fluktor -|||- study - office - newsletter August 07, 2005

Project attempts to save ancient grottoes
www.chinaview.cn 2005-08-03 08:11:14

BEIJING, Aug. 3 -- A 1,500-year-old World Heritage site in danger of collapse due to water erosion should be saved by a project to be launched within the year, experts say.

At least 21 of the 45 major caves at the Yungang Grottoes near Datong, North China's Shanxi Province, have suffered water damage, and the organization charged with looking after the site says urgent action needs to be taken.

According to the Yungang Grottoes Institute, most seriously affected is the central Wuhua Cave, in which the tops of five supporting stone pillars have been eroded and are in danger of collapsing.

Pillars in front of the ninth, 10th and 12th caves are suffering from serious weathering as well, and exterior carvings of the three caves have eroded away.

"Water infiltration, which directly results in weathering, threatens the grottoes most," said Huang Jizhong, a researcher from the institute who leads the new project.

"Therefore, we have a comprehensive conservation plan to prevent further deterioration, and the anti-infiltration project is the key part."

The Yungang Grottoes contain 53 rock temples, dating from AD 460 to 524, carved into sandstone cliff.

Their 51,000 representations of Buddha, ranging from miniature bas-reliefs to statues 17 metres in height, are carved directly into the rock. Most carvings were restored in the Ming (1368-1644) and earlier dynasties by plastering mud over the eroded carving and were then decorated elaborately with polychrome and gilding.

However, over the centuries, the grottoes have suffered deterioration from rain, wind and earthquakes, and more recently from pollution due to industrialization and urban development.

Huang said the institute has been adopting anti-infiltration measures since the 1960s, but none of them have brought striking results. A joint effort with the US Getty Conservation Institution in 1992 was unsuccessful, as well.

According to Huang, the preliminary research of the new project started in 2002 and passed an evaluation last week by a group of 12 experts from such institutions as the State Administration for Cultural Heritage, the Chinese Academy of Science and the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

A special kind of clay named bentonite will be used for the drainage system above the cave ceilings in a 360,000-square-metre area, Huang said.

The use of bentonite for cultural heritage conservation is the first attempt of its kind in China. "It's a type of natural material and will not do any harm to the grottoes," Huang said.

The total expenditure will be 99.74 million yuan (US$12.3 million), and the project will begin with a few caves to test how it works. Huang said no timetable has been set, but the whole project will probably continue for years.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-08/03/content_3301847.htm

****************************

Mud bed influences Chinese ancient culture
www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-29 20:35:11

BEIJING, July 29 (Xinhuanet) -- A German historian said here Friday that mud beds, or Kang in Chinese, played a significant role in shaping ancient Chinese cultural etiquette.

Mareile Flitsch, professor at Berlin Technical University Institute for History of Technology, said that the Chinese hypocaust had one side cold and the other warm. They used hypocausts as beds, kitchens, dining tables and ritual sites.

Monks usually held mourning services and newly weds carried outtheir marriage ceremony on hypocausts.

Different sitting or kneeling postures might show different social ranks, Flitsch said.

She said that the use of the "Kang" comprises sitting postures of kneeling, squatting and sitting cross-legged. Sitting with correct postures and right places subtly exposed politeness and social rank.

Flitsch said that Kang was a multi-functional place. It could serve as a bed, floor, table, chair and heater. Therefore, it combined the working and living features of daily users.

The Kang was usually covered with a mat so that people literally sat on mats. Many Chinese historians have also investigated rules of etiquette concerning the correct use of matsand furnishing, she said.

Flitsch said many wealthy people in North China abandoned the Kang slowly at the end of 19th century. Instead they used modern tables, chairs and beds with respective functions. But Kang can still be found in rural China at present.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/29/content_3285115.htm

****************************

Ancient sites along Silk Road under threat: experts
www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-27 23:47:37

TAIYUAN, July 27 (Xinhuanet) -- About 90 percent of ancient relic sites along the Chinese section of the Silk Road have lost their original looks, and some are even on the brink of extinction, an expert warned on Wednesday.

Most of the approximately 1,200 ancient cultural relic sites along the 4,000-kilometer section are grottoes and earth buildings, including the World Heritage Dunhuang Grottoes and up to 100 sites placed on the state protection lists, according to LiZuixiong, deputy director of Dunhuang Academy.

The expert blamed wind and rain erosion and desertification forthe destruction of these valuable ancient sites, warning that the weathering may even lead to the collapse of some rock sites and fatal damage of frescoes.

