China-South Asia: Guarding the shared treasure of humanity

Cultivating a sense of cultural relic protection in children

“Over 2,000 years ago, right in this humble abode, people engaged in meditation and study,” said Maaz Ali, a volunteer dedicated to preserving the Takht-i-Bahi Buddhist temple in Mardan, northwest Pakistan. Wearing a vest featuring the inscription “Guardians of Gandhara” in Chinese, English, and Urdu, Ali imparted a lesson on heritage conservation to local children, shedding light on the site’s history, architectural significance, and the importance of safeguarding cultural artifacts. This lesson is endearingly referred to as a “Naan lesson” by the community, as the children are rewarded with the local staple food, “Naan,” upon completing the session.

The origins of the Takht-i-Bahi Buddhist temple date back to the early 1st century, and it was eventually abandoned in the 7th century. As remnants of the Gandhara civilization, the temple ruins were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980. In 2023, a collaborative effort between Chinese volunteers and the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province materialized into the “Guardians of Gandhara” project. As part of this initiative, a heritage preservation lesson was introduced for local children, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of their cultural heritage.

Chen Zhigang, an associate professor at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts of Shanghai University, leads the project. He highlights that most of the Gandhara cultural sites in Pakistan lack comprehensive conservation measures and have limited engagement with the local communities. The volunteers aim to instill a deep appreciation for cultural preservation and inheritance among the younger generation through the implementation of the “Naan” lesson.

Shao Xuecheng, a volunteer hailing from China and a researcher at the World Art History Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, shared insights on China’s extensive expertise in cave temple and above-ground stone structure conservation. Through the training provided by the project team, a proficient group of local cultural conservators has emerged, elevating their skills in safeguarding cultural relics. Additionally, the team has utilized cutting-edge technologies to create 3D models of stupas and temples, facilitating digital restoration efforts. This integration of new technologies aims to support Pakistan in their heritage conservation endeavors.

Maaz Ali, a local volunteer and a professional cultural relics restorer, takes on the role of a lecturer in this project and is entrusted with teaching the “Naan” lesson to children. He expresses the importance of creating awareness among the local community regarding their cultural heritage and emphasizes the need for proactive measures to protect it. In his daily work, Ali collaborates closely with volunteers from China to restore precious artifacts. He said, “I have gained invaluable knowledge from my Chinese counterparts.”

When asked about their takeaways from the “Naan” lesson, Muhammad Shayan eagerly recounted the tale of “Journey to the West,” one of the renowned Chinese classics, wherein the Tang Monk and his three disciples embarked on a quest to procure sacred scriptures from India. Other students proudly displayed their imaginative paintings depicting the original temple.

The importance of protecting cultural heritage has quietly found its place in the hearts of the local children. Muhammad Haasan, a student who participated in the “Naan” lesson, expressed his unwavering commitment to this cause. He said, “This place has welcomed numerous revered monks from various regions, and it has been a meeting point for merchants of different religions and ethnicities. It holds countless cultural treasures. I aspire to safeguard these heritages for future generations.”

Preserving the temple’s “living history”

Standing on the top floor of the Basantapur Tower in Kathmandu, Nepal, one can admire the large white clouds drifting gently over the distant mountains. From this vantage point, the majestic Swayambhunath Temple atop the hill is clearly visible. Looking down, the lively ambiance of Durbar Square unfolds, with vibrant hawkers tending to their stalls. Primary schoolchildren, adorned in pristine white uniforms, joyfully dart in and out of narrow alleyways. The melodious chimes hanging from the eaves of the houses create a delightful symphony in the gentle breeze.

Durbar Square, alongside six other clusters of historical sites and architectural complexes, forms an integral part of the cultural heritage in the Kathmandu Valley. This region holds the distinction of being Nepal’s inaugural World Heritage Site. Among these treasures, the Basantapur Tower, colloquially referred to as the “nine-layer temple,” stands tall at approximately 32 meters in height. Tragically, on April 25, 2015, a powerful earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale struck the area, resulting in extensive damage to the entire tower complex. The top three floors of the tower even crumbled to the ground. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, a team of Chinese experts was dispatched to Nepal in August 2017 to undertake the task of restoration.

Zhou Jianguo, the lead engineer of the restoration team, vividly recalls the immense challenges they faced during the restoration process. At that time, historical information was scarce, making it incredibly difficult to reconstruct the collapsed section. To overcome this obstacle, the team sought the guidance of seasoned craftsmen and meticulously collected vintage photographs. Their goal was to faithfully restore the original historical appearance of the complex. The tower complex boasts a wealth of exquisite wooden components adorned with intricate carvings depicting religious figures and patterns. To delve deeper into the religious connotations embodied within these carvings, the China Academy of Cultural Heritage established a dedicated scientific research project. Additionally, skilled Nepalese craftsmen, hailing from a lineage of generations engaged in carpentry, were enlisted to carve the wooden components. This approach ensured that the building’s religious and artistic value was both preserved and enhanced, allowing the temple to maintain its status as a “living history” monument. After several years of diligent work by Chinese heritage experts, the principal structure of the nine-story temple complex has been successfully restored, breathing new life into Nepal’s treasure trove of cultural heritage.

