Authenticity and Heritage Conservation: Seeking Common Complexities beyond the 'Eastern' and 'Western' Dichotomy

In the past few decades, there has been a significant development in the global heritage discourse where the ‘Eurocentric' notions of heritage conservation are severely challenged by ideas derived from Asian and indigenous contexts. Authenticity has been the core principle and defining element in this development. Endorsed by a series of documents, charters and declarations, including the highly influential Nara Document on Authenticity, a relativistic method which emphasises the cultural specificity of authenticity has replaced the European-originated materialist approach in the overarching international policy and conservation philosophy. However, the relativisation of authenticity has also contributed to the perceived ‘Eastern'/‘Western' dichotomy in dealing with heritage, with the ‘Western' approaches represented as overtly materialist and scientistic in contrast to the proclaimed non-materialist and spiritual ‘Eastern' practices. Such an opposition simplifies and homogenises regions of the world and categories of heritage, making us blind to the ‘common complexities' of authenticity crosscutting different regions of the world – as well as the diversity and complication of authenticity in specific local contexts.  

This paper challenges the perceived dichotomy between the ‘Eastern' and ‘Western' concepts and approaches to heritage conservation, through a discussion on the common complexities of authenticity across cultural boundaries. The discussion focuses on China and Scotland. The paper provides a critical review of the recent development of heritage policies and practices in China and Scotland, and reveals the parallels that exist in their institutional consideration of authenticity. Set within the theoretical framework that authenticity is produced and negotiated through relationships between objects, people and places, the paper further illustrates the commonalities in people's experience of authenticity in their interaction with heritage. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted at different heritage sites in China and Scotland, the paper identifies themes that can play vital roles in informing the experience of authenticity across different cultural contexts. The discussion contributes to a nuanced reading of the evolving relationships between heritage conservation and contemporary societies, and appeals to a new mentality for understanding authenticity in the decision-making of preserving the physical embodiments of the past. 

Further questions may be directed to: qian.gao@stir.ac.uk

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Qian Gao & Siân Jones (2020): "Authenticity and heritage conservation: seeking common complexities beyond the ‘Eastern' and ‘Western' dichotomy," International Journal of Heritage Studies, DOI: 10.1080/13527258.2020.1793377