ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM - THE CASE OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RUINS OF THE GREAT SHANGQINGGONG TEMPLE MOUNT LONGHU, CHINA: ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Mount Longhu is tightly associated with the emergence and longer trajectory of Taoism (as a religion). Thereby, with the evolution of Chinese civilisation from primitive society, the animal bones writing era or oracle age, the era of the "Hundred Schools of Thought Contending," the rebellion period in late Eastern Han, and the emergence of Taoism, the Great Shangqinggong Temple represents the official unit of Taoism of the central government since the Song Dynasty. The thesis traces the synthesising role of this emergence, seeing Mount Longhu as the place where the founder of Taoism (as a religion) was active in this area and the place of residence where his descendants lived as the leaders of Taoism. The archaeological ruins of the Great Shangqinggong Temple are the focus of fieldwork associated with the author's participatory observation of the government's ongoing programme of archaeological research and architectural conservation, all linked to Yingtan City's Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism.

This research addresses the relationship between issues of authenticity in architectural conservation and sustainability in tourism management. While this relationship is seen to have wide relevance, it is mainly observed here in the case of the archaeological ruins of the Great Shangqinggong Temple, Mount Longhu, in the administrative region of Yingtan City, Jiangxi Province, China. The various components of the complex are analysed, and their religious role and significance are determined. Issues of authenticity in architectural conservation are explored relative to Burra Charter criteria: components are variously reconstructed (new-build behaviour), conserved, and newly designed and created. In the latter cases, authenticity is significantly compromised. These new buildings, conservation, and newly designed and created construction cases are further assessed relative to both spiritual values (Taoism) and economic values (sustainable tourism), according to the objectives of the Yingtan City Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism.

It is concluded from the study that there is a seeming conflict between the goals of authenticity in architectural conservation (minimal interference) and sustainable tourism. The goal of enhancing spiritual values further complicates the tension between these two objectives. It is further concluded that these tensions are to be mediated in tourism management by a focus on programmes of interpretation and communication. By stressing the educational role of tourism management and sustainable tourism, a heritage route that forms a vast heritage landscape relating to Taoism is recommended in this thesis. Directions for relevant public policy and future research are also suggested.

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