Bo Bian

Cultural Politics of Authenticity in China’s Heritage Preservation Since the 1980s

Since the 1980s, China's engagement with the UNESCO World Heritage Convention has profoundly shaped its preservation ethos. Central to this influence is the concept of authenticity, which has not only become crucial in China's preservation efforts within its cultural and political contexts but has also sparked debates over its interpretation and application in both domestic and international preservation discussions. This research aims to scrutinize China's adoption and appropriation of authenticity in preservation, spanning from state to local levels, to discern its processes and consequences.
First, this research will explore the evolution of authenticity within European and Chinese contexts. Through archival research such as international preservation documents related to authenticity as well as conference notes, the dissertation will chart the evolution of authenticity, tracing its roots in Western preservation movements. It will also track China's pre-convention preservation movements to illustrate that China’s traditional ideology regarding authenticity is similar to the Eurocentric perspective.
Then, this research will analyze how China selectively integrated traditional perspective and Eurocentric influence of authenticity into state-led preservation documents through narrative shaping since the 1980s. It will highlight the shifts in perception and practice before and after China's adoption of the WHC. Through archival research, interviews, and analysis of legislative documents, the study investigates China's discursive and institutional frameworks for regulating authenticity in heritage preservation.
Furthermore, it will assess the ramifications of authenticity, including impacts on building reconstruction and new construction, displacement of residents, change of property rights, and tourism development. This research will select three representative waterfront towns in the South Yangtze River area, known for their receptivity to international and domestic preservation ideologies, as case study examples. By employing qualitative methodologies including archival research, interviews, and site surveys, the study examines how local stakeholders interpret and implement authenticity within the broader framework of international and national heritage ideologies.
The ultimate goal of this research is to provide a nuanced understanding of the dynamics between international heritage discourses and local heritage practices in China. By tracing the evolution of authenticity from theoretical frameworks to practical applications at both national and local levels, this study contributes to broader discussions on heritage preservation and the complexities of cross-cultural heritage management.
Bio:
Bo Bian is a Ph.D. student in the Constructed Environments. Before coming to UVA, he earned an M.A. in Historic Preservation Planning at Cornell University in 2022. Bo received a B.Eng. in Urban Planning in 2017 and an M.Eng. in Urban Planning with a focus on urban history and preservation in 2020 from Southeast University, China. He was a visiting student at Iowa State University in the Urban Design program during Spring 2017. He has been involved in plenty of China and international heritage preservation projects, many of them related to UNESCO World Heritage.