Returned marble columns on show at rightful home

Johan Wilhelm Normann Munthe (1864-1935), a Norwegian who once worked as an cavalry instructor under the political strongman Yuan Shikai and later as a military adviser for the then Chinese government, collected thousands of Chinese cultural relics during his half-century residence in China. The columns were among Munthe's collection in the early 20th century.

In 1926, some of his collection was moved to the United States, and remained there until the 1960s, when they were donated to the West Norway Museum of Decorative Art in Bergen, Munthe's hometown. The venue later became part of museum complex of KODE.

In 2013, Chinese entrepreneur Huang Nubo visited the museum. Seeing the columns, he then proposed their repatriation and originally expected to permanently exhibit them in his alma mater, Peking University. Huang offered a donation to KODE and reached a trilateral agreement to launch a series of cultural exchange programs.

The Norwegian government approved the return of the marble columns in 2018, and China's National Cultural Heritage Administration decided to transfer them to the administration of the Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park.

Disturbed by outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, their long-awaited and postponed journey back to China was made in June.

"Their return marks the rise of national strength and is a reflection of the times," Huang said.