In a landmark ceremony on Friday, the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art officially returned two ancient silk manuscripts to the National Cultural Heritage Administration of the Chinese mainland.
The Zidanku Silk Manuscript volumes II and III, titled Wuxing Ling ("Rites of the Five Phases") and Gongshou Zhan ("War Tactics"), date back to the Warring States period (475–221 BC). Preserved for over 2,200 years, these fragile scrolls offer rare insights into early Chinese philosophy, literature and military strategy.
Museum curators highlighted the scientific analysis that helped verify the manuscripts' authenticity, including high-resolution imaging and fiber-analysis technology. "Each thread and character tells a story about life and thought more than two millennia ago," said a museum spokesperson.
Representatives from both institutions described the repatriation as a milestone in cultural collaboration, emphasizing the shared responsibility of museums to preserve and return heritage items. The handover ceremony underscored growing global efforts to repatriate artifacts to their places of origin.
As cultural institutions worldwide embrace ethical stewardship and heritage preservation, this return signals a new chapter in Sino-American cooperation and a reminder of the power of ancient stories to connect modern audiences.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
