Kulturarv utan Gränser
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Beri Monastery
Cultural Heritage without Borders has been participating in the restoration of a Tibetan monastery in Beri in the province of Sichuan, China.
The aim of the Beri project was to support the restoration of one of the many Tibetan monasteries destroyed during the cultural revolutions in the 50’s and 60’s as well as to help in reviving traditional Tibetan building skills. Responsibility for the restoration was taken by the Tibet Heritage Fund (THF).
The monastery building, whose oldest parts are from the 17th century, like many other monuments was damaged during these two cultural revolutions. During the 1980’s the building was renovated and could be re-opened. In the monastery there are valuable murals from the 17th and 18th centuries which were endangered because of a serious leak in the roof. A building shed was needed for the restoration to be completed where the traditional crafts could be used. Work has basically consisted of repairing the frame and roof and installing a functional draining system.
Beri women are making floor in a traditional way. Photo Tina Wik Septmenber 2002
View over Gandze. Photo Tina Wik 2002
The project’s overriding value for Tibetan culture was the vocational training of younger craftsmen in traditional skills which is one of the cornerstones of THF’s work, which is always focused on local craftsmen. The same concept has been used in its work in Lhasa: training local craftsmen in traditional techniques where older masters can pass on their skills to younger colleagues. A great amount of effort was applied to conserve traditional methods, such as the Arga roof. The use of local masters brings benefits in the sense that certain crafts and skills may be preserved and local businesses may be developed.
Participation in the project has brought us new professional contacts, further know-how of the use of older traditional skills as well as experiences from a new field of work under new conditions.
Name Beri
Type of building Monastery
Built Original parts are from the 17th century
Geographical area Sichuan province, China
Joint partnertext Tibet Heritage Fund/André Alexander and Pimpim de Azevedo
Backup Tina Wik, Cultural Heritage without Borders
Funding Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency)
