heritage, many of the issues are universal and the views presented by the authors can offer a fresh perspective to a relevant issue in the cultural sector.