Yeh was a member of the committee charged with reviewing the restoration of the Tainan Confucian temple. His suggestion to use traditional damage appraisal methods (having an experienced carpenter rap on wooden surfaces with a hammer and listen to the sound) saved considerable time and expense during the second stage of the project. FCR asked Professor Yeh about the preservation of cultural relics and the restoration of the temple. Excerpts follow:
FCR: What is the value of preserving the Tainan Confucian temple?
Yeh Shu-yuan: There are two reasons for preserving a traditional building: historical value and artistic value. Tainan's Confucian temple is not artistically outstanding, but it is extremely important historically. It was Taiwan's first Confucian temple, and it was the earliest center of education on the island. Actually, all Confucian temples in China tend to be much simpler in style and execution than other structures. Their main purpose has been to promote culture and education, and they don't have the artistic magnificence of other types of temples.
FCR: Roughly 60 percent of the wooden structures in the temple had to be replaced. When so much new construction is necessary, is there still any value in restoration?
Yeh: Absolutely. Over the centuries, countless buildings in China have been repaired or renovated, some very extensively. But this is still considered preservation of cultural relics. Unlike many famous Western architectural masterpieces made of stone, most Chinese buildings were made of wood, which is much more difficult to preserve. Proper maintenance can help keep wooden structures from falling into disrepair, but this was more difficult with the Confucian temple because it is not a temple in the religious sense. As a result, there have rarely been contributions for its upkeep.
FCR: Some people have said that now the Confucian temple looks too new. Do you agree?
Yeh: I don't agree that a building has to look old and dilapidated to be a cultural relic. A perfect example is Chinese porcelain. Imitations of centuries old porcelains are usually treated to appear old, whereas a genuine antique that is well preserved may be totally unblemished. Which one is really valuable?
The Forbidden City in Peking has been kept in good shape for over five centuries—the emperors would never live in a palace that was falling apart. But the city is still considered a cultural relic. Even when I was in Peking as a child, the palace was constantly being repaired so that it looked very new and clean. What really matters is that it is repaired without altering the original appearance. That entails paying attention to the original size and style of the buildings, the materials used, and the finish.
FCR: How do you rate the restoration of the Tainan Confucian temple?
Yeh: Everyone working on the project seemed committed to doing a good job, and achieving the high standards set for the restoration. The contractor was also much better than most. If something wasn't done right, he had it redone. I believe it was one of the more successful restorations of a cultural relic in Taiwan.