A tridaic sign framework for heritage conservation : bridging the objectivist-subjectivist dichotomy

Abstract

Modern articulation of the root of heritage value, as presented by S N G Davies (1946-present), vacillates between the material building itself and the subjective minds of people, fostering a dichotomy. Overcoming this objectivist-subjectivist gulf, this thesis makes a novel contribution to the theorisation on heritage study by conceptualizing built heritage as a triadic sign structure in a framework—informed by John of Saint Thomas Poinsot (1589-1644)—that posits the building as a sign vehicle, representing a historical significate (of objective value based on a Thomistic notion of human natural law) to a subjective cognitive power, who is/are often an expert/experts or deeply affiliated stakeholders capable of an authentic value response to an objective value in reality. The usefulness of the triadic framework, which is applicable to any built heritage whether of a religious or secular nature anywhere in the world, is then demonstrated using a case study, a commonly used method in heritage research, on Yim Tin Tsai Saint Joseph’s Chapel—a 2005 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awardee—as a “sign structure”, which signifies the unique historical Hakka-Catholic origin, attested by the century-old annual liturgical gathering of the clan. Seen from a triadic sign perspective and adjudged by human natural law, the values identified are subsequently benchmarked with comparables found on the UNESCO World Heritage List—the currently acknowledged and respected expert opinion in the heritage field—for verification.