South Korea hands over Qing-era stone lions to China

A handover ceremony for a pair of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) stone lions was held at the Kansong Art Museum in Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday. China's National Cultural Heritage Administration officially received the artifacts from the National Museum of Korea.

The stone lions are made of marble. Based on comprehensive analysis of their size, material, carving techniques, and morphological features, they are identified as gate lions of some residence of princes and princesses of the Qing period.

In 1933, Jeon Hyeong-pil, the founder of the Kansong Art Museum, bought the lions at an auction in Japan. After the Kansong Art Museum opened in 1938, they were placed at the main entrance of Bohwagak within the museum. Before his death, he always remembered that the lions were Chinese cultural relics and hoped to send them back.

In December last year, at the request of the Kansong Art Museum, the National Museum of Korea and China's National Cultural Heritage Administration initiated consultations on the return of them and ultimately reached an agreement.

Rao Quan, director of the Chinese administration, noted that the cooperation on the return of the stone lions brings tangible and perceptible cultural warmth to people of both countries.

South Korea's return of the stone lions to China reflects its respect for and goodwill toward China's cultural relics, and provides a vivid cultural footnote to the mutual understanding between the two countries' people, he said.

Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing said this return exemplifies the friendly sentiments between the two countries. China is ready to work with South Korea to promote the steady and long-term development of the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership, better benefit the peoples of both countries, and continuously inject positive energy into regional and world peace and prosperity.

The South Korea side said that this return comes from profound respect for the history and culture of China, and is a symbol of the firm mutual trust between China and South Korea.

It looks forward to taking this opportunity to jointly open up new prospects for cultural heritage exchange and cooperation between the two countries, further enhance trust, deepen friendship, and inject strong momentum into promoting comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in economic, social, and other fields.