Insufficient management and human activities, particularly undisciplined tourist actions, have also badly wrecked some relics, Liu pointed out at the ongoing international grottoes seminar held at the Yungang Grottoes, a 1,500-year-old World Heritage site in north China's Shanxi Province.

China has stepped up its efforts over the past years in rescuing and protecting the endangered ancient sites.

Stretching over 7,000 kilometers, the 2000-year-old Silk Road, widely acclaimed as a symbol of communications between China and Europe, snakes from Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, through central Asia and ends in Rome.

Another expert attending the grottoes forum also warned that air pollution will become a fatal threat to China's archeological sites, particularly some World Heritage sites.

A major part of China's World Heritage sites are ancient buildings, grottoes and tombs that have been exposed to the air for a long time. Some air pollutants will lead to erosion, collapse or gradually will eat off these brittle sites, said Zhou Baozhong, member of the State Bureau of Cultural Relics.

About half of China's World Heritage sites are located in the regions labeled with higher air pollutants, Zhou cited his research as saying, appealing for more substantial efforts in environment protection and cultural relics preservation.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/27/content_3274342.htm

*****************************

People's Daily Online ,June 27, 2005
Site of 6000-year-old ancient city discovered in Hubei

The ancient city, covering 80,000 sq. meters, is surrounded by lakes in the east, west and south; to its north is a human-dug trench. The city is of an irregular round shape. The city wall is about 2 meters at the highest point and 1 meter the lowest. A great deal of fired red earth was used in buildings and utensils in the city. Stone implements, potteries and some jade articles are found in the city too.

The discovery of the site is of paramount importance to study of formation and development of ancient cities in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

http://english.people.com.cn/200506/27/eng20050627_192620.html

***************************

Project launched to protect 70,000-year-old human cultural relics
www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-27 11:33:02

HOHHOT, July 27 (Xinhuanet) -- A protection program is soon to be launched on a human cultural relic site dating back to at least 70,000 years ago in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the local government said Wednesday.

The program, involving an estimated investment of 96 million yuan (11.8 million US dollars), will help protect cultural relics in the middle Paleolithic Age at the Sala Usa site.

The Sala Usa site, stretching 34 kilometers in Uxin Banner of Ordos City in Inner Mongolia, was discovered in 1922 after a fossilized human tooth was excavated.

Under the program, the local government will control soil erosion, build a museum and relocate over 400 residents around the site in upcoming five years

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/27/content_3273104.htm

******************************

2,200-year-old tombs unearthed in north China
www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-26 15:50:32

TAIYUAN, July 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese archaeologists have discovered seven tombs, dating back 1,000 years to 2,200 years, in north China's Shanxi Province.

Located in the Xiguan village in Yuxian County, the tombs include five from the Warring States (475- 221 B.C.), one of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 220 A.D.) and one of the Tang Dynasty (618- 907).

Archaeologists with the Yangquan City Cultural Heritage Administration unearthed well-preserved skeletons and pottery items from the tombs of the Warring States period.

From the tomb of the Tang Dynasty, archaeologists unearthed a few funerary objects, including bronze knife, iron scissors, iron oven, iron mirrors and copper cash, and tricolored glazed pottery.

"The discoveries of these ancient tombs provide important cluesto the study of history, culture and folklore in the region since the Warring States period," said Han Lizhong, with the Yangquan City Cultural Heritage Administration.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/26/content_3269085.htm

*****************************

Ming Dynasty stone Buddha statues discovered in Chongqing
www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-25 17:12:57

CHONGQING, July 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese archaeologists have found 400 stone Buddha statues during a field survey at a ruined temple dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Liangping County of Chongqing Municipality in southwest China.

Ranging from 20 centimeters to 2 meters in height, the stone Buddha statues had sustained severe damage, but traces of distinct features of carving are visible.

The finding is of great significance to research on the customs,religion and architecture in the Ming Dynasty, a cultural relics official with the Liangping County.

The stone Buddha statues are now being protected by relevant department of the county.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/25/content_3264938.htm

*****************************

Ancient tombs discovered in Chongqing
www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-18 16:28:43

CHONGQING, July 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Archaeologists have discovered agroup of ancient tombs dating back nearly a thousand years ago at a highway construction site in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

Experts from the municipal archaeological and cultural relic institute said Monday most of the tombs were built during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and that the discovery provided "important tangible evidence" for the study of the culture and traditions as well as the ancient funeral customs in the area.

