Foguang Temple, China

OVERVIEW:
Global Heritage Fund (GHF) is currently planning to provide funding and expertise for the investigation, planning and scientific conservation of the 1,200-year old Foguang Temple at Wutai Mountain. Foguang is one the most important remaining wooden architectural jewels of Chinese civilization. Built during the Tang Dynasty, Foguang Temple is a tribute to the peak of Buddhist art and architecture from the 9th century AD.

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Foguang Temple has not been repaired or conserved since the 17th century. Extensive structure damage from falling rocks, rotting roofing, beams and pillars is threatening to damage Foguang Temple, the last of the two remaining and oldest wooden architectural wonders of the Tang Dynasty.

GHF is working with Shanxi Province’s Cultural Relics Bureau on the investigation and planning for Foguang Temple’s conservation requirements.

This summer, GHF and the Institute of Ancient Architectural Conservation are organizing technical personnel to make a three-year schedule conservation according to requirements defined in this planning stage.

Conservation of Foguang Temple is expected to require 3-4 years to complete and a total budget of between $800,000 to $1.2 million. Financial support is urgently needed for the master conservation plan development and approvals (approx. $80,000), then support for the 3-4 year restoration and conservation program.

Below: Main hall ceiling showing damage from lack of maintenance and water damage which has destroyed over 30% of the walls, decoration and wooden sculptures of Foguang Temple.

Our Endangered Heritage
Current Threats – Foguang Temple Wutai Mountain, Shanxi, China
Foguang Temple has not had needed major conservation work since the 17th century and is in danger of collapsing roofs and deteriorating beams, supports, pillars and structural integrity. Historically, major temples have major conservation undertaken every 50-100 years. Because Foguang Temple has not been properly maintained, a number of threats are endangering the very survival of Foguang Temple including:

Rapid deterioration of roofing structures, beams, supports and pillars
Decomposing sculptures and interior reliefs, mosaics and ornamentation
Weathering of all exposed wooden structures due to lack of treatment, threatening structural integrity
Damage from falling rocks from the surrounding mountainside and earthquakes

Unlike many other Buddhist temples in China which have the financial support of religious pilgrims and resident monks who repair and maintain the monuments, Foguang Temple is a national treasure administered by Shanxi Province’s Cultural Relics Bureau. While it is responsible for

protecting of China’s richest province in terms of cultural heritage, the Shanxi Cultural Bureau is without budget for conservation - even for urgently endangered sites like Foguang Temple.

Security is also a urgent requirement. Recent looting in 2002 of Foguang’s sister Nanchang Temple where thieves sawed off the head of the oldest and most priceless Buddha in China has raised the need for heightened security, and unfortunately for visitors, now steel bars surround the alter and limit access to Foguang’s sculptures and the main hall of the temple.

Without regular maintenance and ritual conservation by the successive dynasties throughout China’s history, the Foguang Temple has fallen into dangerous state of disrepair. Lack of funding available for conservation of the numerous monuments in Shanxi province, and the fact the Foguang has no religious support, has led to serious structural threats, which, without urgent conservation, could lead to irreparable damage to the last remaining of China’s ancient wooden monuments, and the finest jewel of Tang period architecture.

Above: Ceiling deterioration from rotting of wooden structures as well as impact from falling rocks from the mountain side are causing serious damage from rain water and exposure. Below: Excessive stress on ancient beams is causing splitting and failures. As well, a number of pillars upholding the roof are experiencing rot and deterioration as their bases.

Above left: Main corner pillars are splitting due to excessive exposure without maintenance and treatment. Above right: Tang Dynasty sculptures are in serious need of repair and conservation. Below: Ceiling deterioration from rotting of wooden structures as well as impact from falling rocks from the mountain side are causing serious damage from rain water and exposure. Main hall ceiling showing damage from lack of maintenance and water damage which has destroyed over 20% of the walls, decoration and wooden sculptures of Foguang Temple.

Above: A rotting interior ceiling is a foreshadow of more serious problems looming above beneath the roof. Water damage is compromising structural integrity as well as causing failures in the interior roofing.

Above: Main hall ceiling showing damage from lack of maintenance and water damage which has destroyed over 30% of the walls, decoration and wooden sculptures of Foguang Temple.

Above: Ceiling and main carved beams unique to this Tang Dynasty temple without parallel in China, all in need of conservation, stabilization and treatment. Below: Example from Wenshu Temple of restored beams and ceiling.

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