Project Update
Global Heritage Fund is nearing completion of the Foguang Temple and Monastery Complex Project (2005-2009), which has funded master conservation planning and intervention at Foguang Temple.

GHF has helped the Shanxi provincial authority to secure matching funding from the central government to support the restoration and scientific conservation of the 1,200-year old Foguang Temple at Wutai Mountain, one of the five sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism.

Foguang Temple is considered to be the ‘Fountainhead’ of classical Chinese architecture. Built during the Tang Dynasty, Foguang Temple is a tribute to the peak of Buddhist art and architecture from the 9th century. The Grand East Hall of Foguang Temple, for example, is one of the oldest and most significant extant wooden structures in China as well as one of only two remaining examples of classical Chinese architecture from the Tang Dynasty. This significance was formally recognized in June 2009 when the Grand East Hall was included in the World Heritage List as part of the Mount Wutai cultural landscape inscription.

Until GHF’s initiative, Foguang Temple had not been repaired or conserved since the 17th century. Since that time, however, the temple had suffered extensive structural damage caused by landslides, water from the leaking roof, pests and foundation settlement, all which were threatening to permanently damage Foguang Temple.

The Foguang Temple project was completed under a collaborative agreement with Shanxi Institute of Ancient Architecture Conservation and Research (SIAACR). After five years of collaboration, the Master Conservation Plan for all of the cultural resources in and around the temple compound has been completed and approved by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH). The restoration plan for the Grand East Hall is in its final refinement, and national (SACH) approval is expected in 2010. Architectural and site surveys, structural analysis, drafting of the conservation plan and site conservation were completed with support from GHF’s co-funding.

Master Conservation
Areas Restored at Foguang Temple and Monastery Complex

Detailed technical documentation of temples and structures, as well as surveys and excavations (below) were undertaken (2007).

Photos by: Kuanghan Li. © Global Heritage Fund

Site Conservation
Architectural conservation of major halls and buildings undertaken in 2008 includes:
• Tianwang Hall/Entrance Gate ongoing
• Xiangfeng Huayu Building
• Senhuizhi Garden Gate
• Northern Wing Monks‘ Quarter
Emergency supports for northeast and northwest corner of the Grand East Hall (Dongda Dian) were in place. Flood protection now works on both sides of the temple. The Conservation Plan for the eight historic tomb pagodas in the surrounding vicinity has been completed and submitted for review, of which, the most famous being Monk Zhiyuan’s Tomb Pagoda. Restoration of the Master’s Tomb Pagoda, adjacent to the Grand East Hall, has been completed.

Foguang Monastery – After GHF Intervention.
Photo by: Kuanghan Li. © Global Heritage Fund

Foguang Monastery – After GHF Intervention.
Photo by: Kuanghan Li. © Global Heritage Fund

Summary of Accomplishments

• Completion of Foguang Temple Master Conservation Plan and approval from SACH;

• UNESCO World Heritage Nomination submitted by the government of China to UNESCO World Heritage centre for Wutai Mountains Sites with Foguang Temple as the leading, most authentic temple site in the nomination;

• Completion of restorations and repair activities on all Foguang Monastery Complex buildings except the Grand East Hall;

• Establishment of an archive at the request of SACH, where movable cultural heritage and documents relating to Foguang Temple that are scattered in different places can be collected and exhibited;

• Diagnostic investigation of Grand East Hall in September 2008 to analyze changes in the structure since 2004 and devising specific conservation treatment based on the result of the analysis;

• Collaboration of SIAACR with geological engineers and forestry department on studies of foundation stability and pest issue in Grand East Hall;

• Dust removal and cleaning of over 400 polychrome clay sculptures inside Grand East Hall;

• Emergency supports for northeast and northwest corner of the Grand East Hall;

• Infrastructure and upgrading projects include main roadways, ground paving, landscaping, drainage and flood prevention, power and security systems, fire access route, flush system toilet, etc.

• Restoration of the Master’s Tomb Pagoda adjacent to the Grand East Hall;

• Master conservation plan by Tsinghua University for entire complex completed and approved by SACH;

• Provisional shelter design by Tsinghua University in progress;

• Draft conservation plan of the pagoda tombs submitted to SACH;

• Lectures and training on conservation concepts and techniques by John Hurd, GHF’s Director of Conservation, and Kuanghan Li, GHF China Program Manager, to SIAACR staff in Taiyuan.

 
Above:  Before and after structural stabilization and replastering of the Master’s Tomb pagoda, Foguang Temple and Monastery Complex, China.
Photos by Jeff Morgan. © Global Heritage Fund