Yan Su

Yan Su is a PhD researcher in the School of History, Religions and Philosophies at SOAS, University of London. Her doctoral research explores the conservation and adaptive reuse of historic temple architecture in Sichuan, China, focusing on how traditional craftsmanship, local religious practices, and community participation can be integrated into contemporary heritage conservation frameworks. 

By examining case studies such as Chunyang Temple and Bao’en Temple, her project investigates how restoration efforts can balance historical authenticity with the social and environmental realities of modern urban development. Before joining SOAS, Yan completed her Master of Heritage Conservation at the University of Southern California (USC), where her thesis examined the preservation of traditional Chinese timber craftsmanship in the restoration of Buddhist temples in Southwest China. This work analyzed both successful and problematic restoration cases, addressing issues such as the loss of traditional joinery techniques, environmental degradation, and the impact of modernization on religious architectural heritage. 

Yan also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art History with a minor in Socio-Cultural Anthropology from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where she developed a strong foundation in material culture studies and cross-cultural approaches to heritage. Yan has conducted extensive fieldwork in Sichuan Province, collaborating with local heritage bureaus, restoration specialists, and artisans involved in temple rehabilitation projects. Her research is informed by direct engagement with traditional craft practitioners, such as woodworkers and mural conservators, whose skills are increasingly endangered. 

Through this field-based approach, she seeks to document and interpret the living knowledge embedded in these crafts and to explore their role in sustaining both tangible and intangible aspects of cultural heritage. Her broader academic interests encompass Buddhist and Daoist art and architecture, East Asian religious heritage, community-led conservation, and the intersection of environmental sustainability and cultural preservation. She is particularly interested in how the concept of “authenticity” is negotiated within the restoration of sacred spaces and how heritage policies can better accommodate religious, ritual, and community-based perspectives. Yan’s ongoing research aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of how traditional craftsmanship and religious architecture can inform more sustainable, culturally grounded approaches to heritage cons

Su, Yan. Exploring the Conservation of Traditional Chinese Timber Architectural Craftsmanship Through the Restoration of Buddhist Temples in Southwest China. Master of Heritage Conservation thesis, School of Architecture, University of Southern California, May 2025.

• Conservation and adaptive reuse of historic temple architecture in Sichuan, China
• Preservation of traditional Chinese timber craftsmanship and joinery techniques
• Buddhist and Daoist art, architecture, and ritual spaces
• Intangible cultural heritage and the transmission of craft knowledge
• Community participation and cultural sustainability in heritage conservation
• Intersections between religion, material culture, and built heritage
• Environmental and social impacts of modernization on sacred architecture
• Comparative approaches to heritage conservation across East Asia

Exploring the Conservation of Traditional Chinese Timber Architectural Craftmanship through the Restoration of Buddhist Temples in the Southwest China