mk Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian County in Shanxi Province Photo: VCG" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2024/2024-08-21/1eed04f2-a73b-4251-9ff3-0ae1b2c61026.jpeg" />

The Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian County in Shanxi Province Photo: VCG

As ancient Chinese timber-frame buildings gain increasing global attention through diverse platforms, including the internationally popular video game Black Myth: Wukong, a conference dedicated to the conservation and World Heritage nomination of wooden structures from the Tang to the Song dynasties (618-1279) brought together domestic and international experts on Sunday in Changzhi, North China's Shanxi Province, which is renowned for its remarkable examples of these architectural wonders.   

The attendees of the conference included Lü Zhou, director of the National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University; Joseph King, former senior director of International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property; and Nancy S. Steinhardt, a professor of East Asian Art and curator of Chinese Art at the University of Pennsylvania.

At the conference, experts focused on the preservation and inheritance of early wooden buildings in China, along with the protection and use of the country's rich architectural heritage. For instance, King pointed out that improving the documents for World Heritage application is the first step of protecting timber architecture from the Tang and Song dynasties in the future, while Xu Yitao from Peking University talked about the core value of ancient Chinese wooden architecture.

The event highlighted the unique charm of ancient wooden architecture, shared successful practices in heritage conservation and utilization from China, and also offered relevant domestic and international experiences. "The conference helps us to broaden perspectives on these topics regarding timber-frame architecture," Lü told the Global Times on Sunday.

Lü noted that the application of Chinese ­timber-frame architecture from the Tang to the Song dynasties for World Heritage status is still in its early stages. The related issues concerning its form and value merit further discussion at such seminars.

Applying for World Heritage status is an effective way to raise global awareness of the value of ancient Chinese wooden architecture and the country's millennia-long experience in conserving timber-frame buildings. Lü emphasized the importance of promoting these architectural treasures on an international platform to facilitate broader exchanges.

Before attending the conference, these experts also appreciated prime examples of ancient Chinese architecture in Shanxi. During their visit, the experts gained valuable insights into the preservation and restoration practices associated with these buildings. 

At Jinci Temple in Taiyuan, which is the earliest classical ancestral temple garden building complex in China, they interacted with local heritage preservation specialists to learn more about its historical context and conservation efforts. They also toured Foguang Temple and Nanchan Temple in Wutai county, analyzing their significance and technical achievements in Tang Dynasty architecture. Additionally, they visited Faxing Temple, Chongqing Temple, and Guanyin Hall in Changzhi to study the colored sculptures and timber constructions from the Song (960-1279) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties and discussed the importance of these temples in the realms of Buddhist art and architectural history.

After exploring these valuable architectural treasures with foreign experts and engaging in exchanges, Lü remarked that these international academicians had gained a deeper appreciation for Chinese timber architecture. "They consider it a fruitful journey," Lü noted.

Chinese experience in protecting and restoring ancient timber-frame architecture has influenced some overseas architectural heritages over the years. 

After being damaged by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake, the Basantapur Palace complex in Nepal urgently needed to be restored. 

The Chinese team assisting the restoration project selected ­local wood, brick, tiles, and other traditional materials to ensure the "original taste" of the complex was preserved, and also incorporated Chinese expertise during the project of innovatively using metal ropes to achieve reversible soft connections and strengthen the overall structure.

The project, based on Nepali traditional aesthetics and aided by the Chinese team's patented techniques in relic restoration, was praised by the Nepali experts for its "high efficiency and good quality," according to the China Academy of ­Cultural Heritage, which was in charge of the project.