The Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Cultural Revolution

• In Event: Local Governance in Motion: Dynamics of Central-local Relationship in China

Abstract

To what extent was the damage launched towards cultural heritages during the Cultural Revolution? What were the reasons that had protected many cultural heritages from the turbulence of that period and sustained them hitherto? Through my research on the process of cultural heritage conservation during the Cultural Revolution, the conclusion that damage and protection coexisted can be reached. Although the demolition towards cultural heritage in the revolution was no small, the situation was not as strikingly serious as people imagined.
Almost all the state-level registered cultural heritage and most of provincial-level registered cultural heritage had been preserved. The State Council and local governments took several important measures to minimize the damage. The perception of cultural heritage differentiated among the Red Guards, some of which took the responsibility to protect the national cultural relics with ordinary citizens and workers. Following the issuing of Proposals on the Preservation of Cultural Relics and Books during the Proletarian Cultural Revolution by CPC Central Committee on May 14th 1967, massive destruction of the cultural relics had been contained. Considering the historical complication and diversification, the extent of damage towards cultural heritage during the Cultural Revolution differed in spatial and chronical dimensions.

Author

• Yuan Yao, Nanjing University