Asian Heritage Management—Contexts, Concerns, and Prospects

The prevalent global heritage discourse has been primarily Euro-centric in its origin, premise, and praxis. Diverse cultural, historical, and geographical contexts, such as that of Asia, call for more context-specific approaches to heritage management. This book explores this complexity of managing the cultural heritage in Asia.

Case studies include sites of Angkor, Himeji Castle, Kathmandu Valley, Luang Prabang, Lumbini, and Malacca, and the book uses these to explore the religious worldviews, heritage policies, intangible heritage dimensions, traditional preservation practices, cultural tourism, and the notion of cultural landscape that are crucial in understanding the cultural heritage in Asia. It critiques the contemporary regulatory frameworks in operation and focuses on the issues of global impact on the local cultures in the region. The book goes on to emphasize the need for integrated heritage management approaches that encompass the plurality of heritage conservation concerns in Asian countries.

Themes are discussed from the vantage point of heritage scholars and practitioners in the South, Southeast, and East Asia. This book thus presents a distinctive Asian perspective which is a valuable source for students and practitioners of heritage within and beyond the Asian context.

Kapila D. Silva is an Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture, Design, and Planning at the University of Kansas, USA. His research interests include cultural dimensions of architecture, urbanism, and heritage conservation.

Neel Kamal Chapagain is an independent heritage professional and researcher from Nepal. He has recently taught at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, USA. His research interests include participatory processes in heritage conservation, design and planning.