On the day of the unveiling, the Yuanmingyuan Museum held the opening ceremony of the "The Return of Yuanmingyuan Stone Pillars Exhibition and the 2023 Beijing Public Archaeology Season." During this event, over a hundred years after being lost overseas, seven pillars from Yuanmingyuan (The Old Summer Palace) officially returned. They are another significant collection of cultural relics from Yuanmingyuan that has been repatriated to its original location, following the bronze horse head.
The silent pillars—understanding history through silence
The seven pillars that returned this time, as initially determined by experts, originate from the ruins of the Western-style building in Yuanmingyuan. They are approximately 80-92 centimeters in height, crafted from white marble, and exhibit slight signs of weathering while remaining in a well-preserved state. These pillars are adorned with intricate reliefs of flowers and geometric patterns, revealing exceptional craftsmanship.
The pillars share a unified design with varying details. The front side prominently displays Western-style floral and seashell motifs, while the side-facing vases feature traditional Chinese flowers such as peonies, magnolias, lotuses, and chrysanthemums, which are associated with auspicious symbolism. The carved angular clouds and open-window motifs are similar to the designs on traditional Chinese pillars and railings, illustrating a fusion of Chinese and Western cultural elements.
According to the introduction, the pillars without decoration on both sides served as decorative elements for the tops of buildings, while those with vases or floral patterns were used for staircases or platform railings. The vases complemented the style of the railings. The overall decorations and forms are highly reminiscent of existing pillars in Yuanmingyuan.
"The integration of Eastern and Western artistry in these seven pillars is most evident in the use of Western-style carvings and vases while filling these vases with traditional Chinese auspicious symbols like peonies," explained Qiu Wenzhong, Director of the Yuanmingyuan Administration.
"The background of these pillars was copperplate engravings of the Western-style building. Since there were no photos, copperplate engravings could authentically depict the appearance of the architectural structures." Qiu further stated that these engravings clearly show the placement of the pillars, which were once positioned at the platforms of Haiyantang, a place known for its zodiac-themed water fountains, in Yuanmingyuan. These pillars were designed to enhance both aesthetics and safety. In the existing copperplate engravings from the 51st year of the Qianlong era (1786), Haiyantang, Xieqiqu, Fangwaiguan, Yangquelong, and Yuanmingyuan's remote view are all depicted with a significant number of these pillars. They were placed in courtyards, near fountains, staircases, and on elevated platforms, and held both practical and aesthetic value.
According to the staff, approximately a thousand visitors come to the exhibition every day. One visitor said, "It's incredibly shocking. These pillars are just standing here silently. But for some reason, they seem to be telling a long and touching story. Seeing these dispersed relics return to our homeland makes me proud. As our nation grows stronger, I hope more relics will return soon."
Exhibition Overview
The Return of Yuanmingyuan Stone Pillars Exhibition is divided into three sections: "Across the Sea," "The Return Journey," and "Unveiling the Pillars." In total, around 50 sets of cultural relics and photographs are displayed. This exhibition is based on the dispersion of the Yuanmingyuan pillars and their return to complete the narrative. It includes similar overseas-dispersed relics within Yuanmingyuan and focuses on the exquisite carvings on the pillars. The goal is to provide the audience with a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural value within these pillars.
Yuanmingyuan Museum Officially Unveiled
The Yuanmingyuan Museum is located within the Zhengjue Temple, occupying 14,300 square meters, with a building area of 3,649 square meters. The exhibition is hosted separately in the Zhengjue Temple's main gate, the Bell and Drum Tower, the Tianwang Hall (Heavenly King Hall), the East and West Five Buddha Halls, the Three Saints Hall, the Wenshu Temple, the East Six Great Arhats Hall, Zuisahnglong (the Top Tower), and so on.
Following the "The Construction Plan of the Three Mountains and Five Parks National Cultural Relics Protection and Utilization Demonstration Zone," the Yuanmingyuan Administration utilized the existing venue at Zhengjue Temple. In addition to the existing "centennial dream come true -- the return of the horse head bronze statue in Yuanmingyuan" exhibition, the Yuanmingyuan Museum's development has been expedited by upgrading security and fire safety, reconstructing exhibition display plans, and officially unveiling the museum on October 13.
The exhibition includes various sections: the evolution of Zhengjue Temple, the revival of Yuanmingyuan, tracing the history of Yuanmingyuan, exploring ancient Changchun, the artisans' dreams, Yuanmingyuan as the epitome of gardens, gatherings and dispersals, and the foundation of dreams. Over 230 items and sets of various relics are exhibited, with modern display techniques, including photographs, physical objects, and multimedia. The exhibition vividly illustrates the rich historical and cultural heritage of Yuanmingyuan and the substantial results achieved in cultural relic preservation.
"The key exhibits in the Yuanmingyuan Museum include the horse head, the Gilt-Bronze Elephant-Head, the 'old men in the mountain' made of green jade, the Chinese Copper Cloisonné, and the stone inscription by Emperor Daoguang. These exhibits systematically reveal the results of the Yuanmingyuan Administration's work over the years in restoration, archaeological excavation, site protection, relic restoration, digital preservation, and the pursuit of dispersed cultural relics," said an official from the Yuanmingyuan Administration.
Mr. Chen, a visitor who came from Tongzhou specifically to visit the Yuanmingyuan Museum said, "I have always paid close attention to the return of our dispersed relics. I want to examine every exhibit carefully. I may not see them all this time, but I will come back again."
Translator：WANG Yixin
Editor：ZHOU Huilin