The excavation began in June and 13 tombs, including several for couples, and cultural relics were found at the construction site at the Luohan Village of Tonglan County, said Cao kuanning, leader of the archaeologist team, who declined to give more information about the recovered cultural relics

"The tomb group features a large scale and a long time-span as we also found some tombs from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), providing us a perfect "lab" to study the differences in the funeral traditions of the three dynasties,"said Cao.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/18/content_3234530.htm

******************************

Stele bearing village code of conduct found in Chongqing
www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-10 09:45:28

CHONGQING, July 10 (Xinhuanet) -- A stele carrying village code of conduct was recently found in Yunyang County of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, rated by experts as a physical proof of the prototype of democracy.

The antique was spotted by a farmer when he was renovating his house.

The cylindrical stone stele, dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), weighs 750 kg and is 1.44-meter high, 0.45-meter longand 0.39-meter wide.

A 700-word code of conduct was beautifully engraved on the stele, stating stipulations such as forbidding prostitution and gambling, and not entertaining dubious guests.

Also seen on the stele were names of some 200 villagers who committed to comply with the code of conduct.

Local antique expert Chen Yun told Xinhua that it is the first time a stele carrying such a comprehensive code of conduct is found in southwest China's Three Gorges region and the antique's academic values are subject to further studies.

The style and content of the stele are very rare and somewhat symbolize the embryonic type of village democracy, said Chen.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/10/content_3199026.htm

************************

249 ancient tombs unearthed in construction site
www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-09 19:29:02

SHIJIAZHUANG, July 9 (Xinhuanet) -- A total of 249 ancient tombs together with more than 500 antiques, dating back to 2,000 years ago, have been recently excavated under a middle school construction site in Handan, north China's Hebei Province, according to a local official.

Hao Liangzhen, vice director of the Handan cultural heritage bureau, said Friday most of the unearthed tombs were from the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.), while others were from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.) and the Jin Dynasty (265 - 420).

The tombs were buried only about one meter under the ground level.

The antiques in the tombs include pottery, copperware, ironware, carnelian, colored glaze, and utensils made of bones.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/09/content_3197799.htm

__________________

with kind regards,

Matthias Arnold
(Art-Eastasia list)

http://www.chinaresource.org
http://www.fluktor.de

__________________________________________

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For postings earlier than 2005-02-23 please go to:
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	August 07, 2005: [achtung! kunst] Xinhua news I : Yungang Grottoes - Kang and etiquette - Sites along Silk Road - City discovered in Hubei - Protecting Sala Usa - 7 tombs discovered in Xiguan, Yuxian - Chongqing: 400 stone Buddhas found - Song tombs in Chongqing - Qing stele with Code of Conduct - Han-Jin tombs found in Handan, Hebei

