Second Liang opined that restoration is

Second, Liang opined that “restoration is complex, and can be carried out only when the person in charge has the most solid understanding of the shape and structure of the original building; if the restored is not true to the original, it is better to retain the existing parts and avoid reflecting the effects of time on the architecture. The restoration of ancient architecture has become a major controversial issue among architecture archeologists, and has not yet been settled by the Ministry of Education of Italy; in my opinion, the best way to preserve ancient architecture is to retain its existing form. Restoration should not be implemented hastily or without absolute certainty” (Liang, 1932). Third, with regard to the use of new materials and technologies, Liang believed that the key objective of conservation design was “to remedy as far as possible the defects in the existing architectural structure of Confucian temples, benefiting from today׳s new knowledge of mechanics and new materials, while trying our best to maintain or restore the original shape and structure of the existing temple form” (Liang, 1935a). The preceding quotations reveal notable similarities between the views on restoration of Liang and Sir George Gilbert Scott, a British ecclesiological architect. Both experts not only had a profound understanding of the value of ancient architecture and acknowledged the harm done by previous restoration efforts but also took practical steps to correct the mistakes of their predecessors. Liang׳s restoration plan for the Liuhe Pagoda and Scott׳s design for the restoration of the Westminster Abbey seem to have been influenza m2 protein in the same mold. Scott behaved extremely differently in theory and practice, while Liang expressed paradoxical ideas regarding architectural conservation. He argued that adherence to ancient styles and use of new materials and structures were within the scope of conservation, and that the restoration of original shapes and structures was an important conservation process. However, this argument contradicts his statement that “the best way to preserve ancient architecture is to retain its existing form” (Liang, 1934). Liang could be considered “modern” because he had received Eastern and Western education. The contradiction in his thoughts on architectural conservation emerged from the limitations of his own education system and philosophical ideas. Such contradictions could also be attributed to the Beaux-Arts teaching system, which emphasized the pursuit of formal beauty in architectural design. Although Liang also taught modern Japanese theories of architectural conservation, he still sought to restore ancient buildings to their original state, thereby developing the principle of renovating the old as old.
Beneficial hints The Venice Charter was introduced in China over 20 years after its publication in 1964. In 1986, Chen published the paper titled “An International Charter for the Conservation of Building Relics and Historic Sites” (Chen, 1986a) in World Architecture, which included the full text of the Venice Charter. Chen, a professor at the Tsinghua University School of Architecture, is a Chinese authority on the history of foreign ancient architecture and conservation of architecture heritage. This issue of World Architecture focused on “the conservation of building relics.” Chen gathered and translated articles written by world-renowned scholars on architectural conservation, such as “Conservation of Historic Buildings” by B.M. Feiden (Feiden, 1986) and “Some Opinions on International Cultural Heritage Conservation” by Jukka Jokilehto (Jokilehto, 1986). Chen also published his own article titled “On the Conservation of Building Relics.” In September 1986, he published “A Pioneer in the Conservation of Building Relics and Historic Sites in China” in Architectural Journal, in which he compared Liang׳s ideas on architectural conservation with the principles articulated in several documents, such as the Venice Charter. Chen may be considered the first to systematically introduce Western conservation theory to China, thereby revitalizing the existing Chinese understanding of architecture (which has long been predicated on the principle of renovating the old as old).