Sacred Places, Pilgrimage, and Tourism - Geography of Religion in Japan: Religious Space, Landscape, and Behavior - page 159

Table 4.1 Criteria for registration to World Heritage
No. Selection criteria
1 To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius
2 To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a
cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental
arts, town-planning or landscape design
3 To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization
which is living or which has disappeared
4 To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble
or landscape which illustrates (a) signifi cant stage(s) in human history
5 To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which
is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment
especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change
6 To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs,
with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal signifi cance. (The Committee
considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria)
7 To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs,
with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal signifi cance. (The Committee
considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria)
8 To be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the
record of life, signifi cant on-going geological processes in the development of
landforms, or signifi cant geomorphic or physiographic features
9 To be outstanding examples representing signifi cant on-going ecological and biological
processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and
marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals
10 To contain the most important and signifi cant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of
biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding
universal value from the point of view of science or conservation
Source : UNESCO
heritage sites in particular need to have a special value originating in human history
that needs to be conserved. Most (53 %) World Heritage sites are in Europe
(Fig. 4.19 ).
The purpose of The Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and
Natural Heritage was to protect cultural heritage sites (ruins) that might be destroyed
by war or environmental disruption, and to promote tourism along the way. This
resulted in the registration of world-famous historic buildings and artwork. After
1994, when the World Heritage Committee adopted “The Global Strategy for a
Balanced, Representative and Credible World Heritage List,” the criteria for World
Heritage sites became more diverse and now include industrial heritage, negative
legacies, and cultural routes and landscapes. Regional balance should also be taken
into consideration.
The problem of defi ning “remarkable universal value” still lingers. It is natural
that the criteria change according to the international power balance and current
thinking of society, but any area aiming for registration as a World Heritage site
needs to be constantly rethinking their strategy. What does it take to be acknowl-
edged as heritage site? How do we show that it is a heritage site? What must be
sought is remarkable universal value.