Japanese team helps to preserve ancient temple

Japan’s National Research Institute of Cultural Properties (NRICP) is helping Ministry of Culture to survey and preserve Barkayar Temple in the ancient city of Innwa, according to the officials from NRICP.

The NRICP has been working with the ministry since 2010 to provide assistance in the restoration and preservation work for historic sites in Myanmar.

The Japan and Myanmar team is currently inspecting the conditions of Barkayar Temple in order to map out a preservation plan for the deteriorating wooden building.

“Our architectural team will provide the know-how of preserving wood buildings. Like Myanmar, Japan has a lot of wood buildings although our buildings are quite different in design and system,” said Kasura Sato from NRICP.

“In preservation work, we cannot just replace with the old with new materials but we have to study the whole building in details. Only after recording every aspect of the building, we will be able to preserve it in original form. I can say Japanese know-how is advance in preserving wooden buildings,” she added.

Her team member Kazuo Kimura said that nearly one third of Barkayar Temple is now in decay and that it is very important to prevent from further deterioration.

The most important thing to consider in preserving the temple is how to protect it from the effects of rain and flooding, he said.

source: Eleven Myanmar

http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6458:japanese-team-helps-to-preserve-ancient-temple&catid=35:tourism&Itemid=358