| Registration Classification | Cultural heritage, heritage in danger (2003-) |
| Registration Criteria | (1), (2), (3), (4), (6) |
| Year of registration | 2003 |
The Bamiyan site in central Afghanistan is where Buddhist culture flourished from the 1st to 13th centuries.The cave Buddhist temples built in the suburbs of Bamiyan had numerous Buddhist statues and murals. However, it is also a legacy of tragedy: in March 2001, two large Buddhas were destroyed by the Taliban and registered as a Crisis Heritage Site.
Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why the Bamiyan Ruins are a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about the Bamiyan Ruins!
What are Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley,?
The Bamiyan Valley is surrounded by the Hindu Kush Mountains in central Afghanistan. The cliffs were home to two huge Buddha statues and murals in caves that were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001 (most of them are now destroyed).
Bamiyan was a trading city that should be called a “crossroads of civilization” where various cultures and religions mingled. Bactria, the ruler of the area at that time, built stone cave Buddhist temples from the 1st century, and here you can clearly see how the cultures of India, Greece, and Persia merged to form the unique Buddhist art known as Gandhara art. It is said that the monk Xuanzang visited this place and was deeply impressed by its beauty.
And the two large Buddhas, thought to have been built in the 5th or 6th century, were the symbols of the Bamiyan Temple. The western Buddha measures 55 meters, while the eastern Buddha measures 38 meters. However, with the onset of Muslim rule, the Buddha images were gradually destroyed, including the faces of the Buddha carved out, and in 2001, the Taliban regime blew up the ruins simply because they prohibited idolatry. In 2001, the Taliban regime blew up the ruins simply to prohibit idolatry. It is estimated that 80% of the murals as well as the Great Buddha were lost.
Heritage in Danger
After the civil war in Afghanistan calmed down, the Japanese government and other organizations, together with UNESCO, began restoration work, and in 2003, the site was registered as a World Heritage in Danger (World Heritage in Danger as a World Heritage in Danger) site.
For what reason is the Bamiyan Ruins registered as a World Heritage Site?
The Bamiyan Site was evaluated for the following
Registration Criteria (ii)
The point that the Buddha images and murals in Bamiyan are masterpieces of Gandhara art in Central Asia.
Registration Criteria (ii)
The Bamiyan Valley, which was on the Silk Road, was a place of exchange between various cultures from Greece, India, and Persia.
Registration Criteria (iii)
The point is that it is evidence of the lost civilization of Central Asia in the present.
Registration Criteria (iv)
That it is an example of an important cultural landscape in the history of Buddhism.
Registration Criteria (vi)
That the Bamiyan Valley has been an important site in Buddhism for centuries.And that the site was in danger for political reasons, such as its destruction in 2001.
World Heritage Mania Conclusions and Impressions
Once a crossroads of civilizations, Bamiyan must have been a valley dotted with beautiful structures influenced by many different cultures, including Greek, Indian, Persian, and Chinese. That this was an important stage in the history of Buddhism is also clear from the scale of the ruins and the murals.
However, the temples that embodied the wisdom of mankind were also destroyed by man.Of course, this is unacceptable from the standpoint of protecting cultural properties. However, it is also people who protect cultural assets. We must not forget that it was not only cultural properties but also many local people who were killed in the civil war in Afghanistan. It seems to me that a World Heritage site is meaningless unless the people living there perceive its value.
The ruins are difficult to restore because they were thoroughly destroyed, but restoration of the Great Buddha and other monuments is gradually taking place, and we can only hope that they will one day be restored to their former glory.
*The contents here are considerations derived from research conducted by World Heritage enthusiasts. As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the medium.
