4.2.2 Chinese Protection Policy towards Historic P...
Due to their great impact on the development of economics, politics, literature, science, aesthetic, technology and education, historic personalities’ former residences in China have gradually become important cultural resources.However, the protection of these historic significant residences is initially spontaneous.The vast majority of historic personalities’ residences are traditional Chinese architectures with courtyards or gardens.The ancestors of these persons built the residences by themselves and passed them down to their descendants.The layout, quality and aesthetic value of the building were brilliant.Unfortunately, after the Cultural Revolution, these residences were confiscated and distributed to civilians.Most of them became large mixed yards where many families live together.There are also numerous rented residences by historic personalities in various places.These houses are also gradually being taken seriously, when these former dwellers become famous public figures.
In 1982, the Standing Committee of the 5th National People’s Congress promulgated Law of the People’s Republic of China on Protection of Cultural Relics as a basic national law, in Article 2, it pointed out that “typical buildings that are related to major historical events, revolutionary movements or famous personalities and that are highly memorable or are of great significance for education or for the preservation of historical data.”[26]the buildings should be protected as cultural relics.Since then, the protection of historic figures’ residences has been elevated to the level of the national constitution.
With the development of society, economy and the prosperity of tourism, the historic personalities’ hometowns and former residences have become attractions.Even some of them are only common or shabby buildings without beautiful scenery, the intangible culture factors such as the historic significant and personalities’ spirits are the main reason for tourists to visit.The aim of tourists is often limited to feeling their original living and working conditions, to learn about related knowledge and worship the spirit of these famous people.However, with the increasing public interest in historic individual’s cultural heritage and the gradual development of these residences, some problems have gradually emerged.On the one hand, some residences put too much emphasis on economic benefits, which lead to the houses being over decorated or often rebuilt.On the other hand, some residences have been used as other functions, making the historic persons’ culture slowly disappear.In view of this, in 2006, the China Museum Association established the Professional Committee of Historic Personalities’ Former Residence, which has specialized in the overall management of these famous residences throughout the country.
Local governments start investigating the residences of local historic personalities, and some cities have also formulated regulations for the protection and utilization of these famous residence.In 2005, Beijing promulgated the Proposal for the Protection and Utilization of Beijing Personalities’ Former Residences.In 2011, the Kunming Municipal People’s Government issued the Interim Measures for the Protection of personalities’ former Residences in Kunming.In 2014, the General Office of the Baoding Municipal People’s Government issued the Interim Measures for the Protection of the Former Residences of personalities in Baoding City.In 2016, the Yongzhou Municipal People’s Government issued the Measures for the Protection of the Former Residences of personalities in Yongzhou City.In 2017, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage issued the Cultural Relics Protection Standards of the People’s Republic of China, which specifically includes regulations for the protection and utilization of personalities’ former residences.In 2018, the People’s Government of the Southeast Guizhou Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture issued the Opinions on Strengthening the Protection and Utilization of the Former Residence of personalities’ in Southeastern Guizhou.The result is a multi-faceted approach to legal protections by government operating on different levels of law and regulation.
In short, the historic personalities’ residences may be in a bad state and have less aesthetic value, but due to the famous former dweller’s experience, the buildings contain important historical cultural information which should be protected in good way.However, with rapid economic development and urbanization, there is a fierce conflict between the cultural value of traditional districts and the requirement of modern functions.As most of these residences are ordinary buildings instead of classical architectural heritage, their situation is not optimistic.Many such residences have been forgotten in the corners of history and faded out of sight.
In recent years, Chinese government has gradually strengthened the protection policy on historic personalities’ residences.Even so, due to natural disasters and new requirements of urban development, numerous famous residences were destroyed seriously.Local governments have the ultimate responsibility for initiating surveys of these residences, proposing feasible protection policies and methods according to their own conditions after completion.
【注释】
[1]London’s Blue Plaques, English Heritage, https://www.englishheritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/
[2]Wells, Stanley, Shakespeare: A Life in Drama, 1997, p399.
[3]The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/
[4]The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/
[5]Case Study-Stratford-upon-Avon, https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/174862-question-paper-unit-g720-01-introducing-travel-and-tourism-pre-release.pdf
[6]Housing Minister Tries to Save Ringo Starr’s Childhood Home, https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jan/02/ringo-starr-childhoodhome
[7]Fabrice Thuriot, Origin and Evolution of Cultural Policy in France, 2010.
[8]Philippe Poirrier, Heritage and Cultural Policy in France under the Fifth Republic, International Journal of Cultural Policy, 2003, n.9-2, p223.
[9]House, John, et al., Monet in the 20th century, Yale University Press, 1998, p2.
[10]Fondation Claude Monet.(https://www.daowen.com)
[11]Ibid.
[12]Sony Center am Potsdamer Platz, https://www.sonycenter.de/en/architecture
[13]Albrecht Dürer, https://www.xn--albrechtdrer-llb.de/index.html
[14]Giulia Bartrum, Albrecht Dürer and his Legacy, 2002.
[15]Alex Boyer, Introduction to Historic Building Preservation, Make Buildings Last, powered by PROSOCO, Inc., 28 August 2018, https://makebuildingslast.com/preservation/
[16]Historic Preservation Laws-At A Glance, http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/preslaws.html
[17]mountvernon.org.
[18]Owners of Mount Vernon, https://www.mountvernon.org/the-estategardens/the-mansion/owners-of-mount-vernon/
[19]Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, https://www.mountvernon.org/preservation/mount-vernon-ladiesassociation/
[20]President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, https://www.mountvernon.org/the-estate-gardens/famousvisitors/article/president-nicolas-sarkozy-of-france/
[21]Agency for Cultural Affairs, Cultural Properties for Future Generations: Outline of the Cultural Administration of Japan, 2010.
[22]Shiga Naoya Former House-志贺直哉旧居, Naragakuen, http://www.naragakuen.jp/sgnoy/
[23]Fukuzawa Yukichi-福泽谕吉, https://www.japanvisitor.com/famousjapanese-people/fukuzawa-yukichi
[24]Kuang Guoliang, Investigation on the Plight of the Former Residence of Historic Personalities in Beijing, China Cultural Heritage, 2006(2), p12.
[25]Shaoxing Lu Xun Museum, http://www.sxlxmuseum.com/
[26]Law of the People’s Republic of China on Protection of Cultural Relics, 1982.