China and US Firstly Joins Hands for Restoration of Cultural Relics; Famous Stone Steeds of Tang Dynasty Have a New Look in US

On May 28 of local time, volunteer experts dispatched by the Tang Dynasty Daming Palace Foundation of Shaanxi Province to US for restoration of Quanmaogua and Saluzi of Six Stone Steeds of Tang Dynasty concluded the restoration in US and completed the framework and aesthetic restoration of the two stone steeds, reaching the pre-set restoration objectives of both sides.

Experts from Xi an complete restoration of two stone steeds in three weeks

After three works of work and with the joint efforts of China and US, the restoration work of Quanmaogua and Saluzi of Six Stone Steeds of Tang Dynasty have achieved staggered achievements. Now, the framework and aesthetic restoration of the two stone steeds has been completed to enable them to meet the basic requirements of worldwide tour show.

Restoration work of Saluzi has been completed comprehensively. Yang Wenzong, head of the Cultural Relics Restoration Expert Team of Tang Dynasty Daming Palace Foundation of Shaanxi Province made the last color processing for Saluzi . The restoration of Chinese experts of Quanmaogua have been completed except for aesthetic restoration of the losing part on the top right corner was left to American expert for teaching.

The large-scaled restoration work has been completed. On that day, two experts, i.e. Zhou Ping and Liu Linxi adjusted the color tone of the last crack for the part to be restored by Xi an experts, putting an end to the restoration work.

Under the cultural relics restoration principles of restoring old things like they are old, and filling the lost part non-destructively, cultural relics restoration from Xi an made surface processing for the two stone steeds of Museum of University of Pennsylvania by making use of the powders of Fuping Stone on the original stone carving of Zhaoling Tomb, and conducted returning comparison for the model of original remnants uncovered to ensure they inosculate with each other.

This has significant archaeological meaning for further reproduction of excellent artworks of human beings in the future.

On that day, experts from University of Pennsylvania conducted three-dimension scanning on restored Saluzi to collect 3D scientific data and provide accurate technical supports for protection and utilization in the future. They used infrared ray handheld scanner to conduct the work, and were quite attractive.

First time for Chinese to go out for restoration of lost treasury

On that day, the restoration site of the Museum of University of Pennsylvania was full of people. Chinese, overseas Chinese and Chinese students studying abroad all came to the museum to express their congratulations, and watch the restored Quanmaogua and Saluzi at the first time. Several old American professors who have taught at colleges in China in early period since reform and opening up also came to the museum to see the new look of the two stone steeds, and expressed their congratulations.

Reporters from CCTV came to the museum in Philadelphia from New York especially to record the unforgettable moment. According to the reporter of CCTV, CCTV had reported on cultural relics experts of Xi an came to US for restoration of the two stone steeds as volunteers for many times, raising great echoes home and abroad.

The public all make phone calls, write mails and issue articles on BBS to express their attentions on the restoration of stone steeds. It was the first time for Chinese people to go out to restore the treasury lost in foreign countries. Chinese people and overseas compatriots have strong enthusiasm towards this.

At the Museum of University of Pennsylvania, a Chinese student from Shaanxi who studied for doctor of International Politics at the University of Pennsylvania came to the museum specially to visit the volunteers from her hometown and watched the famous stone steeds of Tang Dynasty after restoration. She believed that restoration of Chinese cultural relics shall be conducted by local experts of China.

After all, the two stone steeds are outcome of Chinese culture. The restoration work has more realistic meaning for promoting the exchanges and academic discussion between eastern and western countries.

China and US firstly completes cultural relics restoration work successfully

On that afternoon, the cultural relics restoration experts of China and US held a small-scaled symposium to celebrate the completion of the restoration work. Both sides were satisfying with the close cooperation of both sides. They studied from each other for mutual progresses and enabled the restoration work to be completed successfully. American experts expressed respects to restoration experts from Xi an and extended thanks to them for doing massive work. They were reluctant to leave and hoped to cooperate with each other again.

A tutor of doctoral students of cultural relics restoration science from the University of Delaware believed that restoration of a piece of cultural relics in Tang Dynasty by experts of both sides together has more symbolic meaning than practical meaning. Such move makes leap-forward development in protection and utilization of cultural relics of human beings. It was the first time for China and US to partner in cultural relics restoration, making a good beginning for cultural exchange and cooperation of both sides.

Since next day, volunteers form Xi an will have a short right. On June 1, American Sino Chamber of Commerce will hold a press conference for successful conclusion of the restoration work for the Tang Dynasty Daming Palace Foundation of Shaanxi Province in New York. Cultural relics restoration experts from Xi an who go to US for the restoration work, directors of the foundations and representatives in US as well as special reporters of our newspaper will attend the event.