There are the two Qing Dynasty bronze animal heads, taken away from the Old Summer Palace. They used to belong to China, but after 19th century colonial invasions of China, these animal heads, 12 in total were stolen and disappeared for almost a century. In recently years, under the help of some patriotic collectors of antiques, 5 of them have already back to China. But some of the rest were still not heard of and some of them belong to certain collectors. Since these animal heads are indispensable part of Summer Palace and Chinese culture, we are longing for their returning to China some day. Surprisingly, after the traditional Chinese New Year, two of them were reported to be part of a giant Yves Saint Laurent art auction in Paris. Since they were stolen by someone, Chinese people believe that they belong to China and no one has the right to auction them without Chinese government’s permission. However, Yves Saint Laurent art auction insisted on doing it without any concerns about hurting the Chinese feelings. Therefore, on March 5, these two animal heads were auctioned and taken by some mysterious collector at the price of 31.49 million euros. Just when all the Chinese wondered who the buyer was, he, Mr. Cai Mingchao as an antique collector, stepped up and claimed in a conference press that he took it upon himself to secure both bronze pieces, but he was refusing to pay for them as a mark of political protest. Therefore, recently, most of Chinese newspapers ran with the story of Cai Mingchao and the whole nation launched a heated discussion on whether Mr. Cai was a nation hero or a fool for his auction.
Some people stood by his side, proclaiming that the Chinese government had tried to block the sale of the antiquities with official complaints and an 11th-hour legal challenge, but the French government intentionally refused that, he was a hero who succeeded in avoiding these heads’ falling into foreigner’s hands. Others challenged him saying that his individual action damaged the Chinese long-lasting hospitality and credit. Thus, the controversy has escalated and the bronzes have become too hot to touch.
I watched a TV interview of Mr Cai tomorrow and listend to his motivation of doing that. It seemed to me that he considered his pirate move to bid up to €12m ($15.1m) on both pieces as a gift for China and it was totally the action of an individual. I can’t say whether he is right or wrong, though there are a number of discussions on that. But I do hope this auction controversy can end quickly, and someone or governments can stand out to work it out. Anyhow, these two bronzeds have been on the way back home and collecting all the 12 animal heads together is all the Chinese people’s dream for almost a century.
What will happen to these animal head? Let’s wait for the final result.
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