Two volumes of the 2,300-year-old Chu Silk Manuscripts arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport on Sunday morning, marking a significant moment in cultural heritage preservation. The manuscripts, known as the “Wuxing Ling” and the “Gongshou Zhan,” were returned by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in the United States.
Unearthed in 1942 from the Zidanku site in Changsha, Hunan Province, the Chu Silk Manuscripts are the only known silk manuscripts from China’s Warring States period (475-221 BC). Illegally taken to the United States in 1946, these precious artifacts have been missing from China for 77 years.
A team from China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration traveled to the U.S. to retrieve the second and third volumes of the manuscripts. Their return is seen as a triumph for cultural preservation and a step toward reclaiming China’s rich historical heritage.
After inspection, the manuscripts will be housed in the administration’s cultural relics warehouse. They are set to be displayed to the public at the National Museum of China in July, offering a rare glimpse into ancient Chinese civilization.
The return of the Chu Silk Manuscripts not only restores a piece of history but also symbolizes the importance of international cooperation in preserving cultural heritage.
