Bronze statue of the twelve zodiac animal heads in Yuanmingyuan - pig head
Originally part of the fountain outside the Haiyan Hall of the Yuanmingyuan. The pig head bronze statue represents the hour of Hai (21:00 to 23:00) and is one of the twelve zodiac bronze statues. It was designed by European missionary, Italian Lang Shining, supervised by French Jiang Youren, and produced by Qing court craftsmen. The pig head bronze statue symbolizes wealth and auspiciousness, and is an important symbol in traditional Chinese culture. In 1860, the Anglo French coalition invaded China and set fire to the Old Summer Palace, causing the loss of pig head bronze statues overseas. In 2003, Macau entrepreneur Dr. Stanley Ho purchased a pig head bronze statue and donated it to the Poly Art Museum, allowing the pig head bronze statue to return to China.
Bronze Statue of the Twelve Zodiac Beasts in Yuanmingyuan - Dog Head
Originally part of the fountain outside the Haiyan Hall of the Yuanmingyuan. The bronze statue of the dog's head represents the hour of Xu (19:00 to 21:00) and is one of the twelve zodiac bronze statues. It was designed by European missionary, Italian Lang Shining, supervised by French Jiang Youren, and produced by Qing court craftsmen. The bronze statue of a dog's head is renowned for its exquisite casting techniques and the fusion of Eastern and Western art. In 1860, the Anglo French coalition invaded China and set fire to the Old Summer Palace, causing the loss of the bronze dog head statue overseas. Until now, its whereabouts are still unknown. Like several other animal heads, its fate has become a symbol of the loss of cultural relics overseas from the Yuanmingyuan and a witness to the loss of Chinese cultural heritage.
Bronze statue of the twelve zodiac animal heads in Yuanmingyuan - chicken head
Originally part of the fountain outside the Haiyan Hall of the Yuanmingyuan. The bronze statue of the rooster's head represents the hour of You (17:00-19:00) and is one of the twelve zodiac bronze statues. It was designed by European missionary, Italian Lang Shining, supervised by French Jiang Youren, and produced by Qing court craftsmen. The chicken head bronze statue symbolizes punctuality and diligence, and is an important symbol in traditional Chinese culture. In 1860, the British and French coalition invaded China and set fire to the Yuanmingyuan, causing the chicken head bronze statue to begin to be lost overseas. Until now, its whereabouts are still unknown. Like several other animal heads, its fate has become a symbol of the loss of cultural relics overseas from the Yuanmingyuan and a witness to the loss of Chinese cultural heritage.
Bronze statue of the twelve zodiac animal heads in Yuanmingyuan - Monkey Head
Originally part of the fountain outside the Haiyan Hall of the Yuanmingyuan. The bronze statue of the monkey's head represents the hour of Shen (15:00 to 17:00) and is one of the twelve zodiac bronze statues. It was designed by European missionary, Italian Lang Shining, supervised by French Jiang Youren, and produced by Qing court craftsmen. The monkey head bronze statue is renowned for its exquisite casting techniques and the fusion of Eastern and Western art. In 1860, the Anglo French coalition invaded China and set fire to the Yuanmingyuan, causing the monkey head bronze statue to begin to be lost overseas. In the 1980s, it was purchased by China Poly Group for HKD 8.185 million at Christie's auction house and is now housed in the Poly Art Museum.
Bronze statue of the twelve zodiac animal heads in Yuanmingyuan - Sheep Head
Originally part of the fountain outside the Haiyan Hall of the Yuanmingyuan. The bronze statue of the sheep's head represents the hour of Wei (13:00 to 15:00) and is one of the twelve zodiac bronze statues. It was designed by European missionary, Italian Lang Shining, supervised by French Jiang Youren, and produced by Qing court craftsmen. The bronze statue of a sheep's head is renowned for its exquisite casting techniques and the fusion of Eastern and Western art. In 1860, the Anglo French coalition invaded China and set fire to the Yuanmingyuan, causing the loss of the sheep head bronze statue overseas. Until now, its whereabouts are still unknown. Like several other animal heads, its fate has become a symbol of the loss of cultural relics overseas from the Yuanmingyuan and a witness to the loss of Chinese cultural heritage.
Bronze statue of the twelve zodiac animal heads in Yuanmingyuan - horse head
Originally part of the fountain outside the Haiyan Hall of the Yuanmingyuan. It represents noon (11:00 to 13:00) and is one of the twelve bronze statues of the Chinese zodiac. It was designed by European missionary, Italian Lang Shining, supervised by French Jiang Youren, and produced by Qing court craftsmen. Known for its exquisite casting techniques and fusion of Eastern and Western art. In 1860, the Anglo French coalition invaded China and burned down the Old Summer Palace, leading to its loss overseas. In 2007, he was successfully recovered by patriotic Stanley Ho in Hong Kong with HK $69.1 million and donated to the country. On November 13, 2019, it was officially donated to the National Cutural Heritage Administration and allocated to the Beijing Yuanmingyuan Management Office for collection
Bronze statue of the twelve zodiac animal heads in Yuanmingyuan - Snake Head
Originally part of the fountain outside the Haiyan Hall of the Yuanmingyuan. The snake head bronze statue represents the time of the Si (9am to 11pm) and is one of the twelve zodiac bronze statues. It was designed by European missionary, Italian Lang Shining, supervised by French Jiang Youren, and produced by Qing court craftsmen. The bronze statue of a snake's head symbolizes wisdom and prudence, and is an important symbol in Chinese culture. In 1860, the Anglo French coalition invaded China and set fire to the Yuanmingyuan, causing the snake headed bronze statue to begin to be lost overseas. Until now, the whereabouts of the snake head bronze statue are still unknown. Like several other animal heads, its fate has become a symbol of the loss of cultural relics overseas from the Yuanmingyuan and a witness to the loss of Chinese cultural heritage.
