Votre ressource mondiale sur le patrimoine
EN
ES
FR
Notice (permalien)
Réf.
42863
Type
conference item
Titre
Significance of reconstructed built-heritage after wartime destruction: Restitution of identity? New role in the subsequent society?
Langues
English
Auteurs
Okahashi, Junko
Lieu de publication
Charenton-le-Pont
Pays de publication
France
Maison d'édition
ICOMOS
Date
2018
Titre de conférence
ICOMOS 19th General Assembly and Scientific Symposium "Heritage and Democracy"
Lieu de conférence
New Delhi, India
Date de conférence
13-14th December 2017
Mots-clés
identity / peace / reconciliation / reconstruction / rehabilitation / economic aspects / social aspects / effects of deterioration / public awareness / war / conflicts / local communities / local level / history / tangible and intangible
Pays mentionnés
Japan
Monuments et sites
Okinawa, Japan
Résumé en anglais
In a southern island of Japan stands a prominent example of reconstructed cultural heritage,the Shuri-jo (Shuri Castle). First built in 14th Century by the Ryukyu dynasty of Okinawa, it was a living
castle until late 19th Century. However, entirely devastated by heavy bombarding in 1945, its tangiblememory could then only be rebuilt through reconstruction. Shuri-jo being highly important for the
identity of the people of Okinawa, reconstruction works started as early as the 1950s, emerging from therubbles of the city of Naha, even under the American occupation. Majority of the works took place in the
early 1990s. The historic urban landscape around Shuri-jo was gone in 1945, yet without such context,the new Shuri-jo is again at the heart of the local community. Reconstruction could take place at the right
momentum, while the elders could link their memories of the pre-war castle to its new being. Withoutthe reconstruction of this castle complex, it could be said that for them, war period was not over. Those
reconstructed monuments could be seen as restituted identity of the place, as a symbol of reconciliationof the war-torn society of Okinawa. Without the reconstructed castle, today having also become a tourist
asset, one would find it difficult to visually trace in space the important evidence of local history, rich inits own cultural uniqueness. Shuri-jo, with its strong narrative, illustrates the not-to-be-granted-for age of
peace that overcame dark memories of war and loss. It is a case study of an act of reconstruction under“exceptional circumstances” that rose initiative and motivation of the local and national community,
enabling release of large-scale means. This case should possibly support the discussion on who decidesthe future status of cultural heritage after its post-conflict form of devastation, who takes the
responsibility, and for whom?
castle until late 19th Century. However, entirely devastated by heavy bombarding in 1945, its tangiblememory could then only be rebuilt through reconstruction. Shuri-jo being highly important for the
identity of the people of Okinawa, reconstruction works started as early as the 1950s, emerging from therubbles of the city of Naha, even under the American occupation. Majority of the works took place in the
early 1990s. The historic urban landscape around Shuri-jo was gone in 1945, yet without such context,the new Shuri-jo is again at the heart of the local community. Reconstruction could take place at the right
momentum, while the elders could link their memories of the pre-war castle to its new being. Withoutthe reconstruction of this castle complex, it could be said that for them, war period was not over. Those
reconstructed monuments could be seen as restituted identity of the place, as a symbol of reconciliationof the war-torn society of Okinawa. Without the reconstructed castle, today having also become a tourist
asset, one would find it difficult to visually trace in space the important evidence of local history, rich inits own cultural uniqueness. Shuri-jo, with its strong narrative, illustrates the not-to-be-granted-for age of
peace that overcame dark memories of war and loss. It is a case study of an act of reconstruction under“exceptional circumstances” that rose initiative and motivation of the local and national community,
enabling release of large-scale means. This case should possibly support the discussion on who decidesthe future status of cultural heritage after its post-conflict form of devastation, who takes the
responsibility, and for whom?
Document joint
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