| This paper compares the similarities and differences between Chinese and Western cultural heritage management from a cultural perspective,using a comparative research approach to sort out the cultural heritage management under the influence of the respective traditional cultures of China and the West.The main purpose of this study is twofold:firstly,to compare the similarities and differences between Chinese and Western heritage management,and to explore experiences that can be learnt;secondly,to apply cultural and cross-cultural theories to various aspects of cultural heritage management,and to attempt to analyze the cultural values embodied in heritage and the deeper influence of traditional culture on heritage management.The comparison between Chinese and Western cultural heritage management can be divided into horizontal and vertical aspects:the horizontal comparison is divided into a static comparison and a dynamic comparison,i.e.,the static comparison of Chinese and Western management systems and the cross-cultural exchanges that occur in heritage management;the vertical comparison is a comparison of the stages of development of Chinese and Western heritage management.The horizontal comparison of heritage management is developed in three parts:the subject-stakeholders,the object-cultural heritage and the mediator-management system.This paper discusses the similarities and differences between Chinese and Western cultural heritage management,whereas the West is a broad concept,and from the perspective of the practice of heritage management,the West in this context refers mainly to the cultural origins of the West-Europe.Literature research,comparative research,cross-cultural research and case studies are the main methods used in the studyThe paper is divided into seven chapters.The first chapter compares the stages of development of heritage management in China and the West,i.e.,a vertical comparison.The evolution of conservation thinking in Europe is centered around the term‘restoration',and the different principles and means of restoration reflect the different understandings of heritage values in each era.The 'value rationality' of conservation is concerned with why to conserve,while the‘instrumental rationality'is concerned with how to conserve.The two form an opposing and unified whole.Chinese heritage conservation and management also faces this question:who determines the values?Is there a local adaptation of established Western conservation concepts?To address these questions,it is important to understand both the traditional cultural values of heritage and its value to the present.The case study section of this paper takes the example of world heritages in Spain,which has lagged behind countries such as the United Kingdom,the United States and Italy in terms of heritage conservation and management due to social systems and has also experienced problems of destruction due to changes in conservation philosophy.It is like China in terms of the richness,uniqueness and diversity of its cultural heritage,and has certain lessons for China.Heritage conservation in China started late,but with the development of the market economy and the rise of mass tourism,as well as the influence of the enormous benefits brought by the nomination of World Heritage sites,theories of heritage conservation and management have developed rapidly.China's heritage conservation theories have been largely influenced and constrained by Western theories,and there is still a need to explore the path of heritage development that is truly appropriate for China.Chapter two deals with the cultural differences between Chinese and Western traditions as reflected in architectural heritage,Taking architectural heritage as an example,this chapter illustrates the cultural characteristics and core values reflected in different materials and styles of architectural heritage.Western architecture is dominated by stone,with a majestic style;Chinese architecture is dominated by wood,which appears slender and agile.The differences of heritage buildings reflect the different spiritual cores of Chinese and Western traditional cultures.Confucianism,the core of Chinese traditional culture,is itself a theory of governance and peace,which can be called 'management-oriented thinking'.Throughout Chinese history,Confucianism has been blended with other cultural traits to become an effective means of managing a unified empire over m any dynasties,and the influence of these management ideas continues to this day.In the beginning,Western management did not consider the value of people as the purpose of management.As time went on,the West began to see people in management as complex individuals,closer to the'people-centered' approach advocated by Confucianism.In the modern era of globalization,which is so closely interconnected,the differences between Chinese and Western cultures are becoming more pronounced.The cultures of different peoples can be compared,but there is no unified value system,and cultures do not evolve in the same direction,but only based on their own traditions.Economic globalization and cultural diversity go hand in hand,and cultural exchange and complementarity will certainly contribute to the development of the worldChapter three is a comparison of the management systems of Chinese and Western cultural heritage.The management system is the mediator in heritage management,connecting people as subjects and heritage as objects.During the rapid development of heritage in China,a series of problems have emerged,such as the over-commercialization of heritage sites,compromised authenticity,lack of cultural identity,stakeholder conflicts and the over-utilization of world heritage.The emergence of these problems is closely related to the heritage management system,and therefore the institutional issue has been the focus of research by domestic scholars.China's heritage management system has gone through a process from closed to open,and a variety of management and operation models have emerged,but in general,the government-led,top-down management model still prevails.At the same time,as a developing country,economic objectives are still the main goal of development,which has led to a conflict between conservation and use.In terms of the perception of heritage values,the awareness of heritage conservation among managers and the public still needs to be cultivated.The experience of the West can be drawn upon in terms of management models,funding sources,and diversified participation in conservation and management.Heritage management and tourism management are closely related and intertwined,and as heritage can also be a resource,the question of how to use heritage resources wisely and avoid the two extremes of vacancy and over-utilization is a balancing act for every heritage site.Chapter four is a comparative study of stakeholders in the management of Chinese and Western cultural heritage.Stakeholders are the main actors in heritage management,including managers,conservators,operators,community residents,heritage tourists,NGOs and society at large.Sometimes the manager and the conservator are one and the same,and sometimes they are multiple subjects.In China,the government is the main party responsible for heritage management,but the role of conservation experts should not be overlooked.The balance between the interests of heritage operators and heritage site residents has a direct impact on the sustainable development of heritage sites.Heritage tourists are a group that receives a