In China's long history, there has been a famous attraction with brilliant gardens - the Old Summer Palace.
Once a treasure of Chinese culture and art, this former royal garden has become a harrowing memory.
During the Anglo-French invasion in 1860, the Old Summer Palace suffered an unprecedented devastating blow, and many precious artifacts were looted, including the heads of the 12 zodiac animals.
Meticulously cast by Qing court craftsmen and able to tell the time with water spraying at the right hour, these animal heads are the centerpiece of the fountain outside the Haiyan Hall of the Old Summer Palace, showcasing the unique charm of traditional Chinese culture.
However, the plundering of the British and French forces led to the loss of precious cultural relics such as the heads of the zodiac animals, among which the horse heads, pig heads and other cultural relics were returned to the motherland after many years.
After the looting of the Old Summer Palace, the horse's head was taken to Europe and became a high-profile lot at European auctions.
Fortunately, after many efforts, Ma Shou was finally purchased by Macau gambling king Stanley Ho, and donated to the country free of charge, returning to the embrace of the motherland.
In 2007, Ma Shou suddenly appeared at an auction. Stanley Ho bought it back again, spending nearly 70 million yuan.
This purchase made the horse's head the most valuable collection in the collection of bronze statues in the Qing Dynasty. Stanley Ho then did not hesitate to donate it to the state for free, a feat that drew widespread attention and appreciation at the time.
After the return of the horse's head to the motherland, the experts took X-ray photos of it, aiming to improve its structure and process characteristics.
However, the results of the X-ray reveal many surprising things.
First of all, the copper content of the horse's head is as high as 98%, which far exceeds the purity of ordinary bronze ware. The use of this high-purity copper was extremely rare at the time, and it is a testament to the exquisite skills and perfection of ancient craftsmen.
Secondly, except for a few detachable rivets under the neck, the rest of the horse's head is cast in one piece, without any traces of welding. This one-piece casting process was extremely difficult at the time, and it shows the skill and creativity of ancient craftsmen.
This important discovery deeply shocked the experts, and they respected the precious significance of this horse head even more.
The experts realized that this discovery represents not only an ancient cultural relic, but also an indispensable part of Chinese culture, witnessing the brilliant achievements of our nation in the field of art. This discovery also deepens our understanding of the wisdom and talent of ancient craftsmen, making us appreciate and admire their skills even more.
Many precious artifacts were lost in the Old Summer Palace, and although some of them were successfully returned to their homeland after many years, many of them are still missing.
These lost cultural relics not only represent the treasures of the Old Summer Palace, but also the cultural heritage and spiritual symbols of the Chinese nation. They carry the historical and cultural heritage of our nation, and they are historical witnesses that we cannot ignore.
In the context of this era, the unremitting efforts and selfless dedication of patriots are of paramount importance. It is their diligence and sacrifice that have enabled our cultural heritage to be passed on and carried forward.
The casting process of the 12 zodiac animal heads in the Old Summer Palace demonstrates the outstanding wisdom and skill of ancient craftsmen. These returned cultural relics not only have extremely high artistic value, but also are the pride and pride of the Chinese nation. They bear witness to our history and cultural heritage, and serve as a reminder to cherish and protect the existing cultural heritage.
In this context, it is all the more important for us to cherish and pass on these precious cultural heritages. Through strengthening publicity and education, more people can understand and recognize the historical and cultural value of these cultural relics.
At the same time, we should also strengthen international cooperation and exchanges, and work together to protect and inherit the world's cultural heritage. Only in this way can we perpetuate these precious cultural heritages and leave them a legacy for future generations.