Relics across Straits shared for Qing show

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-08 09:31

TAIPEI: An exhibit of Qing Dynasty treasures in Taipei marks the first time in 60 years cultural authorities from both sides of the Taiwan Straits have come together to hold an exhibition.

The exhibit, "Harmony and Integrity: Emperor Yongzheng and His Times", brings together relics from the palace museums in Beijing and Taipei.

It features 246 artifacts from the mid-18th century, including 37 from the Beijing museum and two from a Shanghai museum.

"The exhibition is a landmark indicator of the exchanges launched by the two museums more than half a year ago," Zheng Xinmiao, the head of the Palace Museum in Beijing's Forbidden City, told reporters in Taiwan.

Beijing's National Palace Museum was set up in 1925 at the Forbidden City to house the most delicate royal collections of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911).

Its counterpart in Taipei was set up in 1965, with nearly 3,000 boxes of relics transferred from Beijing by the Kuomintang during the civil war.

Zheng and his Taiwan counterpart, Chou Kung-shin of Taipei's Palace Museum, said on Wednesday they would cooperate more in the future.

They also agreed to trace the sources of the collections in both Beijing and Taipei next year, since Taipei's collection comes from Beijing.

However, no one could say whether Taipei would return the favor and lend items to the Beijing museum.

"It's not convenient to say at this point," Zheng said.

Chou previously said it is unlikely for her museum to lend its treasures to Beijing in the absence of an agreement assuring their return.

Looted treasures

The Palace Museum in Taipei also declined to accept two looted imperial Chinese sculptures whose return Beijing has demanded, Reuters reported.

The Qing Dynasty bronzes, a rat and a rabbit head, were looted when Beijing's Summer Palace was razed by invading French and British forces in 1860 during the Second Opium War.

Once owned by late French fashion magnate Yves Saint Laurent, the heads sold for a total of more than 15 million euros in a February auction. But the Chinese bidders dropped out, leaving the bronzes sitting in a safe.

Chou told Taiwan's "parliament" she had met Saint Laurent's former partner, Pierre Berge, who reportedly offered to donate them, but no deal has been reached.

"These objects were seized," Chou told legislators. "As long as something is in dispute, we can't display it."

China Daily, AFP and Reuters