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Arts & Communication Cultural convergence in heritage landscapes

1. Introduction World Heritage landscape sites, by capturing a broader
spectrum of heritage principles and concerns. This involves
Heritage landscapes serve as continuously changing adopting a broader and more holistic interpretation of
expressions of cultural narratives, historical evolution, and what cultural heritage landscape conservation entails –
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human interactions with the environment. Predictably, including recognition of its significant contribution to
explorations of these landscapes through the lenses of Eastern contemporary society.
and Western approaches reveal contrasting philosophies,
values, and perceptions, which creates pivotal distinctions To investigate the differences in approaches, the study
that demarcate Eastern and Western perspectives on cultural adopts phenomenology as the ontological perspective. As
heritage landscapes. Such distinctions have historically a philosophical approach that focuses on the subjective
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triggered tensions within wider heritage discourses experience of individuals, phenomenology can provide
– particularly in relation to foundational concepts of a lens through which the nuanced perception and
authenticity, change, and preservation. The theoretical interpretation of heritage landscapes within Eastern and
underpinnings of Eastern and Western approaches have Western cultural frameworks can be comprehensively
far-reaching implications on their conceptualization explored in terms of material, non-material, and spatial
and conservation ideologies applied to landscapes. For processes that constitute the formation of “cultural
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example, Eastern cultures often draw from spiritual landscape” in human minds. The review begins with six
traditions, such as Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, key distinctions in approaches, which are elicited from
that emphasize harmony with nature, interconnectedness, the literature: (i) philosophical underpinnings; (ii) spiritual
and the sacredness of the environment; whereas Western and artistic emphasis; (iii) holistic and individual
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viewpoints often stem from humanist and enlightenment attitudes; (iv) concerns of continuity and evolution;
ideals that champion human agency, artistic creativity, (v) approaches toward community involvement; and
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and the transformation of nature to serve human needs. (vi) relationship between nature, spirituality, and human-
While Eastern and Western approaches highlight the centricity. Following a review of each element, the study
rich cultural diversity of human societies and their proposes a framework of four distinct opportunities for
interactions with the environment, it is the understanding achieving a cultural convergence for heritage landscapes:
of the differences in approaches that this article proposes (i) harmonizing spirituality and esthetics; (ii) balancing
can support their potential integration to enrich heritage continuity and evolution; (iii) fostering inclusive
landscape conservation practices by transcending cultural stewardship between communities and practitioners; and
boundaries. (iv) cultivating equilibrium between people and nature. It is
There is evidence of research over several decades that worth noting here that the notion of landscape is increasingly
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capture both Eastern and Western developments toward conceptualized as a cultural process reflecting pluralistic
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the conceptualization, maintenance, and conservation of meanings and human values over time. Since the mid-
th
heritage landscapes. However, there is very limited research 20 century, this has accelerated international exchanges
exploring the interface of these two geographically ingrained of perspectives which are manifested by, for instance, a
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approaches – particularly in terms of generating potential range of UNESCO projects that foster east-west dialogues.
cultural exchange or a synthesis of their virtues. 11-14 This A nuanced understanding across the east-west divide
paper is interested more specifically in the differences addressing the common complexities that facilitate heritage
between Chinese (representative of Eastern) and English discourses is therefore increasing; however, this contribution
(representative of Western) approaches toward heritage posits these theoretical and philosophical dialogues are
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landscapes, with there being limited literature that significantly underexplored within the literature.
comparatively distinguishes and characterizes what informs 2. Mode of inquiry
and sustains these approaches (historically, culturally, and
sociopolitically). This theoretical contribution seeks to The adoption of phenomenology as the philosophical
achieve two primary aims. First, it endeavors to establish the approach in this research project offers an opportunity to
key distinctions between Chinese and English approaches explore the intricacies of Eastern and Western approaches
to heritage landscapes by conducting a literature review toward heritage landscapes, by placing emphasis on
of relevant cultural landscape sources. Second, the aim analyzing the literature from the perspective of how
is to leverage this synthesis of differences to develop each culture case – Chinese and English – perceives,
a comprehensive framework that supports a cultural values, and interacts with their cultural and natural
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convergence of approaches toward heritage landscapes. landscapes. Edmund Husserl often noted as the father
The research proposes that the concept of “cultural of phenomenology, explained how phenomenology
convergence” can support more effective conservation of affords an ontological perspective such as this through its

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