Research on the Digital Exploration and Inheritance of Tibetan Cultural Landscapes—Take the Mani Heap as an Example

As a ubiquitous cultural landscape in the Tibetan region, Mani heap, adorned with the sacred mantra and various Buddhist scriptures, as well as a myriad of Buddha images and meaningful patterns, stand as not just unique cultural landmarks of the Tibetan people but also as a testament to the intricate interplay of Tibetan art, rituals, daily life, and nature. These stone piles, integral to the region’s living cultural heritage and landscape, are currently facing threats from insufficient preservation efforts and the relentless march of industrial urbanization, leading to their dismantlement and damage. In response to this crisis, this study advocates for the digital preservation of Mani heap. Through 34 days of intensive fieldwork and visual ethnography, we aim to explore a comprehensive set of evaluation metrics including coordinates, altitude, scale, color, shape, arrangement, condition, and interactivity. This approach allows for a rescue-oriented digital preservation of existing Mani heap through digital archiving. Moreover, building upon current digital technologies, we propose a structured strategic model for the digital transmission of Mani stone pile heritage. This model encompasses various facets of digital interaction including storage, retrieval, dissemination, display, communication, and innovation, offering suggestions and concepts for the digitization of Mani heap, thus safeguarding and perpetuating this vital aspect of Tibetan cultural heritage.