Cultural Landscape in Asian Modernity

CULTURAL LANDSCAPE IN ASIAN MODERNITY
Kenneth Wong See Huat 11-12 Dec 2014 ICCEI

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
To assess the value of cultural landscapes in
Asia to the contemporary society to date: or
the influence is another way round, or both
could coexist independently without much of
tension or synergy.

LITERATURE REVIEW
The World Heritage Committee has identified and adopted
3 categories of cultural landscape:
(i) "a landscape designed and created intentionally by
man“
(ii) an "organically evolved landscape" which may be a “
relic (or fossil) landscape" or a "continuing landscape”
(iii) an "associative cultural landscape" which may be valued
because of the "religious, artistic or cultural associations
of the natural element"
Committee's Operational Guidelines (UNESCO,

LITERATURE REVIEW
Wischermann (2004) : to emphasize on multiple
modernity is to realize and recognize the peculiarity
of modernity of different civilizations and different
regions, in the world.
Ten (2010): “ In this new world society or global
society, there are always simultaneous and
contradictory influences and consequences of
homogenization, pluralisation, traditionalization, and
hybridization of the components of culture - material
(food, clothing, leisure, etc.) and non-material/
symbolic items (value system, institutions,
etc.)”,

METHODOLOGY
A conceptual research. The approach is qualitative.
Scope : the established 18 cultural landscapes (in Asia only) by
UNESCO up to July 2011.
Categorized into
(i) Early Human Settlement and Spiritual (Grottos and Sacred Sites)
(ii) Economy Activity Prove and Cultural (Plantation, Mining and Trade
Route)
(iii) Ancient Township and Empire Remains
(iv) Intentional Human Intervention Landscape.
Each sub categorize are being analyzed according to its general info
of country the site located, its succeed justification for the
nomination, and its relevance to the modern context.

FINDING AND ANALYSIS
(A) Early Human Settlement and Spiritual
(Grottos)
A grotto is any type of natural or artificial cave
that is associated with historic or prehistoric
use by humans.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE OF TAMGALY
The dense and
coherent group of
petroglyphs, with
sacred images, altars
and cult areas, together
with their associated
settlements and burial
sites, provide a
substantial testimony to
the lives and beliefs of
pastoral peoples of the
central Asian steppes
from the Bronze Age to
the present day
(UNESCO, 2012).
Fig 1 Tamgaly in Kazakhstan
(Source: http://www.worldpixs.com/601265-Tamgaly)

ARCHAEOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE OF TAMGALY
the action of
Kazakh Muslims
tied the rags at the
bush is
synchronize with
the ancient action
of petroglyphs, as
the ritual
dedication for this
holy site
pilgrimage.

GOBUSTAN ROCK ART CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
There is no direct proves of
relationship between the rock
art with famous oil resource of
Azerbajian. Yet, there is the
musical gemstone known as
Gaval Dash that only origin
from the rock art preserve
area that make a tambourine-like
sound to continue its soul.

ROCK SHELTERS OF BHIMBETKA
the current lifestyles of
the India adivasi
(indigenous)
settlements i.e. Gonds,
Pradhans and the
Korkus peoples in the
area still show the
strong affinity, through
the wall painting
traditions on houses.
However, the poverty of
these innocent tribals
have forced to abandon
their tribal values and
take to vulgar
commerce

ROCK SHELTERS OF BHIMBETKA
The tribe painted walls to mark
important occasions such as
weddings and the rice harvest.
The prehistoric rock shelters and
paintings at Bhimbetka

PETROGLYPHIC COMPLEXES OF THE MONGOLIAN
ALTAI
provide an exceptional documentation of the
pre-historic and early historic communities in
the northwestern Altai Mountains.
Map of the petroglyph complex section boundaries.

PETROGLYPHIC COMPLEXES OF THE
MONGOLIAN ALTAI
Even though local
inhabitant Herders have
been engaged in heritage
protection in some soum
(departments), the
livestock breeding and the
seasonal migration of the
nomad households are no
longer organized by the
government. To avoid
transportation costs, two
thirds of the families have
reduced their seasonal
migrations (Lkhagvadorj D., Hauck
M., Dulamsuren C., and Tsogtbaata J.,
n.d.).
Hunting scene, Turkic period.

(B) SACRED SITES
Nearly every culture in human history has
sought to honor the divine, the mysterious,
the supernatural, or the extraordinary in
some way.

