Astonishing Zodiac Heads of Epic Old Summer Palace
Magnificent Zodiac Heads adorned Yuan Ming Yuan
Tiger (replica) Qianlong Period, Qing dynasty (1736-1795) Bronze
Zodiac Heads
The Grand Gathering of the Century: Zodiac Heads from the Yuan Ming Yuan, an exhibition at City University features a replica set of the twelve zodiac head sculptures that once resided in the Old Summer Palace, also known as Yuan Ming Yuan.
Ancient Food and Wine Vessels (ca. 771 BC-220 AD), Bronze
These faithful replicas of the original bronze heads were cast for the Jackie Chan movie CZ12: Chinese Zodiac and were donated to the exhibition by the actor.
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Alongside the zodiac heads, the exhibition includes artefacts, including a bronze vessel from the Shang (1600-1046 BC) and Eastern Zhou (770-256 BC) dynasties and exquisite enamel vases from the Qing dynasty (1636-1912).
The exhibition is the second phase of the showing of zodiac heads and continued from the first phase, which featured four original zodiac heads – the Tiger, Pig, Ox and Monkey.
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These were on display for several months and ignited an overwhelming response to the retelling of the history of these national treasures, and particularly in how they were lost and how some were subsequently found and returned to China.
Rooster Head (replica), Qianlong Period, Qing dynasty (1736-1795) Bronze
The Old Summer Palace in northwest Beijing was first constructed in 1709. Over the next 150 years, it was continuously expanded into a large-scale private garden, covering 350 hectares.
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The Old Summer Palace garden had a wonderful water clock fountain.
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Mounted on two sides of a triangular basin, twelve bronze-cast sculptures, one each to represent the Chinese zodiac signs of the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig spouted water, in turn, every two hours, with all spraying water in concert at noon.
Copper Vase in a Double-gourd Shape with a Bird-and-flower Design in Reserve Panels Qianlong Period, Qing dynasty (1736-1795) Copper in painted enamel
The water clock fountain was commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor (1711-1799) during the Qing dynasty. Jesuit priests were responsible for this artistic and engineering masterpiece.
Italian design and French engineered
Italian Giuseppe Castiglione designed the fountain, and Frenchman Michel Benoit engineered the ingenious mechanical devices controlling the water flow.
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The emperors enjoyed this masterpiece up until 1860 and the Second Opium War. The conflict arose due to tensions over diplomatic relations and the opium trade.
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The Qing dynasty, weakened by internal strife and corruption, was ill-prepared to defend against the technologically advanced forces of the British and French.
Water Basin with Panchi Design, Late Spring and Autumn Period to early Warring States Period (6th-5th century BC)
Bronze
When the invading force found out that their delegates had been imprisoned, tortured, and killed, they ordered the destruction of the Palace. Soldiers systematically looted and destroyed the buildings and art treasures inside.
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The sacking of the Old Summer Palace profoundly impacted China and its perception of foreign powers. It not only represented a physical loss of cultural treasures but also was seen as a symbol of the humiliation and subjugation of the Chinese people by foreign forces.
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The event fuelled anti-imperialist sentiments and contributed to a growing sense of national awakening and resistance against foreign domination in China.
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Destruction and looting of the Old Summer Palace remains a highly sensitive and controversial topic in China.
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The ruins of the palace complex serve as a reminder of the country’s painful history of foreign aggression and the loss of cultural heritage.
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Efforts have been made to restore and preserve the site, but many artefacts and buildings were lost forever.
Sword, Warring States Period (475-256 BC), Bronze
The twelve bronze-cast zodiac heads from the water clock fountain were amongst those taken. Many stolen treasures were quickly auctioned off and dispersed to private collectors and institutions worldwide.
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Over time, some zodiac heads were rediscovered and repatriated to China. Since then, efforts have been made by the Chinese government and cultural organisations to locate and reclaim the remaining figures.
Pig Head (replica), Qianlong Period, Qing dynasty (1736-1795), Bronze
Whenever one of the original heads comes up at auction, the reclamation has become a Chinese nationalist priority.
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In 2000, through auction houses in Hong Kong, The China Poly Group acquired the head of the Ox for US$ 0.98 million, the Tiger for US$ 1.98 million, and the Monkey for US$ 1.03 million.
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Macau gaming magnate Stanley Ho bought the Pig head for US$ 0.77 million and, in 2003, donated it to the Poly Art Museum in Beijing. In 2007, he purchased and then donated the Horse head for US$ 8.9 million.
Rabbit (replica), Qianlong Period, Qing dynasty (1736-1795), Bronze
A scandal ensued in 2009 when the Rat and Rabbit heads were auctioned at a Christie’s sale of the estate of late French Fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.
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The Chinese government condemned the sale of looted relics and demanded their return.
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A Chinese businessman and art dealer, Cai Mingchao, bid almost US$ 40 million for the pair and then announced that he would not pay for them and demanded they be returned to China.
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He described his sabotage of the auction as a patriotic act.
Monkey (replica), Qianlong Period, Qing dynasty (1736-1795) Bronze
This resolute attitude was echoed at the non-governmental level when China Lost Relics Recovery Fund filed a petition to try to stop the sale, only to be rejected by a Paris tribunal.
Eventually, Francois Pinault, the owner of Christie’s, bought the Rat and Rabbit heads.
Zodiac Heads repatriation
He returned them to China in 2013, shortly before the auction house was granted permission to operate there.
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There is speculation that the dragon head was sold at auction in 2019 for US$ 3.4 million.
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The lot was consigned by the family of nineteenth-century French diplomat Comte Marie-Joseph-Claude-Edouard-Robert de Semalle, secretary of the embassy in Beijing between 1880-1884.
Dragon Head (replica), Qianlong Period, Qing dynasty (1736-1795) Bronze
At present, seven original bronze zodiac heads have returned to China.
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Five of these, the Ox, Tiger, Monkey, Pig, and Horse are in a collection at the Poly Art Museum in Beijing.
The Rabbit and Rat heads are at the National Museum of China in Beijing.
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The elusive Snake, Goat, Rooster, and Dog remain shrouded in mystery, their current whereabouts unknown. The true existence of these heads remains a tantalising enigma waiting to be unravelled.
Jia Wine Vessel with Taotie Design Early Shang Period (16th-14th century BC) Bronze
Thus, the appeal of this exhibition lies in the opportunity to marvel, scrutinise, and contemplate the profound significance of the entire assemblage of these twelve bronze heads.
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It grants one the intimate privilege of beholding not only the discovered heads but also the enigmatic ones that elude the grasp of many.
Text Martin Wray / Photo Cammy Yiu
