It's Not Too Late

I recently had the honor of visiting Lingyuan, a city in the Hunan countryside, with my friends, June and Rock. The visit was billed as the opportunity to visit Meishan Dragon Palace, a cave near June’s hometown, but my favorite part of the trip was far less exciting for everyone else.

Hundreds of years ago June’s ancestors began work on a family compound that still stands today. The large, traditional home was build so that there would be adequate room for the entire, extended family to live comfortably together. June’s family must have been wealthy when the home was built, as it is very intricate and ornate. Each door is adorned with a carved relief depicting some aspect of daily life. Carvings were used to decorate other parts of the home as well. Needless to say, the home is beautiful.



Time, however, has definitely taken a toll on the home. During the Cultural Revolution, Mao’s government demanded that the heads be removed from all the reliefs and so nearly every door has been defaced. Additionally, many of the other carvings have been exposed to the elements for sometime and show considerable wear.

Years ago, the Chinese government purchased the home from June’s family to protect and restore it. The family hadn’t actually lived in the home for some time, so they were happy to sell it. Unfortunately, the government hasn’t actually done any of the promised restorations. A 300 year old, traditional bed is simply sitting in a moldy, dusty room, more than likely on its way to ruin. Other aspects of the home and quickly falling into disrepair and likely won’t last much longer.

Like many other historical relics, the Chinese have fallen far behind on their upkeep. During the Cultural Revolution, many beautiful and time-honored Chinese buildings and temples were lost forever. Therefore, the Chinese can’t afford to lose any more of these pieces of history. If the government doesn’t quickly step up and take action, we could have nothing left for future generations to enjoy. As I don’t see government and popular opinion changing anytime soon, this is a real fear. But it's not too late, a change could still happen.