Cooperation matters

A large number of carvings depicting various Hindu deities and patterns — representing the integration of royal and divine authority in Nepal at that time — were intricately carved on the doors, windows, eaves, brackets supporting the eaves and roofs of the complex, according to Ci Lixin, another deputy head of the Hebei institute who was in charge of supervising the restoration work.

"More than 10,000 pieces of these wooden components and carvings, holding high historical, artistic and religious value, and representing the extraordinary woodcarving craftsmanship of Nepal, were dislodged or damaged by the earthquake," Ci said.

This meant that the restoration work required collecting, categorizing, organizing and numbering each piece of wood that was damaged or dislodged, he said.

The idea was to use as many old components as possible, especially wooden components with carvings, by repairing and reinforcing them to maximize their utilization.

For the restoration, the Chinese management team hired local craftsmen and workers with rich experience in maintaining cultural relics.

"Local craftsmen played a significant role, especially in the protection and maintenance of wooden carvings with religious symbolism," Ci said.

"There was a local woodworker named Suman Shakya, who was not only skilled in carving but also well-versed in religious culture," Ci said, adding that the worker was able to reassemble scattered components and accurately remake damaged and missing wooden carvings, thereby ensuring the continuity of the building's religious value and achieving a perfect restoration.