State Administration of Cultural Heritage

State Administration of Cultural Heritage
国家文物局
Guójiā wénwù jú
Agency overview
Formed 2003
  • (etc.)
Superseding agency
  • State Bureau of Cultural Relics
Jurisdiction  People's Republic of China
Headquarters Beijing
Minister responsible
  • Cai Wu, Culture
Agency executive
  • Shan Jixiang, Director
Parent agency Ministry of Culture
Website www.sach.gov.cn/

State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH; Chinese: 国家文物局 Pinyin: Guójiā wénwù jú) is an administrative agency subordinate to the Ministry of Culture. It is responsible for the development and management of museums as well as the protection of cultural relics of national importance.[1][2]

History

After the Chinese Civil War, the State Bureau of Cultural Relics was established to protect relics and archaeological sites as well as help develop museums (though the agency languished during the political turmoil of the Cultural Revolution). Its cause was revitalized with the establishment of the State Cultural Relics Enterprises Management Bureau in 1973 to oversee the protection of cultural heritage and the State Bureau of Cultural Relics (SBCR) in 1988, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture, as the encompassing agency for conservation of Chinese culture and heritage.[3]

The agency is responsible for over 500,000 registered sites of immovable cultural relics on mainland China. This includes 2,352 sites under national protection, 9,396 sites under the protection of provincial governments, and 58,300 sites under the protection of county or municipal authorities. In addition, 103 cities are designated as a "Historically and Culturally Famous City."[1]

It is claimed approximately 1.67 million relics, illegally obtained through conflicts and looting, are now in over 2,000 museums in 47 countries.[4] The agency is pursuing the repatriation of these items via political, diplomatic, and international conventions.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Protection of Cultural Heritage in China - chinagate.com.cn". En.chinagate.cn. 2006-05-25. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  2. ↑ "Regulations Concerning the Management and Protection of Underwater Cultural Relics". China.org.cn. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  3. ↑ "Dedicated to Great Wall Conservation". China Heritage Quarterly. 2011-04-21. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  4. ↑ "Feature: Auction of looted Chinese relics hurts China's cultural rights_English_Xinhua". News.xinhuanet.com. 2009-02-26. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
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