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One full moon night, in the residence of nobleman Xiao, his wife vividly dreamt of encountering a celestial maiden who offered her an unusual flower. Shortly after, she became pregnant. The whole Xiao family was overjoyed when they heard of the good news. Immediately, they went before a Buddha statue and vowed to becoming vegetarians for their love of the unborn baby and all lives. This is thus the unusual anecdote in the birth of Read More...
In the year 624 BCE, Prince Siddhārtha was born to the royal family of Nepal. He was the only son of Śuddhodana and was supposed to inherit the throne. However, after witnessing the pain inflicted by old age, sickness and death, he chose to leave home to pursue the true meaning of life at the age of 29. After six years of rigorous practices and contemplations, Prince Siddhārtha finally gained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, Read More...
Note from the Shuang Lin Restoration Secretariat: “Little has been done in Singapore to educate people on the preservation of old buildings. It is unsurprising then that few regard preservation as being worthy of attention. What follows is an extract from a speech by a famous Chinese architect, Professor Liang Sicheng. It is our hope that it will help the reader to see that old buildings form an important part of our cultural heritage, and Read More...
Aliquam pulvinar auctor venenatis. Nulla sodales erat sapien, eu sagittis sem luctus vel. Pellentesque pulvinar, orci molestie elementum rhoncus, libero velit maximus enim, vitae interdum massa lacus id nunc. Mauris porta arcu blandit, tempus elit a, suscipit nulla. Integer sagittis, quam a suscipit malesuada, enim metus volutpat mi, nec vestibulum elit augue ullamcorper tellus. Proin dapibus cursus fringilla. Phasellus eleifend tellus vel malesuada malesuada. Praesent vitae ullamcorper felis. Aenean quis condimentum lectus. Duis luctus risus Read More...
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras id felis ac dui viverra euismod. Donec eleifend porttitor faucibus. Etiam venenatis interdum ante sit amet hendrerit. Cras eleifend, urna quis ullamcorper vehicula, ante massa sagittis mi, sed malesuada orci libero nec nibh. Mauris semper libero in augue rutrum gravida. Aenean sed egestas est, quis lobortis odio. Morbi gravida sapien vitae iaculis tincidunt. Duis maximus nisi ut erat euismod congue. Donec malesuada nulla sit amet nunc Read More...
Aliquam pulvinar auctor venenatis. Nulla sodales erat sapien, eu sagittis sem luctus vel. Pellentesque pulvinar, orci molestie elementum rhoncus, libero velit maximus enim, vitae interdum massa lacus id nunc. Mauris porta arcu blandit, tempus elit a, suscipit nulla. Integer sagittis, quam a suscipit malesuada, enim metus volutpat mi, nec vestibulum elit augue ullamcorper tellus. Proin dapibus cursus fringilla. Phasellus eleifend tellus vel malesuada malesuada. Praesent vitae ullamcorper felis. Aenean quis condimentum lectus. Duis luctus risus Read More...
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras id felis ac dui viverra euismod. Donec eleifend porttitor faucibus. Etiam venenatis interdum ante sit amet hendrerit. Cras eleifend, urna quis ullamcorper vehicula, ante massa sagittis mi, sed malesuada orci libero nec nibh. Mauris semper libero in augue rutrum gravida. Aenean sed egestas est, quis lobortis odio. Morbi gravida sapien vitae iaculis tincidunt. Duis maximus nisi ut erat euismod congue. Donec malesuada nulla sit amet nunc Read More...
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed fringilla ex vel viverra tincidunt. Sed ut diam volutpat, faucibus nulla fermentum, viverra lorem. Donec pretium orci id volutpat blandit. Nullam purus tortor, congue eu rhoncus faucibus, rutrum commodo risus. Etiam mollis fringilla justo vitae fermentum. Sed a aliquam mauris. Nunc libero mi, ultrices nec rutrum nec, maximus tempor augue. Pellentesque sollicitudin condimentum erat at dictum. Vivamus accumsan justo ut scelerisque sagittis. Duis lacinia metus purus, Read More...
Aliquam pulvinar auctor venenatis. Nulla sodales erat sapien, eu sagittis sem luctus vel. Pellentesque pulvinar, orci molestie elementum rhoncus, libero velit maximus enim, vitae interdum massa lacus id nunc. Mauris porta arcu blandit, tempus elit a, suscipit nulla. Integer sagittis, quam a suscipit malesuada, enim metus volutpat mi, nec vestibulum elit augue ullamcorper tellus. Proin dapibus cursus fringilla. Phasellus eleifend tellus vel malesuada malesuada. Praesent vitae ullamcorper felis. Aenean quis condimentum lectus. Duis luctus risus Read More...
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed fringilla ex vel viverra tincidunt. Sed ut diam volutpat, faucibus nulla fermentum, viverra lorem. Donec pretium orci id volutpat blandit. Nullam purus tortor, congue eu rhoncus faucibus, rutrum commodo risus. Etiam mollis fringilla justo vitae fermentum. Sed a aliquam mauris. Nunc libero mi, ultrices nec rutrum nec, maximus tempor augue. Pellentesque sollicitudin condimentum erat at dictum. Vivamus accumsan justo ut scelerisque sagittis. Duis lacinia metus purus, Read More...
Let’s celebrate 30 years of ‘The Nara Document of Authenticity’ together!
Join us at the National Archives Singapore (Oldham Theatre) for a special event celebrating “The Nara Document of Authenticity (1994)” turning 30! This in-person symposium will feature speakers from Singapore, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines, highlighting the importance of this influential document in the field of architectural conservation. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and celebrate with fellow enthusiasts!
The Nara Document has been instrumental in addressing the need for a broader understanding of cultural diversity and heritage. It expanded the 1964 Charter of Venice concept of respecting original material, thereby emphasising the retention of material fabric in its original state. The Nara Document’s “authenticity judgements … may include form and design, materials and substance, use and function, traditions and techniques, location and setting, and spirit and feeling, and other internal and external factors. The use of these sources permits [the] elaboration of the specific artistic, historic, social, and scientific dimensions of the cultural heritage being examined.”
Thirty years have passed since 1994. The world’s resources are getting scarce. With the challenges of the loss of certain materials (e.g. large-size timber), changes to use and function, declining craftsmanship, as well as changes to the setting, do we prioritise form and design and allow materials to be changed in an attempt to retain the spirit and feeling? Or are these futile efforts? How do we view authenticity?
Register at https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/the-nara-document-at-30-tickets-1086667163739