The British Museum, Chinese commonly known as the British Museum. It was founded in 1753 and officially opened to the public in 1759. With a collection of more than 8 million items, it is the world's oldest and largest comprehensive museum, and is one of the world's four largest museums along with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Louvre Museum in France, and the Hermitage Museum in Russia (yes, there is no "Palace Museum" or "National Museum of China")
However, behind the brilliance of the British Museum, there are more unbright channels such as stealing, robbing, "borrowing", "trading" and "paying tribute". Countless treasures from many ancient civilizations in the world left their homeland and now lie in the exhibition halls and warehouses of the British Museum.
In 2022, the British Museum was complained by netizens and even almost broken. The cause was that a British million-fan blogger @No Context Bits shared memes on Twitter one after another, mocking the British Museum for stealing artifacts. For example, this:
"No one would do that, but the British Museum did: they packed the Leaning Tower of Pisa into a backpack and took it away."
The famous French writer Hugo once wrote:
"Two robbers from Europe broke into the Old Summer Palace. One robber looted the property and the other set it on fire. It seems that after victory, you can start stealing. They carried out a large-scale looting of the Old Summer Palace, and the stolen goods were divided equally between the two victors ... We add together all the treasures of all the cathedrals in Europe, and perhaps not as much as this remarkable palatial museum in the East. ”
The British Museum's introduction to Chinese artifacts begins with this: "Chinese has created the world's largest and oldest civilization." ”
It is said that no Chinese can leave with a smile after visiting the Chinese exhibition hall of the British Museum. Proud yay? Shame on yay? After all, the treasures of his own country are in his home, and his mood is complicated, and it is difficult to calm down!
Every 10 years or so, the British Museum always launches an epoch-making Chinese cultural exhibition, such as the "Mystery of Ancient Chinese Culture" exhibition in 1996, which first showed Sanxingdui cultural relics to the British public, the "Qin Shi Huang: Chinese Terracotta Army" exhibition in 2007, and "Ming: 50 Years of the Imperial Dynasty" in 2014, all of which were sensational.
This year, the British Museum is once again focusing on China, releasing its latest special exhibition, "China's Hidden Century", on May 18 (International Museum Day). According to the museum, this is the world's first large-scale special exhibition covering the entire 19th century Chinese society.
According to curator Jessica Harrison-Hall, the special exhibition began preparations four years ago, led by the British Museum and the University of London, and was completed by more than 100 scholars from 14 countries.
▲ The scene of the special exhibition of "Late Qing Dynasty". Photo by Lindodo
From the abdication of the Qianlong Emperor in 1796 to the abdication of the Xuantong Emperor in 1912, China suffered unprecedented changes, civil uprisings and foreign wars, and finally, the Qing Dynasty was destroyed under the cannon fire of the Xinhai Revolution, and China's more than 2,000-year-old feudal dynastic autocracy also ended. But at the same time, China's technological, cultural and political changes have also spawned extraordinary creativity and led to dramatic changes in society.
The curator wrote in the foreword to the special exhibition:
Perhaps a personal story is nothing compared to the fate of one's home country, but underneath a series of ups and downs in history, there are vivid personal experiences in the court, in the army, in a prosperous international metropolis, and even on the global stage. This special exhibition follows the stories of people from different social classes and fields to explore the social situation. ”
▲ The scene of the special exhibition of "Late Qing Dynasty". Photo by Lindodo
This special exhibition displays a total of 300 Chinese calligraphy, paintings and objects from different museums and collectors, focusing on six themes: court, military, literature and art, fashion, trade and world change, and discusses the Chinese and social conditions of the 19th century.
To this end, we have specially collected and compiled some images for everyone to have a sneak peek.
Of course, you can also visit the British Museum, and "China's Hidden Century" will be on display from May 18 to October 8, 2023.
01.
"Palace"
The Qing emperors claimed absolute rule over all spiritual and secular matters. Between 1798 and 1912, six emperors ruled, three of whom were adults, followed by three young emperors under Empress Dowager Cixi.
The representation of court figures underwent a dramatic transformation, and the Manchu imperial family was increasingly influenced by Han culture. Innovations also appeared in the style of costumes and furniture in the palace, and new forms of entertainment spread among the imperial court, such as Peking Opera and modern dance.
▲ The robe worn by Empress Dowager Cixi. Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
▲ Qing "Portrait of the Queen". Photo by Lindodo
▲ The emperor's wrench. Photo by Lindodo
▲ Jin Yu. Photo by Lindodo
▲ Dotted jewelry. Photo by Lindodo
02.
"Military"
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the country was in a situation of internal and external troubles, and the White Lotus Rebellion, the Zhanger Rebellion, the Aqubo Rebellion, the Taiping Rebellion, and the Boxer Rebellion broke out one after another. In foreign wars, the Qing army was defeated one after another, and the Opium War, the Sino-French War, and the Sino-Japanese War were not won.
To escape the war, people have fled to find another livelihood. This has created local tensions, ethnic conflicts and resource conflicts.
▲ "Nanjing Victory Map" woodblock print. Collection of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
▲ Qing "Portrait of the General of the Eight Flags". Collection of the Royal Ontario Museum
▲ The original copy of the Treaty of Nanjing, the exhibition description reads "This is the first unequal treaty signed between China and a foreign country" Photo / Mei. in London
▲ Portrait of Queen Victoria. Photo by Lindodo
03.
"Literature and Art"
China in the 19th century was stormy, but judging from the landscape painting and fan painting of the time, the artistic tradition did not decline, but coexisted with modern art.
Western technologies such as lithography were embraced by artists as well as new magazines and newspapers in coastal cities. As the options for learning and excelling dwindled, more people sought other forms of financial and social support, and new artistic and literary groups were established.
