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Abstract

Properties inscribed under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention face a persistent ethical challenge: reconciling internationally mandated conservation standards with diverse cultural ontologies. This article explores this tension through a comparative analysis of Japan’s Hōryū-ji Temple Complex and Norway’s Urnes Stave Church, two wooden religious structures preserved through different methods rooted in distinct cultures. At Hōryū-ji, cyclical reconstruction embodies the Buddhist principle of impermanence, challenging the Venice Charter’s emphasis on material authenticity. Conversely, Urnes prioritises minimal intervention and the preservation of original fabric, reflecting a Nordic ethic of material authenticity that complicates the Nara Document’s focus on living heritage. Drawing on Wittgenstein’s concept of “family resemblances” and François Jullien’s critique of homogenized universality, this paper underlines the importance of embracing differences and reframes Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) as ethical indicators. To bridge policy and practice, it proposes the Three Ethical Indicators (3EIR): Respect, Referencing, and Reflection, and operationalizes them through the Three Operational Parameters (3OPR): Replacement, Reinforcement, and Regeneration. These frameworks position the Statement of OUV as a living document guiding culturally responsive conservation. The study advocates for a paradigm shift, from rigid adherence to universal norms toward ethically grounded, community-engaged stewardship that honours the irreducible individuality of each site’s heritage.

Bio

Teng Wai Lao is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Macau. She began her studies at Durham University in the United Kingdom: BA Ancient History and Archaeology (2015-2018) and MA International Cultural Heritage Management (2018-2019), in which she has developed interdisciplinary and conceptual skills among the fields in Classics, Archaeology, and Philosophy. Her research interests focus on topics related to culture, particularly in cultural heritage and museum studies, material culture, and cultural identity. She is in the research group of Philosophy of Museum led by Professor Victoria Harrison.