| Blogs > swallowtsui > Hopping Swallow 鍋爐焰焰 |
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A Journey to The South - a touching story abt the traveling fate of Chinese Relics Treasure of Beijing Palace Museum in 1930's-1940s; an persistent protection by the people on its tough immigrational way under the Japanese shellings "A subjugated nation can be resurged; the lost culture can't be recovered." Deeply touched by this saying by a famous Chinese intellectual, I looked into the historical story for this rarely known page. When a country is under war, apparently the ppl/economy are suffering, like in Lebanon. Even the PM cried for his country. (But sadly, a weak country has no diplomacy.) We mostly ignore: another thing that is also suffering, or, to such a degree that is being destroyed, is her treasures of relics which stands for her history & culture. In the American invasion of Iraq, lots of invaluable relics were destroyed by the American bombing and casual looting, incl. very rare ancient Babylon relics. When the coalition forces (of 8 western nations)in the end of the 19th century invaded into Peking, the Ching Dynasty capital, the imperial garden was burnt and buried together many many treasurable relics. Let alone those taken away and sold abroad. We have one million pieces of such roaming relics in overseas. -to be con'd- |
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8/8/2006 8:17 am |
it's almozt as if man despies parts of the lineage of human existance, but then try's to hoard what of it he can.. but trample much, without thought, that it can never be restored in the orgins of it's initial creation, only in a simulated form.
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Virgo, This 1 million wandering abroad were one-of-a-kind and of 1st class, w/o mentioning the minor ones such as (maybe) those you saw in yr friend's house. "Sometimes, we can turn our thinking around and be glad that these countries invaded our country, being that if not for these collectors from around the world, our history would've been lost and these relics destroyed during war and destruction!" I am stunned to see you such a smart woman saying so! Oh, God! On the contrary, it is bcoz of the invasion that contribute to the ruins and losses of these relics! In China, in Iraq and anywhere that has suffered or is suffering fm war's acts. On the other hand, no excuse, be it ridiculous or seemingly reasonable, justify any war and invasion! I begin to doubt .... what's going on in human mind? esp. those living in the US.
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"And, to be fair, what about genuine Tibetan pieces and what China has done to them since 1959? I know, I know, Tibet is only a Chinese province, even if I have first-hand testimonies of walled monasteries with no respect paid to the specific (Chinese) Tibetan tradition..." Dvc, Thanks for strories of conquerors and blissful ignorance in US Hollywood. Challenge me again w/ Tibet issue? Tell me more abt "genuine Tibetan pieces and what China has done to them since 1959", pls. I really dont know abt it. Yet I know I dont like the Tibetant railway and the china'lization of Tibet. I'd say sth abt Qing dynasty, that time an outsider considered by Han Chinese. When Qing emperors(of man chu ethic group) conquered China (Han), they occupied Ming's palace and took possesion of all the Chinese treasures. As well they converted to Chinese customs/culture. All Qing emperors were cultural expert, best of the best is Kanxi and Qianlong Emperor. Kanxi ordered the compilation of a great dictionary "Shi Ku Quan Shu". Qianlong contributed greatly to the collection and maintenance of antiques and contemperory things bearing strong culrual mark , Chinese and western alike. These man chu rulers (government representatives) did better than Han Chinese bcoz they were more fascinated on Chinese culture (or bcoz they were of higher cultural quality compared to those fatuous Ming emperors. Btw, ppl blended into a same culture and regarded themselves of a same family. Qing history is one part of China's history and Man Chu ppl are also Chinese. We must thank all the Chinese for their efforts putting into the protection of the national relics. See you in "A Journey to the South" II.
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