Understanding Heritage Conservation Challenges in Taiwan: Traditional Chinese Thinking Through Classical Texts

Despite Taiwan's active engagement with global heritage preservation standards since the 1964 Venice Charter and the implementation of various preservation concepts over the past fifty years, cultural heritage preservation in Taiwan faces persistent challenges. Historic buildings are demolished faster than preserved, while preservation professionals struggle to communicate the importance of preservation to the public, raising questions: "Why preserve, and for whom?"

This research examines whether these challenges stem from a fundamental disconnect: Does traditional Chinese culture in Taiwan inherently lack a framework for cultural heritage preservation, or are current preservation concepts merely Western transplants failing to connect with local culture?

Chinese cultural thinking was selected for analysis because it remains mainstream in Taiwan's multicultural environment. Some scholars, citing Liang Sicheng, argue Chinese culture developed a concept of "non-permanence of original materials" due to timber-frame construction allowing component replacement.

Through systematic keyword analysis of pre-Qin classical literature in Academia Sinica's electronic database, this research discovers that traditional Chinese thinking contains a multi-layered view of preservation—integrated into daily life practices and seasonal rhythms rather than existing as professional intervention. This traditional approach combines practical maintenance with moral cultivation and governance, viewing preservation as part of natural cycles.

By analyzing architectural elements, maintenance, and preservation concepts, this research provides new perspectives on cultural sustainability for Taiwan's heritage and bridges communication between preservation professionals and the public.