(ECNS) -- A set of bronze animal heads from the 12 Chinese zodiac animal statues at the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan), along with other returned overseas cultural relics, began to display starting from Tuesday at the Anhui Museum.
In addition to displaying seven bronze animal heads from Haiyantang (the Hall of the Calm Sea) at the Old Summer Palace, the exhibition also features 67 repatriated bronze artifacts from the Shang and Zhou dynasties (1600 BC-256 BC) to the Han dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD), as well as 10 stone-carved Buddhist statues from the Northern Dynasties (386-581). Among these animal heads, the ox, tiger, monkey, and pig heads are original pieces, while the rat and rabbit are replicas, and the horse head is a reproduction.
The twelve bronze zodiac animal heads were originally key components of the water clock fountain in front of the Haiyantang in the Old Summer Palace during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Each animal head would spray water to mark its corresponding two-hour period of the day and night. Combining Eastern timekeeping and zodiac symbolism with Western fountain design and chronometry, these sculptures represent the cultural exchange and exquisite craftsmanship of the Qing dynasty's golden age.
Since 2000, through both official and private efforts, seven of the twelve animal heads—the ox, tiger, monkey, pig, horse, rat, and rabbit—have been sent back to China through various auctions and donations. However, the whereabouts of the remaining five heads unfortunately remain unknown.
The exhibition will run until August 31.
(By Zhang Dongfang)
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