Page 7 - AC-2-1

Arts & Communication

REVIEW ARTICLE
Cultural convergence in heritage landscape

conservation: A comparative study of Chinese
and English traditions

Johnathan Djabarouti * and Youcao Ren 2
1
1 Manchester School of Architecture, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United
Kingdom
2 Sheffield School of Architecture, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

Abstract

There are distinct Eastern and Western approaches that shape the conservation
and interpretation of cultural heritage landscapes. While existing literature
assesses each approach individually, there is limited research exploring potential
for cross-cultural exchange and innovation to inform a more holistic conservation
of heritage landscape sites. Using Chinese (representative of Eastern) and English
(representative of Western) approaches as archetypal cases, and underpinned by
a phenomenological ontological perspective, this theoretical contribution firstly
establishes key distinctions between Chinese and English approaches toward
heritage landscapes by conducting a review of relevant sources. Differences
*Corresponding author:
Johnathan Djabarouti are subsequently synthesized into a comprehensive framework that supports
(jadjabarouti@gmail.com) a cultural convergence of approaches toward heritage landscapes. Informed
Citation: Djabarouti J, Ren Y. by the literature, six key differences in approach are identified: (i) Philosophical
Cultural convergence in heritage underpinnings; (ii) spiritual and artistic emphasis; (iii) holistic and individual
landscape conservation: attitudes; (iv) concerns of continuity and evolution; (v) approaches toward
A comparative study of Chinese community involvement; and (vi) relationship between nature, spirituality, and
and English traditions. Arts &
Communication. 2024;2(1):1923 human-centricity. After reviewing these differences, a holistic framework is
https://doi.org/10.36922/ac.1923 proposed that is underpinned by four key elements which have the capacity to
Received: September 26, 2023 overcome the differences identified: (i) harmonizing spirituality and esthetics;
(ii) balancing continuity and evolution; (iii) fostering inclusive stewardship
Accepted: December 4, 2023
between communities and practitioners; and (iv) cultivating equilibrium between
Published Online: February 20, people and nature. The study concludes that this framework – what is termed a
2024 “cultural convergence” – can support more effective conservation of landscape
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). sites, by capturing a broader cultural spectrum of heritage principles and
This is an Open-Access article concerns. The proposed framework opens avenues for cross-cultural exchange
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution and advancement of more holistic heritage conservation strategies within an
License, permitting distribution, increasingly globalized heritage context. Future research should seek to apply this
and reproduction in any medium, framework to the contemporary conservation of distinct heritage case study sites
provided the original work is
properly cited. of interest to further advance research on this topic.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with Keywords: Conservation; Cultural heritage landscape; Heritage; Heritage landscape;
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Holistic conservation; Intangible heritage
affiliations.

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2024) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/ac.1923