China’s Ambitious Fourth National Cultural Relics Census

China, renowned for its rich tapestry of history and civilization, is embarking on an exhaustive quest to catalog and protect its vast cultural heritage. The National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) has heralded preparations for the fourth national cultural relics census, marking it as the most ambitious initiative of the 2021-25 period, often referred to as the “14th Five-Year Plan.”

At the heart of this initiative is President Xi Jinping’s vision of placing significant emphasis on cultural inheritance and its subsequent development. These sentiments were explicitly voiced by the Chinese president during a cultural heritage symposium held in June. Echoing his thoughts, the Xinhua News Agency quoted him underlining the importance of a “comprehensive and profound understanding of history” as being pivotal to the “creative transformation and development of fine traditional Chinese culture,” as well as to the broader development of modern Chinese civilization.

A venture of this magnitude is estimated to span approximately three to four years. Counties have been designated as the primary units for this mammoth on-site investigation project. Notably, the focus of the census is predominantly on immovable cultural relics. This broad category encompasses a diverse range of artifacts: from ancient sites, tombs, and historical buildings to cave temples, stone carvings, and crucial modern historical sites and structures. Another aspect that underscores the depth of this initiative is its inclusive approach, considering relics located both on the ground and underground, as well as underwater.

Zhou Xueying, a distinguished professor from the School of History at Nanjing University, expounded on the significance of such a census to the Global Times. She asserted that gaining a deep insight into one’s cultural heritage is the cornerstone to formulating effective protective measures and fostering its holistic utilization. Through such endeavors, China’s illustrious cultural heritage can be optimally positioned to offer societal, economic, and cultural dividends.

The decision to incorporate underwater sites in the census speaks volumes about China’s commitment to unearthing every fragment of its history. Zhou highlighted China’s expansive coastline and its historical richness, underscoring the latent potential of underwater archaeology. This viewpoint gains further credence considering the recent groundbreaking discoveries, such as the unearthing of over 600 artifacts from the Yangtze River Estuary No.2, a colossal and impeccably preserved underwater ancient wooden shipwreck found in September 2022.

A look back reveals that the last comprehensive census took place between 2007 and 2011. The intervening years have witnessed an exponential growth in archaeological investments, culminating in multiple invaluable discoveries. Simultaneously, some relics have borne the brunt of time, accentuating the need for an updated and meticulous inventory. Among the spectacular finds post the third census is the excavations at the Sanxingdui Ruins which commenced in 2021. This endeavor by the NCHA resulted in unearthing over 11,000 cultural relics, which encompassed diverse items like bronze wares, gold wares, jade wares, and even intricate ivory carvings.

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