▲ Ren Xiong "Wuxi Autumn Shadow". Michael Yun-Wen Shih Collection
04.
"Style"
In the 50s of the 19th century, there were about 450 million Chinese population, but the average life expectancy was less than 40 years. In order to escape the war, many people migrated to the city - Shanghai and other international metropolises appeared. While many people live extremely difficult lives, some enjoy incredible wealth.
At that time, women were mostly hidden from official records unless they became famous for the deeds of their husbands or sons. However, there are many surviving objects that can help us understand these women and the world in which they live. The exhibition focuses on these people and objects that have been neglected by literature, and paintings, prints, costumes, luxury furniture and entertainment facilities are testimony to the richness of their lives.
▲ Qing "Portrait of Mrs. Li (Mrs. Lu Xifu)". The portrait style was influenced by photographic techniques imported from the West and was more realistic than previous portraits.
▲ Dental cap gourd clamshell jar. Photo by Lindodo
▲ Mahjong. Photo by Mei. classmates in London
▲ Cloud shoulder. Photo by Lindodo
▲ Point emerald phoenix crown. The hair ornament adopts the popular Dian Cui technique in the late Qing Dynasty, embellished with pearls and precious stones, and the shape is vivid and dazzling. Photo by Lindodo
▲ Qing dynasty embroidered earmuffs. Photo by Lindodo
05.
「Trade」
Due to the Qing government's closed-door policy, until the 40s of the 19th century, Guangzhou was the only place in China where international trade was legal and foreigners could live. Guangzhou merchants interacted with European, American, Japanese, Russian, South Asian merchants and Southeast Asian diasporas, and the fusion of various styles was more obvious.
▲ Qing Dynasty Guangdong export fan. It shows the exquisite craftsmanship and creativity of Chinese craftsmen at that time. Photo by Lindodo
▲ Silver punch barware. Collection of the British Museum
06.
"World Change"
After the Sino-Japanese War, the great powers set off a frenzy of partitioning China, and the national crisis deepened day by day. In order to change the law and become stronger, the government has formed a new army with modern weapons and equipment, and has also established a new Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Police and Ministry of Education. However, after the outbreak of the Wuchang Uprising, Emperor Xuantong abdicated in February 1912, ending more than two thousand years of feudal empire.
In the late Qing dynasty, some people always maintained a fearless spirit. The final part of the exhibition tells the story of Qiu Jin, a revolutionary, poet and feminist who dedicated her life to promoting women's liberation ideas.
▲ Qiu Jinzhao. Wisconsin Historical Society Collection
▲ The inner painting of Li Hongzhang is like a snuff bottle. Water Pine Stone Mountain House Collection
▲ Examination paper for the 28th year of Guangxu (1902). Photo by Lindodo
How many Chinese artifacts did the British Museum steal and hide?
At least 218 museums in 47 countries around the world house more than 1.67 million pieces of Chinese cultural relics. The issue of the origin and circulation of these cultural relics is quite complex. According to the statistics of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics, since 1840 alone, more than 10 million Chinese cultural relics have been dispersed due to war, improper trade and other reasons.
Among them, the British Museum is one of the museums with the largest collection of lost cultural relics in China, with a collection of 23,000 Chinese cultural relics. From Neolithic period, Yangshao culture, Shang and Zhou bronzes, to Song dynasty Jun kiln porcelain, Yuan dynasty blue and flower, Ming dynasty cloisonné, Qing dynasty color glazed porcelain, almost all cultural relics categories are included, spanning the entire history of China.
According to the British Museum, the collection of Chinese cultural relics is collected through gifts, bequests, purchases, exchanges and other ways, but its main sources are only two, one is the crazy plunder after the Anglo-French army captured Beijing during the Opium War; The second is the tomb robbery and stolen goods and the private sale of the Qing royal family during the late Qing and Republican periods, which finally led to the loss of these cultural relics abroad.
So, in addition to the cultural relics displayed in this special exhibition, what other precious Chinese cultural relics does the British Museum have?
▲ Kang Hou Gui, a bronze ceremonial vessel from the Western Zhou Dynasty, was later sold to the country and purchased by the British and donated to the British Museum. Photography / Lancet Deuterium
▲ The three-colored Arhat statue of the Liao Dynasty in the collection of the British Museum is from Hebei, China. Photography/arteriography
▲ The stone statue of Amitabha Buddha during the opening of the Sui Dynasty is placed in the gap between the two floors of the British Museum, and there are obvious cutting marks on the waist. Photography/arteriography
▲ Tang Sancai tomb figurines The original owner was named Liu Tingxun, who served as a general of Zhongwu in the Tang Dynasty, a captain of Henan and Huainan Provinces, and a central privy envoy. Photography / Lancet Deuterium
▲The most famous collection of ancient Chinese paintings in the British Museum is the Tang copy of Gu Kaizhi's "Female History Monitor"
(The earliest surviving Chinese silk painting in the world today was originally collected in the Temple of Yangxin in the Forbidden City.) In 1900, it was robbed by a British captain and sold to the British Museum, becoming the treasure of its town hall. Photo by Sun Zhijun)
Finally, end this tweet with a quote from Mr. Ma Weidu.
"Over 250 years, the British Museum has been remodeled and expanded several times to become what it is today, becoming one of the world's finest museums. Chinese cultural relics proudly occupy their most important place, showing off the splendor of that ancient civilization to the world. When I walked out of the China Pavilion, I looked back and saw that all the Chinese cultural relics radiated the light of wisdom, which made people cry. ”
With tears in his eyes, when will the national treasure return to his hometown?
Cold eyes, how my generation wants to improve themselves!
Part of the graphic source: British Museum official website
Chinese Heritage 2017 Issue 06 Chinese Heritage in the British Museum
Edit | F.L.J.