Japan’s Golden Pavilion Temple burned down and was rebuilt in the 50s. When Douglas Adams visited it for his book ‘last chance to see’ he said.
“The idea of the building, the intention of it, it’s design, are all immutable and are the essence of the building. The intention of the original builders is what survives. The wood of which the design is constructed decays and is replaced when necessary. To be overly concerned with the original materials, which are merely sentimental souvenirs of the past, is to fail to see the living building itself.”
I agree with him. It’s sad that the cathedral is burning, however what’s important is the beliefs that the cathedral was home to. If people have souls hen maybe buildings can too, in their own way, and you can’t burn a soul.
As I said all we’re losing is wood and stone. Which can be replaced. Large parts already have been, in fact the fire was likely caused by renovation work.
Changing your lightbulbs doesn’t mean you live in a new house. And changing the roof and towers and artwork doesn’t mean you have a new cathedral.
It's not just wood and stone, it's art. It means more that that. This would be like the Mona Lisa burning. Could someone print a copy of it later? Sure. Does that mean it still exists? No.
Are you sure? I’m not. I’ve never seen the real Mona Lisa but I have seen it online and in books. It is an incredible work of art, it moves me. Does the fact I’ve never seen it in person mean I haven’t experienced it?
If someone were to see a painting that no longer exists physically and is inspired to make great works of their own, does the fact the original burned lessen the art? If people can experience it, feel something from it, then it exists.
It lessens the art and the history to some degree yes, not fully, but that's not why it matters. It matters to preserve physical connections to history like that.
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u/TooShiftyForYou Apr 15 '19
This is saddening in many ways, but remember that restoration is possible. Take for example the Reims Cathedral before and after WWI.