Chinese Culture
Minister Sun Jiazheng (L, front) and experts look at the Zilong
Ding, a huge round bronze ding, or three-legged bowl, dating back
more than 3,000 years, during the ceremony marking its return to
China in Beijing, capital of China, on Dec. 9, 2006. The vessel,
with the inscription "Zilong", is the largest of its kind from the
Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 B.C.) ever discovered. It is believed the
vessel was unearthed in Huixian County in central China's Henan
Province in the 1920s and then lost to Japan in the
1940s.
The ceremony marking the return of four pieces of ancient
cultural relics to Chinese National Museum was held in Beijing
Saturday.
The treasures include the Zilong Ding, a wooden Guanyin
sculpture made during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and two
three-color Bodhisattva sculptures.
China's special fund for important cultural relics contributes
to the return of these treasures. Since its establishment in 2002,
it has collected 203 pieces of cultural relics home and abroad.
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A man takes photos of a wooden Guanyin
sculpture made during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) during the
ceremony marking its return to China in Beijing on Dec. 9,
2006.
(Xinhua News Agency December 11, 2006)