	Project attempts to save ancient grottoes www.chinaview.cn 2005-08-03 08:11:14 BEIJING, Aug. 3 -- A 1,500-year-old World Heritage site in danger of collapse due to water erosion should be saved by a project to be launched within the year, experts say. At least 21 of the 45 major caves at the Yungang Grottoes near Datong, North China's Shanxi Province, have suffered water damage, and the organization charged with looking after the site says urgent action needs to be taken. According to the Yungang Grottoes Institute, most seriously affected is the central Wuhua Cave, in which the tops of five supporting stone pillars have been eroded and are in danger of collapsing. Pillars in front of the ninth, 10th and 12th caves are suffering from serious weathering as well, and exterior carvings of the three caves have eroded away. "Water infiltration, which directly results in weathering, threatens the grottoes most," said Huang Jizhong, a researcher from the institute who leads the new project. "Therefore, we have a comprehensive conservation plan to prevent further deterioration, and the anti-infiltration project is the key part." The Yungang Grottoes contain 53 rock temples, dating from AD 460 to 524, carved into sandstone cliff. Their 51,000 representations of Buddha, ranging from miniature bas-reliefs to statues 17 metres in height, are carved directly into the rock. Most carvings were restored in the Ming (1368-1644) and earlier dynasties by plastering mud over the eroded carving and were then decorated elaborately with polychrome and gilding. However, over the centuries, the grottoes have suffered deterioration from rain, wind and earthquakes, and more recently from pollution due to industrialization and urban development. Huang said the institute has been adopting anti-infiltration measures since the 1960s, but none of them have brought striking results. A joint effort with the US Getty Conservation Institution in 1992 was unsuccessful, as well. According to Huang, the preliminary research of the new project started in 2002 and passed an evaluation last week by a group of 12 experts from such institutions as the State Administration for Cultural Heritage, the Chinese Academy of Science and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. A special kind of clay named bentonite will be used for the drainage system above the cave ceilings in a 360,000-square-metre area, Huang said. The use of bentonite for cultural heritage conservation is the first attempt of its kind in China. "It's a type of natural material and will not do any harm to the grottoes," Huang said. The total expenditure will be 99.74 million yuan (US$12.3 million), and the project will begin with a few caves to test how it works. Huang said no timetable has been set, but the whole project will probably continue for years. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-08/03/content_3301847.htm ************************** Mud bed influences Chinese ancient culture www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-29 20:35:11 BEIJING, July 29 (Xinhuanet) -- A German historian said here Friday that mud beds, or Kang in Chinese, played a significant role in shaping ancient Chinese cultural etiquette. Mareile Flitsch, professor at Berlin Technical University Institute for History of Technology, said that the Chinese hypocaust had one side cold and the other warm. They used hypocausts as beds, kitchens, dining tables and ritual sites. Monks usually held mourning services and newly weds carried outtheir marriage ceremony on hypocausts. Different sitting or kneeling postures might show different social ranks, Flitsch said. She said that the use of the "Kang" comprises sitting postures of kneeling, squatting and sitting cross-legged. Sitting with correct postures and right places subtly exposed politeness and social rank. Flitsch said that Kang was a multi-functional place. It could serve as a bed, floor, table, chair and heater. Therefore, it combined the working and living features of daily users. The Kang was usually covered with a mat so that people literally sat on mats. Many Chinese historians have also investigated rules of etiquette concerning the correct use of matsand furnishing, she said. Flitsch said many wealthy people in North China abandoned the Kang slowly at the end of 19th century. Instead they used modern tables, chairs and beds with respective functions. But Kang can still be found in rural China at present. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/29/content_3285115.htm ************************ Ancient sites along Silk Road under threat: experts www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-27 23:47:37 TAIYUAN, July 27 (Xinhuanet) -- About 90 percent of ancient relic sites along the Chinese section of the Silk Road have lost their original looks, and some are even on the brink of extinction, an expert warned on Wednesday. Most of the approximately 1,200 ancient cultural relic sites along the 4,000-kilometer section are grottoes and earth buildings, including the World Heritage Dunhuang Grottoes and up to 100 sites placed on the state protection lists, according to LiZuixiong, deputy director of Dunhuang Academy. The expert blamed wind and rain erosion and desertification forthe destruction of these valuable ancient sites, warning that the weathering may even lead to the collapse of some rock sites and fatal damage of frescoes. Insufficient management and human activities, particularly undisciplined tourist actions, have also badly wrecked some relics, Liu pointed out at the ongoing international grottoes seminar held at the Yungang Grottoes, a 1,500-year-old World Heritage site in north China's Shanxi Province. China has stepped up its efforts over the past years in rescuing and protecting the endangered ancient sites. Stretching over 7,000 kilometers, the 2000-year-old Silk Road, widely acclaimed as a symbol of communications between China and Europe, snakes from Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, through central Asia and ends in Rome. Another expert attending the grottoes forum also warned that air pollution will become a fatal threat to China's archeological sites, particularly some World Heritage sites. A major part of China's World Heritage sites are ancient buildings, grottoes and tombs that have been exposed to the air for a long time. Some air pollutants will lead to erosion, collapse or gradually will eat off these brittle sites, said Zhou Baozhong, member of the State Bureau of Cultural Relics. About half of China's World Heritage sites are located in the regions labeled with higher air pollutants, Zhou cited his research as saying, appealing for more substantial efforts in environment protection and cultural relics preservation. