Monuments and voices : valuing cultural resources in Tibetan Sichuan
This research examines the ways in which communities define and value their cultural heritage and then how they deal with those ideas. By concentrating on ancient monumental stone towers and their relationship to the identity and sense of place among the Minyak townships along the Liqiu River in Kangding County, western Sichuan, it is possible to understand why and for whom the ancient is an active part of the present. How these communities manage their monumental heritage and balance concerns over economic development with a desire to continue cultural traditions such as language and lifeways contributes to current discussions and practices among heritage professionals the world over. Ancient buildings in Minyak are little documented, there is no comprehensive management plan for their conservation and thus far they have been saved from destruction (both active and by neglect) by the efforts of a native architect and his local NGO. The grass roots level organization in Minyak is compared with other sites in China that are farther along the path to proactively managing cultural resources. These vary in degree from Danba County in western Sichuan Province whose towers, which are part of the system of towers
Te Winkle, K. S.
Monuments and voices : valuing cultural resources in Tibetan Sichuan. This research examines the ways in which communities define and value their cultural heritage and then how they deal with those ideas. By concentrating on ancient monumental stone towers and their relationship to the identity and sense of place among the Minyak townships along the Liqiu River in Kangding County, western Sichuan, it is possible to understand why and for whom the ancient is an active part of the present. How these communities manage their monumental heritage and balance concerns over economic development with a desire to continue cultural traditions such as language and lifeways contributes to current discussions and practices among heritage professionals the world over. Ancient buildings in Minyak are little documented, there is no comprehensive management plan for their conservation and thus far they have been saved from destruction (both active and by neglect) by the efforts of a native architect and his local NGO. The grass roots level organization in Minyak is compared with other sites in China that are farther along the path to proactively managing cultural resources. These vary in degree from Danba County in western Sichuan Province whose towers, which are part of the system of towers
monuments voice value cultural resource tibetan sichuan examines_way community define value cultural_heritage deal idea concentrate ancient monumental stone tower relationship identity sense_place among township along river county western sichuan possible ancient active part present community manage monumental heritage balance concern economic_development desire continue cultural_tradition language lifeways contribute_current discussion practice among heritage professional world over ancient_building little document comprehensive management plan conservation thus_far save destruction active neglect effort native architect local grass_root level organization compare site china far along path manage cultural resource vary_degree county western sichuan province whose tower part system tower