Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies (JSSHRS) · Research article · Open access
Conservation of Cultural Heritage from A Hermeneutic Perspective
JING Bowen, CAO Jingjing
29 July 2026 · Vol. 2, Issue 7, pp. 1372-1377
DOI: 10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E7/2026-42
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What is this article about?
The deconstruction and critical reflection of modernism have given rise to post-processual archaeology and new museology in the field of cultural heritage, thereby generating new hermeneutic demands for conservation theory that cannot be adequately addressed by existing frameworks. Drawing on the ontological perspective of philosophical hermeneutics as developed by Hans-Georg Gadamer, this paper examines the theoretical foundations of cultural heritage conservation and argues that cultural heritage, as a distinctive object possessing both aesthetic and historical dimensions, participates in and is unified by three interrelated processes: the disclosure of truth in artistic experience, the unfolding of effective history (Wirkungsgeschichte) under the fusion of horizons (Horizontverschmelzung), and the continuous development of tradition rooted in language.
Article at a glance
- Published
- 29 July 2026
- Volume / issue / pages
- Vol. 2, Issue 7, pp. 1372-1377
- ISSN
- 3051-3561 (online) · 3051-3553 (print)
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0 — free to read and reuse with attribution
- Peer review
- Double-blind, at least two independent reviewers
- Publisher
- EP Journals Group
Abstract
The deconstruction and critical reflection of modernism have given rise to post-processual archaeology and new museology in the field of cultural heritage, thereby generating new hermeneutic demands for conservation theory that cannot be adequately addressed by existing frameworks. Drawing on the ontological perspective of philosophical hermeneutics as developed by Hans-Georg Gadamer, this paper examines the theoretical foundations of cultural heritage conservation and argues that cultural heritage, as a distinctive object possessing both aesthetic and historical dimensions, participates in and is unified by three interrelated processes: the disclosure of truth in artistic experience, the unfolding of effective history (Wirkungsgeschichte) under the fusion of horizons (Horizontverschmelzung), and the continuous development of tradition rooted in language. From an ontological-hermeneutic standpoint, conservation methodology is required to achieve three fundamental shifts: engaging in localized expression that respects the embeddedness of heritage in specific cultural contexts, cultivating critical reflexivity that enables conservators to examine their own situatedness, and integrating multi-layered pre-understandings that acknowledge the plurality of legitimate interpretations. This study seeks to supplement conservation theory with a hermeneutic dimension and to promote its theoretical deepening.
Keywords: Philosophical Hermeneutics, Cultural Relics, Conservation, Ontology.
Cite this article
JING Bowen, & CAO Jingjing (2026). Conservation of Cultural Heritage from A Hermeneutic Perspective. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(7), 1372-1377. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E7/2026-42
@article{JING2026,
title = {Conservation of Cultural Heritage from A Hermeneutic Perspective},
author = {JING Bowen and CAO Jingjing},
journal = {Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies},
year = {2026},
volume = {2},
number = {7},
pages = {1372-1377},
doi = {10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E7/2026-42},
url = {https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E7/2026-42}
}Questions about this article
Who wrote this article?
JING Bowen, CAO Jingjing.
Where and when was it published?
In Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, Volume 2, Issue 7, pages 1372-1377, published by EP Journals Group on 29 July 2026.
Is this article free to read?
Yes. It is open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) licence, so anyone can read, share and reuse it with attribution.
What is the DOI of this article?
10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E7/2026-42 (https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E7/2026-42).
How do I cite this article?
APA: JING Bowen, & CAO Jingjing (2026). Conservation of Cultural Heritage from A Hermeneutic Perspective. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(7), 1372-1377. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E7/2026-42
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