Absent-present heritage: The cultural heritage of dwelling on the Changjian (Yangtze) river

Abstract

Drawing upon post-structuralist theories of heritage and Derridian theory in particular, this chapter examines the idea of ‘absent-present’ heritage: Heritage that is non-existent, but whose trace remains in the present in a social, memorial and sometimes physical way. Exploring this theoretical approach to heritage, this chapter examines cultures of dwelling on and alongside the Yangtze River. Empirically, it examines the histories and contemporary status of floating fields, sampans and tracking on the Yangtze; treating these social material entities as absent-present heritage, it ends with a discussion of augmented reality as a new digital technology that could allow for the conservation of this heritage. It is also suggested here that such conservation practices might offer space for critical reflection.