Page 21 - YunnanTourismCultureTimes (99)

China·South Asia 20

“Over 2,000 years ago, right in this on China’s extensive expertise in cave tem-
Cultivating a sense of cultural humble abode, people engaged in medita- ple and above-ground stone structure con-
servation. Through the training provided by
tion and study,” said Maaz Ali, a volunteer
relic protection in children dedicated to preserving the Takht-i-Bahi the project team, a proficient group of local
Buddhist temple in Mardan, northwest Pa- cultural conservators has emerged, elevat-
种下“守护”的种子 kistan. Wearing a vest featuring the inscrip- ing their skills in safeguarding cultural rel-
tion “Guardians of Gandhara” in Chinese, ics. Additionally, the team has utilized cut-
English, and Urdu, Ali imparted a lesson ting-edge technologies to create 3D models
on heritage conservation to local children, of stupas and temples, facilitating digital
shedding light on the site’s history, archi- restoration efforts. This integration of new
tectural significance, and the importance of technologies aims to support Pakistan in
safeguarding cultural artifacts. This lesson their heritage conservation endeavors.
is endearingly referred to as a “Naan les- Maaz Ali, a local volunteer and a pro-
son” by the community, as the children are fessional cultural relics restorer, takes on
rewarded with the local staple food, “Naan,” the role of a lecturer in this project and is
upon completing the session. entrusted with teaching the “Naan” lesson
The origins of the Takht-i-Bahi Buddhist to children. He expresses the importance of
st
temple date back to the early 1 century, creating awareness among the local com-
and it was eventually abandoned in the 7 munity regarding their cultural heritage and
th
century. As remnants of the Gandhara civi- emphasizes the need for proactive meas-
lization, the temple ruins were inscribed on ures to protect it. In his daily work, Ali
the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980. collaborates closely with volunteers from
In 2023, a collaborative effort between China to restore precious artifacts. He said,
Chinese volunteers and the Directorate of “I have gained invaluable knowledge from
Archaeology and Museums of Pakistan’s my Chinese counterparts.”
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province materialized When asked about their takeaways from
into the “Guardians of Gandhara” project. the “Naan” lesson, Muhammad Shayan ea-
As part of this initiative, a heritage preser- gerly recounted the tale of “Journey to the
vation lesson was introduced for local chil- West,” one of the renowned Chinese clas-
dren, fostering a deeper understanding and sics, wherein the Tang Monk and his three
appreciation of their cultural heritage. disciples embarked on a quest to procure
Chen Zhigang, an associate professor sacred scriptures from India. Other students
at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts of proudly displayed their imaginative paint-
Shanghai University, leads the project. He ings depicting the original temple.
highlights that most of the Gandhara cul- The importance of protecting cultural
tural sites in Pakistan lack comprehensive heritage has quietly found its place in the
conservation measures and have limited en- hearts of the local children. Muhammad
gagement with the local communities. The Haasan, a student who participated in the
volunteers aim to instill a deep appreciation “Naan” lesson, expressed his unwavering
for cultural preservation and inheritance commitment to this cause. He said, “This
among the younger generation through the place has welcomed numerous revered
implementation of the “Naan” lesson. monks from various regions, and it has been
Shao Xuecheng, a volunteer hailing a meeting point for merchants of different re-
from China and a researcher at the World ligions and ethnicities. It holds countless cul-
Art History Institute of Shanghai Interna- tural treasures. I aspire to safeguard these
tional Studies University, shared insights heritages for future generations.”