CULTURAL LANDSCAPE AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL
REMAINS OF THE BAMIYAN VALLEY
It showed us the political reform during the Taliban in
Afghanistan could threaten the status of asset regardless
the significance of its most monumental expression of the
western Buddhism. The destruction of the Bamyan
Buddhas became a symbol of oppression and a rallying
point for the freedom of religious expression.
Bamiyan Valley from Kabul as capital of Afghanistan

CULTURAL LANDSCAPE AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL
REMAINS OF THE BAMIYAN VALLEY
Despite the fact that most Afghans are now Muslim, they
too had embraced their past and many were appalled by
the destruction.

LUSHAN NATIONAL PARK
Its outstanding aesthetic value and its
powerful associations with Chinese
spiritual and cultural life, is adorned and
popularized by writers, scholars and poets
since ancient times. Other great religions,
such as Islam and Christianity, also
established centres at Lushan. Its spiritual
and political significance has endured to
the present day.

MOUNT WUTAI
The sacred
mountain Wutai is
believed to be the
earthly abode of the
Bodhisattva of
Wisdom, Mañjuśrī.
From the seventh
century on, it attracts
Buddhist pilgrims
from as far as India,
Kashmir, Tibet,
Japan, and Korea.
Tibetan Buddhism
was at its apex there
and the mountain
was a confluence of
Himalayan cultures
by 18 centuries.
Buddhism flourished
once more in the
Ming dynasties.

MOUNT WUTAI
Its’ revival also
showed the
social
instability from
the late Qing
dynasty to the
early years of
the Republic of
China, abrupt
its’ flourishing
as international
pilgrimage
centre.

SACRED SITES AND PILGRIMAGE ROUTES IN
THE KII MOUNTAIN RANGE
the walking
boom and
wellness
concerns create
a new
perception of
the Kumano
forest, which
spoke of
religious beliefs
with association
that, forest as
part of ascetic
practice.

SACRED SITES AND PILGRIMAGE ROUTES IN
THE KII MOUNTAIN RANGE
The main issues
relating to
authenticity is the
reconstruction of
monuments.
However, there is a
long tradition of
reconstructing and
renewing the wooden
fabric of buildings:
the idea, design and
location of the
building are
considered crucial,
whereas the
individual
components may or
may not be original

SULAIMAN-TOO SACRED MOUNTAIN
The huge Muslim world
do recognize the city of
Osh as one of the
centers of Islam,
despite the mobs that
went on an arson and
looting spree in
Krygystan in June
2010, involving ethnic
Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in
and around Osh and
Jalalabad left over 400
people dead.
Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain
forms the backdrop to the city of
Osh.
The rock contains a museum that
was carved during the Soviet era

(C) ECONOMY ACTIVITY PROVE
Plantation - a long artificially established forest, farm or
estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in
distant markets rather than for local on-site
consumption.
Mining - the extraction of valuable minerals or other
geological materials from the earth.
Trade Route - the Incense trade route comprised a
network of major ancient land and sea trading routes
linking the Mediterranean world with Eastern and
Southern sources of incense, spices and other luxury
goods.

RICE TERRACES OF THE PHILIPPINE
CORDILLERAS
have to juggle between traditional and progress, looking at its erosion of
architectural qualities by thoughtless replacement of the natural materials
with simply rigid concrete, and roof thatch with galvanized iron sheets.

RICE TERRACES OF THE PHILIPPINE
CORDILLERAS
An example of the culture-nature
connection is that the
harvesters' ability to stand
erect while harvesting and
simultaneously chanting the
hud-hud (Villaló, n.d.) would not
have been possible without
the waist-high highland
variation in the rice strain,
which is different from the
lowland rice variety that
requires bending to harvest
the stalks.

IWAMI GINZAN SILVER MINE AND ITS CULTURAL
LANDSCAPE
Shows the whole
process, ranging from
silver production to
shipment, in a good state
of preservation and
retains a high level of
authenticity
(Advisory Body Evaluation, 2007).

IWAMI GINZAN SILVER MINE AND ITS CULTURAL
LANDSCAPE
The outer town Omori still preserves old townscape,
which is a mixture of samurai and merchant houses,
administrative buildings, temples, and shrines, while
pits in the Ginzan district are open for public
appreciation.
Gohyakurakan Sori
Bridge, The Omori
Ginzan Preservation
District

INCENSE ROUTE - DESERT CITIES IN THE NEGEV
With the vestiges of
their sophisticated
irrigation systems,
urban constructions,
forts and
caravanserai, the
four Nabatean
towns bear witness
to the way in which
the harsh desert
was settled for trade
and agriculture.

