Recently, an exciting piece of news has spread among cultural relics and culture lovers: an unnamed collector has publicly stated that he is willing to donate the dragon head of the Old Summer Palace that he holds to the country free of charge. This move not only shows the collector's deep love for cultural relics and sincere heart for the country, but also paves the way for the return of this historical treasure that has survived the vicissitudes of life.
The Old Summer Palace, as a treasure of the imperial gardens of the Qing Dynasty, has witnessed the glory and humiliation of Chinese history. And the bronze statue of the 12 zodiac signs in the Old Summer Palace is the essence of it. Unfortunately, in the 1860 Anglo-French war of aggression against China, these bronze statues were looted overseas, becoming a painful history in the history of the Chinese nation. Over the years, countless patriots and cultural relics workers have worked hard to recover these lost national treasures.
According to reports, the head of the Old Summer Palace was returned to the motherland in August 2022 and is now safely stored in a professional cultural relics and artwork vault in Shanghai. The tag in the warehouse clearly states that the artwork is a Chinese dragon head, made in the 19th century, and made of a combination of copper and wood. The height of the dragon's head reached 50 centimeters, while the base was 20 centimeters high.
The dragon head exposed this time is one of the bronze statues of the zodiac. It is not only the crystallization of the exquisite skills of craftsmen, but also an important carrier of Chinese culture. The dragon, as the totem of the Chinese nation, symbolizes auspiciousness, dignity and strength. The design of the dragon's head is unique, the craftsmanship is exquisite, and every detail is full of artistry and history.
At the 2018 auction in Paris, France, the owner of this piece was the internationally renowned fashion photographer Fang Yunling. It is understood that the collector of the dragon head of the Old Summer Palace is not one, but a joint venture purchase by a number of collectors. One of the collectors whose name is Sun, and the anonymous collector surnamed Sun is finally willing to make a public appearance today, so that the public can get a glimpse of it.
Sun Weizhong and the dragon head of the Old Summer Palace
It is understood that the two collectors who spent 24 million yuan to buy the dragon head of the Old Summer Palace at a French auction are Sun Weizhong, a Canadian-Shanghainese and a member of the Shanghai Collection Association, and Zhou Haisheng, a Taiwanese and director of the Chinese Cultural Relics Society.
Zhou Haisheng and the Old Summer Palace copper tire cloisonné enamel unicorn
Liu Yang, a staff member at the Old Summer Palace Site Park Management Office, revealed in an interview that Zhou Haisheng was the only collector he had come into contact with who was dedicated to finding the Old Summer Palace's cultural relics. The exchange between the two was very pleasant. According to Liu Yang, Zhou Haisheng has collected more than a dozen precious cultural relics from the Old Summer Palace. Unlike many other collectors, Zhou Haisheng does not only pursue the economic benefits of cultural relics, but cherishes the feeling of "hoping to leave something for the Chinese nation". He told Liu Yang that at the right time, he was willing to donate his entire collection to the Old Summer Palace to give back to the country and the nation.
According to the latest news, the National Museum of China has sent a professional team to Shanghai in March this year to conduct a detailed inspection of the dragon's head stored in a cultural relics and artwork vault in Shanghai.
In 2022, the China Overseas Cultural Relics Research Center of Shanghai University organized a team composed of more than a dozen authoritative experts to conduct a comprehensive on-site appraisal of the dragon's head. Using advanced scientific and technological means, including 3D imaging, X-ray transmission and non-destructive component testing, the experts conducted a comprehensive analysis and study from morning to night. After in-depth analysis and discussion, the experts completed a 40-page report.
The final conclusion is that this dragon head is similar to the currently known beast head of the Old Summer Palace in terms of materials, craftsmanship and use, and should belong to the same specification product. This conclusion provides strong evidence for the identity of the dragon's head and further confirms its historical and cultural value.
Sun Weizhong said in an interview with the collector's parlor that he hopes to donate the dragon head to the country together with Zhou Haisheng at an appropriate time.
I believe that in the near future, everyone will be able to see the dragon head of the Old Summer Palace in Chinese museums.
The collector's act undoubtedly set an example for the return of cultural relics. In the face of money and interests, he chose respect for culture and loyalty to the country, a spirit worthy of admiration by each and every one of us. His actions not only injected positive energy into the cultural relics community, but also taught a vivid patriotic education lesson to the general public.
For the country, the return of the dragon head of the Old Summer Palace is not only the best tribute to history, but also a concrete embodiment of the improvement of the country's cultural soft power. Its return is of great significance for improving the historical memory of the Old Summer Palace and promoting the protection of cultural heritage.
With the development and prosperity of the country, more and more lost cultural relics have begun to return to their homeland, which is not only the return of the cultural relics themselves, but also the awakening and rejuvenation of a national spirit. Let us hope that in the near future, more lost cultural relics can return to the embrace of the motherland and witness the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.