On the morning of April 14, the "Golden Stone Immortality - Yuanmingyuan and Yungang Cultural Relics Seeking and Protection" jointly sponsored by Yungang Research Institute, Poly Stone Cultural Industry Development Co., Ltd., Poly Art Museum, and the Management Office of Yuanmingyuan in Haidian District, Beijing was grandly opened at the Yungang Grottoes Museum in Datong City.
This exhibition exhibits the original cultural relics of the ox head, tiger head, monkey head and pig head of the 12 zodiac animal heads of the Haiyan Hall of the Yuanmingyuan in the Qing Dynasty, and the imitation of the horse head. At the same time, many precious Buddha heads, thousands of Buddha fragments, gilded Buddha heads and other original cultural relics were also exhibited in Yungang Grottoes, as well as the "Archaeological Catalogue of North China", leading the audience to experience a journey of pursuit and protection of national treasures.
There are 17 big Buddhas in Yungang Grottoes, and a total of 31 eyeballs are missing. There are more than 59,000 existing statues, and it is regrettable that more than 1,400 pieces of stone statues and other cultural relics were stolen during the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. In this exhibition, a "pottery eye" that returned to the Yungang Grottoes after more than 50 years of wandering overseas was solemnly displayed in front of the public, which is also the treasure of the Yungang Museum. There are also many exhibits such as the "Thousand Buddha Fragments" unearthed in the former site of Yungang Grottoes in 1992, witnessing the important history of the protection of Yungang cultural relics.
The 12 zodiac animal heads, originally the parts of the hydraulic bell fountain in front of the Haiyan Hall of the Western Building of the Old Summer Palace, were designed by Lang Shining, an Italian missionary and a painter. It combines the hours and zodiac signs of the East with the fountains and timekeeping of the West, the head of the beast is cast in red copper, the body is a stone statue, and a water spray pipe is connected in the hollow, arranged in a figure-eight shape, which is not only the perfect blend of Chinese and Western cultures, but also the deep combination of art and technology. But the great powers turned to the east, and humiliation and suffering followed. For more than 100 years, the heads of the twelve beasts have been scattered and scattered. With the joint efforts of forces from all walks of life, the 7 bronze statues of the 12 zodiac beast heads in front of the Haiyan Hall in the Old Summer Palace have finally ended their wandering journey and returned to the motherland after being lost overseas for more than 150 years. There are 5 dragon heads, snake heads, sheep heads, chicken heads and dog heads, and there is still no exact news.
The animal head carries a heavy national emotion and history, and the five animal heads were unveiled together in the Yungang Museum for the first time, including 4 originals and 1 imitation. Looking closely at the head of the beast, you can still feel its lifelike demeanor, delicate hair, deep and heavy color, and a shocking sense of rust after a hundred years of wind and rain.
With the support of new technology, the cultural relics with a sense of history are displayed in a new form in front of everyone, adding more intimacy and interest, and guarding the safety of cultural relics with the power of science and technology. Yungang Cave 16-1 Cave Wall Original Appearance-Status-Digital Restoration Comparison;3D Printing Yungang Cave 16-1 Buddha Statue and Yungang Cave 1 South Wall Cave Gate Top Two Dragons on the Top of the Cave Gate for the First Time;The projection interactive plate designed with the theme of "Hope to Return" attracted many visitors to check in and take pictures, and left the most sincere feelings on the message screen.
"Immortal gold and stone" means engraved on the bell and ding stele, indelible feats, cultural relics protection is immortal feat! "Golden Stone Immortal - Yuanmingyuan and Yungang Cultural Relics Seeking and Protection" from April 15th to May 26th in Datong Yungang Grottoes Museum continued to exhibit, to see the big with the small, to see the history of physical evidence, to see people, things, see the spirit, tell the story of the search and protection of national treasures, carry forward the excellent traditional Chinese culture, and strengthen cultural self-confidence.