INCENSE ROUTE - DESERT CITIES IN THE NEGEV
The limited development of the region has given the sites considerable
protection from development. Most of the time, the modern and
traditional in Israel manage to peacefully co-exist, so for this site, it just
need a continuing comprehensive archaeological strategy for the whole.
Bathhouse in Mamshit

BAM AND ITS CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
reached its zenith from
the 7th to 11th
centuries, as it sat at
the crossroads of
significant trade routes
and known for its silk
and cotton garments
production
(World Heritage Memory Net).

BAM AND ITS CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
Bam grew in an oasis
created thanks to an
underground
irrigation canals
(qanats), which has
continued its function
until today. The name
of Bam has been
associated silk worm
however the modern
Bam residents have
engaged mainly in
palm cultivation and
trade
(DezhamKhoov M. & Yazdi L.
P., 2010).
How a qanat works.

(D) ANCIENT TOWNSHIP AND EMPIRE REMAINS
Township: different kinds of settlements in
different countries.
Empire: a group of states or peoples under
the control of a centralized ruling authority.

VAT PHOU AND ASSOCIATED ANCIENT
SETTLEMENTS WITHIN THE CHAMPASAK
CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
Witnessing the Laos’ modernity revolving:
“prosperity” in Khmer political expansiveness,
“growth” during American political intrusion in year
60s and later the tourism policy called Nayobai
Chintanakan Mai.

VAT PHOU AND ASSOCIATED ANCIENT
SETTLEMENTS WITHIN THE CHAMPASAK
CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
The subtlety of Laos’ ability to build close connections
with Thailand and China, without simply being
swamped by their vastly larger and more aggressive
economic, is a skilled politics of balance and ingenuity.
The Champasak Cultural preserves the heritage properties
associated with the vast Khmer Empire from the 5th to the 15th
centuries

ORKHON VALLEY CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
The Orkhon valley illustrates several significant stages in human
history. First and foremost it was the centre of the Mongolian
Empire; secondly it reflects a particular Mongolian variation of
Turkish power; thirdly, the Tuvkhun hermitage monastery was the
setting for the development of a Mongolian form of Buddhism;
and fourthly, Khar Balgas, reflects the Uighur urban culture in the
capital of the Uighur Empire.
Orkhon Valley as in heritage tourism route

ORKHON VALLEY CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
Underpinning the
development
within the Orkhon
valley for the past
two millennia has
been a strong
culture of
nomadic
pastoralism. This
culture is still a
revered and is
highly respected
as a ‘noble’ way
to live in harmony
with the
landscape.

PARTHIAN FORTRESSES OF NISA
have been
relatively
undisturbed for
nearly two
millennia and
conserve the
unexcavated
remains of an
ancient civilization
which skilfully
combined its own
traditional cultural
elements with
those of the
Hellenistic and
Roman west.
The ruins of Old Nissa are situated near
the Bagir Village, about 15km west of
Ashgabet, capital of Turkmenistan.

PARTHIAN FORTRESSES OF NISA
The Turkmen population was made up of a number of tribes, all of
which claimed descent from a single ancestor. The Turkmen
shared this emphasis on genealogical descent, whose mobility
and statelessness precluded forms of identity linked to the state.
Under the right circumstances, this belief in a common ancestry
had the potential to serve as a unifying factor.

(E) INTENTIONAL HUMAN INTERVENTION
LANDSCAPE
The improved landscape of West Lake can be seen to
reflect Buddhist ideals imported into China from India such
as 'Buddhist peacefulness' and 'nature as paintings', and in
turn it had a major influence on landscape design in East
Asia. Its causeways, islands, bridges, temples, pagodas
and well defined views, were widely copied over China,
and in Japan.

WEST LAKE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF
HANGZHOU
Although its beauty has been celebrated by writers and
artists since the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), Hangzhou's
role as a center of handicrafts and commerce was lost to
the industrialized metropolis of Shanghai, only in the
1910s, Hangzhou sprang from the ashes as one of the
most famous tourist destinations in China, and its role as
a 'culture garden' continues to this day (Wang, 2011).

CURONIAN SPIT
The Curonian Spit in Russia is a sand dune that is under
constant threat from natural forces (wind and tide). Even
though it succeed safeguarded through reclaimed by
massive protection and stabilization works begun in the
19th century, it seemed hardly escape from forest fire in
summer in present time.

CONCLUSION
16 out of 18 cultural landscapes in Asia justify
the hypothesis that cultural landscapes do
contribute to ethnic or cultural identity
affirmation and pride in Asia.
Continuity, integrity, authenticity is one of the
concerns, yet we shouldn’t over look the
contemporary society value which superimpose
the new perception and invention, as well as the
political reform approach that could further
enhance or threaten its status as world
heritage.

Cultural Landscape in Asian Modernity

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