The bronze statue of the twelve zodiac animal heads in Yuanmingyuan - Dragon Head
Originally part of the fountain outside the Haiyan Hall of the Yuanmingyuan. The bronze statue of the dragon head represents the hour of Chen (7am to 9pm) and is one of the twelve zodiac bronze statues. It was designed by European missionary, Italian Lang Shining, supervised by French Jiang Youren, and produced by Qing court craftsmen. The bronze statue of the dragon's head symbolizes power and nobility, and is an important symbol in traditional Chinese culture. In 1860, the Anglo French coalition invaded China and burned down the Old Summer Palace, causing the bronze dragon head statue to begin to be lost overseas. It is now collected in Taiwan, China, China, but the specific situation is still unclear. On December 17, 2018, the dragon head, suspected to be one of the twelve animal heads of the Yuanmingyuan zodiac, appeared at a small auction in Paris, France.
Bronze Statue of the Twelve Zodiac Beasts in Yuanmingyuan - Rabbit Head
Originally part of the fountain outside the Haiyan Hall of the Yuanmingyuan. The bronze statue of the rabbit's head represents the hour of Mao (from 5:00 to 7:00) and is one of the twelve zodiac bronze statues. It was designed by European missionary, Italian Lang Shining, supervised by French Jiang Youren, and produced by Qing court craftsmen. The copper statue with a rabbit head symbolizes agility and speed, symbolizing hope and joy. In 1860, the Anglo French coalition invaded China and set fire to the Yuanmingyuan, causing the loss of the rabbit head bronze statue overseas. On April 26, 2013, the French Pinault family announced that they would donate a rabbit head to the Chinese government without compensation. On June 28 of the same year, they officially donated a bronze statue of the rabbit head to China, which is currently housed in the National Museum of China.
Bronze statue of the twelve zodiac animal heads in Yuanmingyuan - Tiger Head
Originally part of the fountain outside the Haiyan Hall of the Yuanmingyuan. The bronze statue of the tiger head represents the Yin period (3 to 5 o'clock) and is one of the twelve zodiac bronze statues. It was designed by European missionary, Italian Lang Shining, supervised by French Jiang Youren, and produced by Qing court craftsmen. The bronze statue with a tiger's head symbolizes bravery and authority, and is regarded as the embodiment of a king. In 1860, the Anglo French coalition invaded China and burned down the Old Summer Palace, causing the tiger headed bronze statue to begin to be lost overseas. After wandering overseas for many years, he was finally purchased by Dr. Ho Hung shen, a patriot, in 2000 and donated to Poly Art Museum for collection, so that he could return to the motherland.
Bronze Statue of the Twelve Zodiac Beasts in Yuanmingyuan - Ox Head
Originally part of the fountain outside the Haiyan Hall of the Yuanmingyuan. The bronze statue of the ox head represents the hour of ugliness (1 to 3 o'clock) and is one of the twelve zodiac bronze statues. It was designed by European missionary, Italian Lang Shining, supervised by French Jiang Youren, and produced by Qing court craftsmen. Each animal capital has its unique symbolic meaning, with the cow's head representing diligence and resilience. In 1860, the Anglo French coalition invaded China and set fire to the Yuanmingyuan, causing the loss of bronze statues of the twelve zodiac animals, including the ox head, overseas. After wandering overseas for many years, he was finally purchased by Dr. Ho Hung shen, a patriot, in 2000 and donated to Poly Art Museum for collection, so that he could return to the motherland.
Bronze Statue of the Twelve Zodiac Beasts' Heads in Yuanmingyuan - Rat Head
Originally part of the fountain outside the Haiyan Hall of the Yuanmingyuan in Beijing, it was designed by Italian missionary Lang Shining and made by craftsmen in the Qing court. Each animal capital has its unique symbolic significance. In 1860, when the British and French coalition burned down the Yuanmingyuan, it was stolen and lost overseas. The bronze statue of the rat's head represents the hour of Zi (23:00 to 1:00 the next day) and is one of the twelve zodiac bronze statues. It was auctioned at Christie's in France in 2009, but ultimately failed to sell. On April 26, 2013, the French Pinault family announced that they would donate rat and rabbit heads to China without compensation, and held a donation ceremony at the National Museum of China on June 28 of the same year.
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