In addition, a team of Chinese university students dedicated themselves to the preservation of heritage in Nepal. Ren Sijie, a post-80s teacher from the School of Architecture at Southeast University, along with another teacher named Zhuge Jing, has led nearly 20 undergraduate students on annual expeditions to Nepal for field surveys and mapping. Over the course of three years, they successfully conducted the surveying and mapping of the Changu Narayan temple complex, another World Heritage Site, and a site included in the Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. Their efforts have made a significant contribution to the preservation of these invaluable cultural treasures.

According to Sun Yingzhe, a graduate teaching assistant, the students’ engagement in Nepal extends beyond academic assignments or graduation designs; it is a form of social practice. Each team member is viewed as a custodian of the heritage they work on. Over the course of three years, the team has crafted over a dozen bilingual travel brochures in Chinese and English. “With the increasing influx of Chinese tourists to Nepal,” Sun remarked, “we aspire for these meticulously mapped landmarks to become not just popular tourist destinations, but also to have their cultural allure appreciated by visitors.”

China-South Asian joint archaeological efforts bear fruit

Since the inception of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, there has been an increased level of exchanges and cooperation between China and the countries involved. Chinese archaeologists have actively contributed to this process as well.

Vikrampura is a significant Buddhist site located on the banks of the Ganges River in Bangladesh. It is also recognized as the birthplace of Atiśa, a Bengali monk who pioneered cultural exchanges between China and Bangladesh. As early as the 7th century, the Chinese monk Xuanzang visited Vikrampura, leaving a documented account of his exploration. In 2010, Bangladesh initiated excavations at the Vikrampura site. In December 2014, a team of archaeologists from the Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of Hunan Province, China, was invited by the Bangladeshi authorities to collaborate on joint archaeological efforts.

With the efforts of Chinese and Bangladeshi archaeologists, significant progress has been made in uncovering the mysteries of the Vikrampura site. As a result, the notable Bengali monk Atiśa, who holds a significant position in the history of Tibetan Buddhism, has once again garnered attention. Atiśa was born in Vikrampura over a millennium ago and in 1042, he was invited to Xizang to spread Buddhism through preaching, writing, and translating Buddhist scriptures. He continued his work until his passing in Xizang in 1054. Chai Huanbo, the Chinese leader of the joint archaeological team, conducted extensive research in Xizang to trace Atiśa’s footsteps. He mentioned, “While attempting to locate the origins of the temple architecture in Xizang, I faced challenges such as the lack of relevant images for comparison and the inability to physically experience the original temples. However, now the Vikrampura site lies right beneath my shovel!”

The collaboration between Chinese and Bangladeshi archaeologists has yielded remarkable discoveries at the Vikrampura site. Apart from uncovering the Nateshwar Buddhist temple, the excavation has revealed a wealth of Chinese porcelain fragments from different historical periods. These fragments, including celadon, white porcelain, and blue and white porcelain, provide vivid evidence of the enduring cultural connections between China and Bangladesh throughout history.

Within the Sri Lanka National Museum, a stone tablet known as “the Stele of Offering Alms Bestowed at the Buddhist Temple in the Mountain of Ceylon” proudly stands. This monument was brought to Sri Lanka by the renowned Chinese navigator Zheng He during the Ming Dynasty. Six centuries ago, Zheng He, hailing from China’s Yunnan province, followed the Maritime Silk Road to Sri Lanka, a gem famously referred to as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean.” Today, in the spirit of cultural exchange, Chinese and Sri Lankan archaeologists come together, conducting field surveys and engaging in discussions on the civilization of the Silk Road. Through this collaborative effort, they seek to uncover shared historical memories and create a lasting “monument” of China-Sri Lanka cultural exchanges.

The excavation at the Allalppidi site in Sri Lanka’s Jaffna District has revealed over 600 Chinese porcelain fragments dating back to Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing, and other dynasties. These discoveries provide concrete evidence of the vibrant trade and commercial ties between China and Sri Lanka nearly a millennium ago. Like precious pearls, these artifacts adorn the historical tapestry of the Maritime Silk Road, preserving and sharing the stories of cultural exchange and mutual learning between China and Sri Lanka.

Text by our staff correspondents
Translated by YNTA