lot of attention from all sides,and there are differences between Chinese and Western heritage tourists in terms of their perception of heritage values and aesthetic culture,especially in the pursuit of authenticity.The relationship between tourism development and heritage conservation has also been the focus of research by Chinese and Western scholars.The relationships between tourism activities in heritage sites revolve around the tourist,with managers,operators and the communities involved in the operation of the sites often aiming to meet the needs of the tourist.However,heritage sites are unique in that they also have the task of developing the culture of the community,and it would be difficult for a heritage site to fulfil its full function if it catered entirely to the needs of the mass tourist.Raising the cultural and spiritual level of tourism is the way forward for modern cultural and heritage tourism.The relationships between the stakeholders of a heritage site are dynamic and only by finding a balance between these relationships can the sustainable development of a heritage site be achieved.Chapter five is a case study comparing Chinese and Western theories and practices of heritage revitalization and digital heritage management.'Revitalization'refers to the process of 'interpretation-integration-reconstruction' of the culture embodied in the material and value dimensions of heritage.The digitization of heritage is both a proactive response to the development of the times and a choice that must be made in order to cope with the changes in society.Thanks to the information age and the Internet,China has developed alongside the West in the area of digitization and has surpassed it in the area of application.The Palace Museum has made many innovative practices in heritage revitalization and digitization,reaping positive social feedback,and these experiences have been replicated by other cultural institutions,playing a positive role in the promotion and transmission of culture.Western research has focused on the impact of digitization,new media and social networks on society and culture,discussing the relationship between technological development and cultural change.Some scholars are cautious about the rapid development of digital technology in the cultural sphere,rejecting technological determinism and arguing that tools should serve human purposes.There are many different forms of heritage revitalization,but the basic approach is to decode the'cultural gene' after gaining a deeper understanding of traditional culture,and then connect it with modern lifestyles to give a nostalgic experience or a cultural resonance.Chapter six discusses the sustainable development of historic towns,comparing the ancient city of Santiago in Spain with Qufu city.Both heritage sites are cultural meccas in their respective countries,and the resolution of the tension between tradition and modernity is an important issue in their development.The residents who have lived in the historic towns for generations are the owners of them,and they are also the heritage that best reflects the relationships between stakeholders,and how to achieve sustainable development is a key issue in this regard.Qufu and Santiago belong to the same category of 'cultural sanctuaries',and the common tendency to commercialize historic towns can diminish their sanctity and cultural value and can lead to 'creative destruction'.The sustainable development of historic towns is a culturally based solution that focuses not only on the preservation of the physical heritage,but also on the values and cultural symbols of the heritage,on the geography and the historical and cultural context of the site.At the same time,a balance needs to be found between the preservation of tradition and modern development,considering factors such as housing,population,employment,commerce,environment,community integration and cultural identity.The future development of Qufu will also need to sort out the relationships between stakeholders and find the knots that hinder development,so that Confucian culture can be better interpreted and promoted.Chapter seven compares two cultural routes heritage,the Silk Road and the Pilgrimage Route.Cultural route heritage is a relatively new category of world cultural heritage,which breaks away from the point-based typological character of the past and extends it spatially.It also extends the connotations and extensions of cultural heritage,avoiding the fragmentation of cultural lines and enriching the activities and experiences of heritage visitors.This type of heritage is characterized by mobility and intercultural exchange,and in terms of management it involves transnational heritage management,which can draw on international management experience.The‘One Belt,One Road'initiative proposed by China draws on the historical symbols of the ancient Silk Road to develop economic partnerships with countries along the route,creating a community of interests,destiny and responsibility with mutual political trust,economic integration and cultural tolerance.As the countries along the Belt and Road have many people and a small amount of land and a low level of economic development,the tourism economy performs better than the macroeconomic development,and tourism plays a more prominent role in the national economy of these countries.Cultural tourism can play an important role in the revival of the Silk RoadThe innovations of this paper are:firstly,in terms of research perspective,the study of heritage management from the perspective of culture is a relatively new entry point.As cultural heritage is not a rootless wood,its very existence represents the transmission of culture,so it is also necessary to look at heritage through the lens of continuity,placing cultural heritage in the context of traditional culture to understand and manage it.Secondly,in terms of research ideas and content,two spaces-China and the West-are compared,two directions-horizontal and vertical-are sorted out,and three components-heritage management-are analyzed.the subject,the object and the mediator.In the case section,three types of cultural heritage that are representative and cutting-edge in the field of heritage management are explored.Thirdly,the research methodology adopts an interdisciplinary approach,incorporating theories and methods from history,cultural comparative studies,international management and tourism.Management is both a science and a culture,and this paper applies theories of culture and interculturalism to discuss the differences and lessons learned from Chinese and Western experiences,as well as exploring the path of internationalization of China's cultural heritage.Cultural heritage is preserved by the choice of generations,and the value of cultural heritage depends on history as well as on the present and the future.China's cultural heritage is currently undergoing a period of rapid development,and more and more people are beginning to pay attention to the social and cultural value of heritage in addition to its economic value.By understanding the development path and experience of Western heritage,it can help us to better understand ourselves,to learn from the advanced ideas of the West,but also to draw strength from our own traditional culture.The heritage business can contribute to the healthy development of society and culture,thus enabling China's cultural heritage to'go global' and promote China's excellent traditional culture. |
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