The Inheritance of Beijing Royal Gardens Cultural Heritage Resources from the Perspective of Cultural Gene

The royal gardens in Beijing are numerous in quantity, diverse in type and remarkable in features, embodying profound cultural connotations and precious heritage values. This study was guided by Chinese leaders' important speeches on the inheritance of excellent traditional Chinese cultural genes and the theory of Cultural Gene. It sorted out the presentation forms of cultural heritage resources of Beijing Royal Gardens (BRGs), and then identified and extracted the cultural genes of BRGs. In the extraction of cultural genes, resources are divided into two categories based on their perceptibility: material cultural genes and intangible cultural genes. The material cultural genes are mainly reflected in tangible elements such as architectural style, landscape layout, and plant configuration of gardens, which together constitute the unique style of the BRGs. The intangible cultural genes are more reflected in the historical stories, cultural connotations, aesthetic concepts, and other intangible elements carried by gardens, which endow gardens with deeper spiritual values. Furthermore, based on the importance and stability of genes, the extracted cultural genes are divided into four types: core genes, attachment genes, mixed genes, and mutant genes. Core genes are the essence of the BRGs, with high stability and inheritability; Attachment genes are related elements derived around the core genes, which are equally important although not core; Mixed genes are the result of the integration of multiple cultural elements, reflecting the diversity and inclusiveness of culture; Mutant genes are cultural innovations that have emerged during the historical development process, injecting new vitality into the BRGs. Finally, corresponding inheritance strategies were proposed for different types of cultural genes. Core genes: Adhere to essence and strengthen core values; Attachment genes: innovative inheritance, optimizing the supply of derivatives; Mixed genes: overall protection, achieving collective prosperity; Mutant genes: selected identification, optimal fusion and development.