The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art has returned fragments of the Zidanku Silk Manuscripts, significant ancient Chinese artifacts looted and smuggled to the US in 1946. This decision, stemming from a collaboration with Chinese researchers, was formalized in a recent ceremony at the Chinese embassy. Chase F. Robinson, director of the NMAA, noted the importance of the transfer for future scholarship. The manuscripts, dating back to the fourth to third century BCE, are recognized for their insights into pre-imperial Chinese cosmology and religion, marking a notable moment in cultural heritage and repatriation efforts.
Chase F. Robinson noted that the transfer of the Zidanku Silk Manuscripts was a result of decades of collaboration with Chinese researchers as part of a repatriation effort.
Rao Quan emphasized that the return of these rare materials would significantly enhance research and public understanding in China, underscoring their cultural and scholarly importance.
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