The Preservation of Door Gods in Traditional Taiwanese Temples

[EN] This paper focuses on the study and conservation of the gods painted on the doors of traditional temples in Taiwan. These paintings are continually exposed to poor environmental conditions (especially sunlight, rain, and pollution) and human factors, such as continuous ritual activities. After reviewing the technical characteristics of these paintings and their origins, traditional views and contemporary practices followed in the restoration of temples are explored. Since preventive conservation is a key issue in the preservation of cultural heritage, some solutions that have already been carried out, as well as suggestions for others that could be put into practice in order to improve the situation and extend the life expectancy of these paintings, are considered. Finally, while it is inevitable to try to preserve some of the most outstanding pieces, the possibility of considering these works as ephemeral is contemplated. This may seem contradictory, but it is, in fact, a relatively common situation when addressing the conservation of religious heritage in use. Undoubtedly, the preservation of this heritage still raises many questions and exposes a number of contradictions.Wu, W.; Barros García, JM. (2020). The Preservation of Door Gods in Traditional Taiwanese Temples. Studies in Conservation. 65(8):475-486. https://doi.org/10.1080/00393630.2020.1712110S475486658Clart, P., & Jones, C. B. (Eds.). (2003). Religion in Modern Taiwan. doi:10.1515/9780824845063Ferrazza, L., and D. Juanes Barber. 2014. Informe preliminar: análisis de la pintura sobre tabla de dos puertas orientales (N° de registro: 233/2014). Subdirección de Conservación, Restauración e Investigación IVC + R de CulturArts Generalitat Valenciana (unpublished).ICOMOS. 2013. The Burra Charter: The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance. https://australia.icomos.org/publications/charters/.Li, L.F. 2004. “An Introduction to the Study of the Conservation and Restoration of Monument III- Xingji Temple’s Paintings in Tainan [台南市三級古蹟興濟宮建築彩繪保存修護研究案例介紹].” In 2004 Congress on the Conservation and Restoration of Building Paintings [年建築彩繪保存修護研習]. December 12–26, 2004. Tainan [in Chinese].Li, H.Y. 2012. Lectures on the Deterioration of Wood Structures and the Prevention and Control of Insects in Historical Buildings [古蹟歷史建築木構造生物劣化與蟲蟻防治教育研習講座]. [in Chinese].Li, L.F., M.S. Zheng, and Y.L. Cai. 2008. “The Current State of Conservation and Preservation of the Architectural Paintings of Taiwanese Temples [台灣寺廟建築彩繪保存維護現況].” In Congress on the Conservation and Preservation of Paintings on Wood in East Asian Architecture [東亞木構建築彩繪保存維護研討會]. March 14, 2008. Tainan [in Chinese].Pan, H. 2004. “The Study on the Basement Materials Coated for Architectural Paints. The Contemporary Ones in Taiwan as an Example [建築彩繪地仗層之研究-以台灣當代作法為例.” Master Diss., National Cheng Kung University, Tainan [in Chinese]. http://ir.lib.ncku.edu.tw/handle/987654321/27772.Tang, Y.F. 2006. “A Study on Thinking of the Temple Paintings Conservation in Taiwan [台灣寺廟彩畫維護思維之研究].” Master Diss., Shu-Te University, Kaohsiung [in Chinese].Tseng, Y., Wu, C., Juan, C., Wang, S., Li, Z., Kuo, K., … Wu, W. (2014). Conservation of polychrome paintings in Tien-hou Kung, Penghu, Taiwan. Studies in Conservation, 59(sup1), S271-S272. doi:10.1179/204705814x13975704320837Tung, Y.Y., and S. Hsieh. 2010. “Exploring the Approach to the Conservation and Restoration of Taiwan’s Traditional Temple Artifacts.” In Multidisciplinary Conservation: A Holistic View for Historic Interiors. ICOM-CC Interim Meeting, Rome. https://www.icom-cc.org/54/document/exploring-the-approach-to-the-conservation-and-restoration-of-taiwans-traditional-temple-artifacts/?id=862.Wu, W. 2016. “Estudio y Conservación de las Pinturas de los Dioses, Realizadas por el Pintor Cai Cao-Ru, en las Puertas de los Templos de Taiwan.” PhD diss., Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia. https://hdl.handle.net/10251/61040.Xu, M.F. 2003. “Conservation and Restoration of Paintings in Traditional Taiwanese Temples Considered Monuments: The Case of Tainan [由南瀛的案例來談台灣傳統寺廟古蹟彩畫的保存與修復].” The Landscape of Humanism: Presentations at the Tainan Traditional Art Seminar [南瀛人文景觀: 南瀛傳統藝術硏討會論文集]. Yilan: National Center for Traditional Arts [in Chinese].Xue, Q. 1997. “Techniques for the Restoration of Paintings in Traditional Constructions [傳統建築彩繪修護技術].” Traditional Art Seminar 1997 [年傳統藝術研討會論文集]. Taipei: Taipei National University of the Arts, Center for Traditional Arts [in Chinese]

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