On November 13th, a ceremony for the return of the horse-head statue of Old Summer Palace, which was held by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and National Cultural Heritage Administration, took place in the National Museum of China. Luo Shugang, minister of Culture and Tourism, unveiled the horse-head red bronze statue and awarded the certificate of honor for Pansy Ho who was on behalf Stanley Ho. Liu Yuzhu, director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, and Du Feijin, head of publicity for the Beijing Committee of the Communist Party of China, addressed the ceremony. Attendees included Yang Bin, vice governor of Beijing Municipality. Niu Qingshan, vice-chairman of the Beijing Municipal Political Consultative Conference, relevant principles of Marco’s office in Beijing and other departments, Stanley Ho’s family and representatives of the Art Exhibitions China, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural Heritage, the government of Haidian district and Yuanmingyuan Administration Office. Guan Qiang, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, presided over the ceremony.
Liu Yuzhu noted that the lost Chinese cultural relics, as an integral part of Chinese cultural heritages, have always pulled at compatriot’s heartstrings at home and abroad as they carry historical memories and nationalist sentiments. In the past 70 years of rescuing and reclaiming lost cultural relics, Hong Kong and Macao compatriots have always contributed as indispensable strength. They have stepped great efforts to search for lost treasured relics out of patriotism and donated them to the country so as to benefit the public. Ho is an outstanding representative of that spirit. Meanwhile, the return of horse-head statue has represented the historical course of Chinese nation, who struggled from humiliation to its prosperity. It is an unique gift for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and 20th anniversary of Marco’s return to China, attracting all social entities to support the undertakings of rescuing cultural relics. It will also encourage more compatriots’ devotion, both at home and abroad, to better preserve cultural heritage of our country and strive for the rejuvenation of Chinese nation.
Du Feijin expressed that the return of the horse-head statue has demonstrated the values of cultural relics in recording history and carrying forward civilizations, serving as a witness in the course of the great prosperity and rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The statue holds the deep affection of Chinese people at home and abroad for the country. When returned to the Old Summer Palace, it will be properly stored to further spread fine traditional Chinese culture through optimizing exhibition and display, and studying its history.
“The horse-head has witnessed the successful implementation of “One Country, Two Systems” in Marco during the 12-year accompany. Meanwhile, It’s our family’s gift for the 70th anniversary of the founding of New China and 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, and best wishes for our country’s prosperity,” Pansy Ho, Stanley Ho’s daughter, said at a ceremony for the return of the statue.
The newly returned horse-head red bronze statue was one of 12 decorative taps - in the form of 12 Chinese Zodiac Signs - which were set for a foundation in Xiyang Lou area (or Western Mansions), a group of Baroque architecture in the Old Summer Palace. These animal-head taps took turns to spray water during different hours within a day, but a salvo would happen only at noon. However, Anglo-French troops rampaged through the compound and set it on fire in 1860. Numerous national treasures, including 12 animal head statues of the Chinese zodiac, were taken away in the mayhem. Yuanmingyuan fell into ruins after the ransacking. The horse-head statue was designed by Italian Jesuit artist Giuseppe Castiglione, who served the royal court of the Qing Dynasty. Its production mixed traditional Chinese craftsmanship and Western mechanics.
In August, 2007, the horse head bust appeared in Hong Kong for a Sotheby’s auction, and the administration immediately contacted the auctioneer to register its disagreement at the auction, arguing it was stolen from China, and expressed hope that it would be returned to its motherland. In September, 2007, Ho negotiated with the seller and spent HK$69.1 million ($8.8 million) to get the statue to save it from being taken abroad again, when he was informed about the situation. Afterwards, the statue has been publicly exhibited in Hong Kong and Macao to enhance their people’s understanding of Chinese culture and promote patriotism.
In November, 2019, Ho decided to donate it back to the mainland on the 20th anniversary of Maca’s return to China, after he contacted the National Cultural Heritage Administration, which said the statue will be given back to the Yuanmingyuan administration.
With the efforts of the National Cultural Heritage Administration and the public, six lost bronze statues have been brought home so far. Besides, Ho also purchased the pig-head sculpture in 2003 and donated it to the country. After the ceremony, the horse-head sculpture will join another six zodiac bronzes in an exhibition to showcase the progress of China’s efforts to retrieve lost relics over the past seven decades. The exhibition will be open to the public at the National Museum until November 27th.