Computing for Chinese Cultural Heritage

Implementing computational methods for preservation, inheritance, and promotion of Cultural Heritage (CH) has become a research trend across the world since the 1990s. In China, generations of scholars have dedicated themselves to studying the country’s rich CH resources; there are great potential and opportunities in the field of computational research on specific cultural artefacts or artforms. Based on previous works, this paper proposes a systematic framework for Chinese Cultural Heritage Computing that consists of three conceptual levels which are Chinese CH protection and development strategy, computing process, and computable cultural ecosystem. The computing process includes three modules: (1) data acquisition and processing, (2) digital modeling and database construction, and (3) data application and promotion. The modules demonstrate the computing approaches corresponding to different phases of Chinese CH protection and development, from digital preservation and inheritance to presentation and promotion. The computing results can become the basis for the generation of cultural genes and eventually the formation of computable cultural ecosystem Case studies on the Mogao caves in Dunhuang and the art of Guqin, recognized as world’s important tangible and intangible cultural heritage, are carried out to elaborate the computing process and methods within the framework. With continuous advances in data collection, processing, and display technologies, the framework can provide constructive reference for building up future research roadmaps in Chinese CH computing and related fields, for sustainable protection and development of Chinese CH in the digital age.