Unearthed from the Zidanku site in Changsha, the Chu Silk Manuscripts are the oldest known classical Chinese texts on silk, dating back approximately 2,300 years. These ancient treasures hold invaluable insights into early Chinese civilization.
UCLA professor Lothar von Falkenhausen, a leading scholar in Chinese archaeology, is calling for the reunion of the Chu Silk Manuscripts. “These manuscripts are of unparalleled significance,” he explains. “They must be viewed and preserved as a whole to truly appreciate their historical value.”
In May this year, two volumes were returned to China by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, but they remain in fragments. The most complete piece, volume I, is still held abroad. Professor von Falkenhausen emphasizes the importance of bringing this volume back to reunite the collection.
With the recent publication of the English edition of The Chu Silk Manuscripts from Zidanku, Changsha (Hunan Province) by the Chinese University of Hong Kong Press, co-translated by Professor von Falkenhausen and the University of Chicago’s Donald Harper, the call to action has never been clearer. “It’s time for the first volume to come home,” says von Falkenhausen.
The reunion of the Chu Silk Manuscripts would not only preserve a crucial piece of cultural heritage but also provide scholars and the public with a complete picture of these ancient texts. As the world becomes more interconnected, the preservation and reunification of shared history become ever more important.
