Yungang Grottoes Protection Faces Intertwined Issues, Scholars Focus on Fundamental Research (AI Translation)
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文｜财新周刊 孙良滋
By Caixin Weekly's Sun Liangzi
2024年全国两会“代表通道”集体采访中，第十四届全国人大代表、云冈研究院院长杭侃提到，云冈石窟的危岩体加固工作持续进行了几十年，已经告一段落，保护工作进入以预防性为主的阶段。
During the collective interview at the "Representatives' Passage" of the 2024 National People's Congress, Hang Kan, a representative of the 14th National People's Congress and director of the Yungang Research Institute, mentioned that the reinforcement work on the perilous rock formations of the Yungang Grottoes has been ongoing for several decades and is now nearing completion. The protection efforts have entered a new phase, primarily focusing on preventive measures.
这不是杭侃第一次提到云冈石窟保护工作的转向，早在2022年云冈石窟第3窟危岩体抢险加固（二期）工程完成后，他就曾公开提到过这一观点，认为石窟当前的稳定性问题基本解决，工作要转向更为细致的预防性、研究性保护。
This is not the first time Hang Kan has mentioned the shift in the conservation work of the Yungang Grottoes. As early as 2022, after the completion of phase two of the emergency reinforcement project for the unstable rock face of Cave 3 at Yungang Grottoes, he publicly expressed this opinion, stating that the current stability issues of the grottoes had been essentially resolved, and efforts needed to shift towards more detailed preventive and research-oriented conservation.
今年全国两会上，杭侃旧话重提，并特意强调保护工作并没有因此减轻。“云冈石窟开凿在侏罗纪时期的砂岩体上，地质情况非常复杂，有的地方岩层有十几层，有的里面还有软弱岩层，会碰到风化、冻融、渗水等多种病害。”他说，“今后的工作中，在洞窟病害的研究和保护材料的研制方面，我们都会持续加大科技投入的力度。”
At this year's National People's Congress, Hang Kan reiterated an old issue, emphasizing that the preservation work has not diminished in importance. "Yungang Grottoes were carved into Jurassic-period sandstone, which presents a very complex geological situation. In some areas, there are dozens of rock layers, and some contain weak rock layers, leading to problems such as weathering, frost heave, and water seepage," he said. "In future work, we will continue to increase our technological investment in the study of cave diseases and the development of preservation materials."
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- Hang Kan, director of the Yungang Research Institute, announced that the reinforcement work on the unstable rock formations at Yungang Grottoes has concluded after decades, shifting focus to preventive conservation.
- The Yungang Grottoes, carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty and later periods, have faced deterioration due to natural and human factors. Recent efforts include detailed preventive maintenance and advanced research into materials for protection.
- The institute emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and technological advancements in conservation while maintaining traditional techniques. Future plans involve comprehensive digital documentation and ongoing archaeological studies to support long-term preservation.
### Summary
The Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO world heritage site with carvings dating back to around 460 AD, are undergoing ongoing conservation efforts. Representative Hang Kan highlighted that the reinforcement works on the perilous rock formations of the grottoes, which have spanned several decades, are nearing completion [para. 1]. As such, the focus of the conservation efforts has now shifted to preventive measures and more detailed preventive and research-oriented conservation [para. 2][para. 3]. This shift is not unique to Yungang; it is reflective of broader trends in grotto temple conservation across China [para. 4].
The Yungang Grottoes were originally created during the Northern Wei Dynasty and took more than 60 years to carve. Subsequent periods saw restoration and additional carvings [para. 5][para. 6]. However, the grottoes fell into decline in modern times due to wars and looting, drawing renewed attention only after being "rediscovered" by the Japanese in 1902 [para. 7]. Various conservation efforts have been undertaken since the establishment of the Yungang Stone Buddha Preservation Committee in 1931 [para. 8]. These efforts continued in a structured manner after 1949, transitioning over time into a focus on technological applications for material reinforcement and environmental improvement [para. 9][para. 10][para. 11].
In recent decades, efforts were largely geared towards emergency mitigation such as addressing immediate stability issues like rock collapse [para. 12]. A significant shift towards preventive maintenance began after a rockfall incident in 2015 [para. 13][para. 14][para. 15]. Preventive maintenance at Yungang includes thorough documentation and scientific analysis of deterioration, with preventive actions taking a more systematic and research-driven approach [para. 16][para. 17][para. 18].
Challenges in this preventative maintenance include issues with existing technologies and materials [para. 19][para. 20]. Researchers found that while some weathering-resistant materials perform well in laboratories, they do not function as effectively within the grotto environments [para. 21][para. 22]. The research community, led by individuals like Sun Bo and Yan Hongbin, emphasizes a detailed study of conditions like salt and water damage [para. 23][para. 24].
Compounding these efforts, Yan Hongbin has embarked on research projects to understand the mechanisms behind grotto deterioration, including water and salt damage [para. 25][para. 26][para. 27]. This research has revealed complications in monitoring and recording substance transformations in situ due to variations in testing equipment results [para. 28][para. 29][para. 30].
Yan's findings suggest that physical mechanisms, rather than chemical ones, primarily drive the weathering caused by soluble salts. Identifying sources and accumulation patterns of soluble salts remains a critical research area [para. 31][para. 32]. The importance of collaboration across disciplines is underscored by efforts to apply geochemical tracing methods to study salt weathering and its sources [para. 33][para. 34][para. 35].
In addition to preventive measures, foundational work in archaeology and documentation remains crucial. Initiatives include enhancing spectral libraries for material analysis and employing digital technologies like 3D modeling to capture intricate details of the statues and their conditions [para. 36][para. 37][para. 38][para. 39][para. 40][para. 41]. Through digitization, institutions aim to facilitate broader access to data for future research [para. 42][para. 43].
Traditional restoration techniques also remain vital. Restorers like Dai Yuxiang and Li Pengfei emphasize the importance of passing down and employing traditional tactile techniques for mural and artifact restoration [para. 44][para. 45]. This coexistence of new technology with traditional methods ensures comprehensive conservation approaches [para. 46][para. 47].
Finally, Hang Kan, the director of the Yungang Research Institute, stresses the importance of foundational work over seeking novel perspectives [para. 48][para. 49]. This reflects a commitment to thorough and detailed conservation efforts, ensuring the site's longevity and historical value for future generations [para. 50][para. 51].
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