National Museum sheds light on China's cultural relics

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The new book titled "Chinese Antiquities, Volume of the V&A, UK" launched on March, 26, 2015 in Beijing, highlights 195 historic objects from China that are kept in the Victoria and Albert Museum in UK. [Photo: Weibo.com/National Museum of China]

China's National Museum launched its first book in a series that focuses on the country's cultural relics that are on display at museums across the world.

The new book titled "Chinese Antiquities, Volume of the V&A, UK" highlights 195 historic objects from China that are among a total of 18,000 pieces kept in the Chinese collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, or V&A in UK. The book has already been designated as the official gift to be presented at the 2015 China-UK Cultural Exchange Year program.

The series of books shedding light on Chinese relics kept in museums across the world was a result of decade long investigation. According to incomplete statistics from UNESCO, there are roughly 1.64 million Chinese historical relics in more than 200 museums in 47 countries across the world. Many of the items have been smuggled out of the country, while others were taken away by bounty-hunters after historic battles.

China's National Museum has been working with renowned museums across the world to compile this series of books on the Chinese relics kept in museums abroad. Twenty to thirty volumes will be included in the series, with each book covering 180 to 200 items.

The partner museums in this initiative include the British Museum in London, the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, the Ashmolean Museum of Art & Archaeology in Oxford in UK, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in the United States, Musée Guimet in France, the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities in Sweden, the Sen-oku Hakuko Kan, or Sumitomo Collection in Japan, etc.

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