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/27/content_3274342.htm ************************* People's Daily Online ,June 27, 2005 Site of 6000-year-old ancient city discovered in Hubei The ancient city, covering 80,000 sq. meters, is surrounded by lakes in the east, west and south; to its north is a human-dug trench. The city is of an irregular round shape. The city wall is about 2 meters at the highest point and 1 meter the lowest. A great deal of fired red earth was used in buildings and utensils in the city. Stone implements, potteries and some jade articles are found in the city too. The discovery of the site is of paramount importance to study of formation and development of ancient cities in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. http://english.people.com.cn/200506/27/eng20050627_192620.html *********************** Project launched to protect 70,000-year-old human cultural relics www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-27 11:33:02 HOHHOT, July 27 (Xinhuanet) -- A protection program is soon to be launched on a human cultural relic site dating back to at least 70,000 years ago in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the local government said Wednesday. The program, involving an estimated investment of 96 million yuan (11.8 million US dollars), will help protect cultural relics in the middle Paleolithic Age at the Sala Usa site. The Sala Usa site, stretching 34 kilometers in Uxin Banner of Ordos City in Inner Mongolia, was discovered in 1922 after a fossilized human tooth was excavated. Under the program, the local government will control soil erosion, build a museum and relocate over 400 residents around the site in upcoming five years http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/27/content_3273104.htm ************************** 2,200-year-old tombs unearthed in north China www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-26 15:50:32 TAIYUAN, July 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese archaeologists have discovered seven tombs, dating back 1,000 years to 2,200 years, in north China's Shanxi Province. Located in the Xiguan village in Yuxian County, the tombs include five from the Warring States (475- 221 B.C.), one of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 220 A.D.) and one of the Tang Dynasty (618- 907). Archaeologists with the Yangquan City Cultural Heritage Administration unearthed well-preserved skeletons and pottery items from the tombs of the Warring States period. From the tomb of the Tang Dynasty, archaeologists unearthed a few funerary objects, including bronze knife, iron scissors, iron oven, iron mirrors and copper cash, and tricolored glazed pottery. "The discoveries of these ancient tombs provide important cluesto the study of history, culture and folklore in the region since the Warring States period," said Han Lizhong, with the Yangquan City Cultural Heritage Administration. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/26/content_3269085.htm ************************* Ming Dynasty stone Buddha statues discovered in Chongqing www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-25 17:12:57 CHONGQING, July 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese archaeologists have found 400 stone Buddha statues during a field survey at a ruined temple dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Liangping County of Chongqing Municipality in southwest China. Ranging from 20 centimeters to 2 meters in height, the stone Buddha statues had sustained severe damage, but traces of distinct features of carving are visible. The finding is of great significance to research on the customs,religion and architecture in the Ming Dynasty, a cultural relics official with the Liangping County. The stone Buddha statues are now being protected by relevant department of the county. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/25/content_3264938.htm ************************* Ancient tombs discovered in Chongqing www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-18 16:28:43 CHONGQING, July 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Archaeologists have discovered agroup of ancient tombs dating back nearly a thousand years ago at a highway construction site in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Experts from the municipal archaeological and cultural relic institute said Monday most of the tombs were built during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and that the discovery provided "important tangible evidence" for the study of the culture and traditions as well as the ancient funeral customs in the area. The excavation began in June and 13 tombs, including several for couples, and cultural relics were found at the construction site at the Luohan Village of Tonglan County, said Cao kuanning, leader of the archaeologist team, who declined to give more information about the recovered cultural relics "The tomb group features a large scale and a long time-span as we also found some tombs from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), providing us a perfect "lab" to study the differences in the funeral traditions of the three dynasties,"said Cao. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/18/content_3234530.htm ************************** Stele bearing village code of conduct found in Chongqing www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-10 09:45:28 CHONGQING, July 10 (Xinhuanet) -- A stele carrying village code of conduct was recently found in Yunyang County of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, rated by experts as a physical proof of the prototype of democracy. The antique was spotted by a farmer when he was renovating his house. The cylindrical stone stele, dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), weighs 750 kg and is 1.44-meter high, 0.45-meter longand 0.39-meter wide. A 700-word code of conduct was beautifully engraved on the stele, stating stipulations such as forbidding prostitution and gambling, and not entertaining dubious guests. Also seen on the stele were names of some 200 villagers who committed to comply with the code of conduct. Local antique expert Chen Yun told Xinhua that it is the first time a stele carrying such a comprehensive code of conduct is found in southwest China's Three Gorges region and the antique's academic values are subject to further studies. The style and content of the stele are very rare and somewhat symbolize the embryonic type of village democracy, said Chen. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/10/content_3199026.htm ********************** 249 ancient tombs unearthed in construction site www.chinaview.cn 2005-07-09 19:29:02 SHIJIAZHUANG, July 9 (Xinhuanet) -- A total of 249 ancient tombs together with more than 500 antiques, dating back to 2,000 years ago, have been recently excavated under a middle school construction site in Handan, north China's Hebei Province, according to a local official. Hao Liangzhen, vice director of the Handan cultural heritage bureau, said Friday most of the unearthed tombs were from the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.), while others were from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.) and the Jin Dynasty (265 - 420). The tombs were buried only about one meter under the ground level. The antiques in the tombs include pottery, copperware, ironware, carnelian, colored glaze, and utensils made of bones. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/09/content_3197799.htm __________________ with kind regards, Matthias Arnold (Art-Eastasia list) http://www.chinaresource.org http://www.fluktor.de __________________________________________ An archive of this list as well as an subscribe/unsubscribe facility is available at: http://listserv.uni-heidelberg.de/archives/art-eastasia.html For postings earlier than 2005-02-23 please go to: http://www.fluktor.de/study/office/newsletter.htm