The State Administration of Cultural Heritage released an exciting news: after 40 years of overseas wandering, the national first-class cultural relics of the Western Zhou Feng Xing Shuwei have finally been successfully recovered and returned to the motherland. This major achievement is not only an affirmation of China's cultural relics protection work, but also a powerful recovery of cultural relics lost overseas, setting a model for the global cultural relics protection cause.
Feng Xing Shugui, a cultural relic with extremely high historical value, was unearthed in 1978 in a late Western Zhou Dynasty bronze cellar in Famen Town, Fufeng County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. Since its unearthing, it has attracted the attention of the world with its unique shape, exquisite decoration technology and profound cultural connotation. Unfortunately, however, in November 1984, Feng Xing's uncle was stolen and began his overseas journey.
Over the past 40 years, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage has never given up its recourse to Feng Xing Shugui. After countless days and nights of hard work, in January 2023, I finally learned the news of Feng Xing Shugui's appearance in New York, USA through the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom. After learning of this news, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage immediately launched the recovery procedure for the lost cultural relics, and jointly guided the local cultural relics and public security departments to quickly collect and sort out relevant evidence.
In communication with the owner of the artifact, Raymond King, and his mother, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage gave a detailed account of the historical background and cultural value of Feng Xing Shugui. After a thorough investigation, Raymond King and his mother decided to "do the right thing" and agreed to return the artifacts to China unconditionally**. This decision not only reflects their respect and support for the cause of cultural relics protection, but also cherishes the memory of the common civilization of all mankind.
After a series of intensive work, in November 2023, Feng Xing Shuwei arrived safely in Beijing under a special escort, ending his 40-year overseas wandering journey. Feng Xing Shugui, who returned to the motherland, was confirmed to be the original vessel after careful appraisal by experts, and its modeling style, decoration technology, inscription style, rusted appearance, and traces of disability were all in line with the characteristics of the bronze ware of the Western Zhou Dynasty.
The realization of this major achievement is not only a strong affirmation of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage's work in recovering lost cultural relics, but also an important impetus to the protection of cultural relics across the country. Feng Xing Shugui's successful pursuit not only allowed this precious cultural relic to return to its homeland, but also let the world see China's firm determination and unremitting efforts for the protection of cultural relics.
In the future, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage will organize and carry out the protection, research, publicity and display of relevant cultural relics in a timely manner. Through in-depth research on the historical background, cultural connotation and artistic value of Feng Xing Shugui, we will further explore the story behind it, so that more people can understand and cherish this precious cultural relic. At the same time, through extensive publicity and display, the great significance of the return of lost overseas cultural relics to the motherland will be deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and the attention and participation of the whole society in the protection of cultural relics will be stimulated.
The Chinese cultural relics lost overseas carry rich historical and cultural information, and they are not only China's cultural heritage, but also the common civilization memory of all mankind. The State Administration of Cultural Heritage successfully pursued the return of Feng Xing Shugui, which is not only the cherishing and protection of the cultural relics themselves, but also the protection and inheritance of the common civilization memory of all mankind. This important achievement will inspire more countries and organizations to strengthen cooperation in the protection of cultural relics and jointly protect the treasures of human civilization.
With the return of Feng Xing Shugui, we hope that more Chinese cultural relics that have been lost overseas can return to their homeland, so that the world can witness and inherit the glorious history of Chinese civilization. At the same time, we also call on the whole society to pay attention to the protection of cultural relics and contribute to the protection of the common civilization of mankind.