Chinanews.com, Beijing, December 10 (Reporter Ying Ni) Is there any chance for the cultural relics looted by Japan during World War II to return home?
Is the method of patriotic entrepreneurs investing heavily in the return of overseas cultural relics worth promoting?
On the evening of the 9th, the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center and the Commercial Press held a new book sharing session on the "Road Home of Looted Cultural Relics-Legal and Moral Issues in the Return of Looted Cultural Relics during World War II" in Sihe Academy.
The main author of the book is Wang Yunxia, a professor of Renmin University of China Law School and the host of the UNESCO "Cultural Heritage Law Chair", and Chai Rong, a professor of Beijing Normal University Law School and the chairman of the Chinese Legal Culture Research Association of the Beijing Law Society. Are there any chances for the cultural relics looted by Japan to go home?” The theme of the in-depth conversation was held.
"The Way Home of Looted Cultural Relics-Legal and Moral Issues in the Return of Looted Cultural Relics in the Second World War" Photo courtesy of the Book Seal Commercial Press
During the Second World War, both in Europe and Asia, a large number of cultural relics were looted or illegally transferred from their countries of origin.
The return of looted cultural relics involves the relationship of interest between the country of origin and the host country, as well as between the original owner and the museum, collectors, dealers, and the public.
"The Way Home of Looted Cultural Relics" puts the recovery and return of Japanese looted cultural relics under the international perspective of the return of looted cultural relics during World War II. It compares the theories and practices of European and American countries in dealing with the problem of returning looted cultural relics from Nazi Germany, and absorbs it at the same time. South Korea’s beneficial experience in retrieving the cultural relics plundered by Japan has provided a possible path for the solution of China’s problems.
Wang Yunxia pointed out that the return of cultural relics looted during World War II is still a major international problem, and it is also a special issue left over from history. It is related to regional stability and the harmonious development of human society.
As one of the biggest victims of World War II, China has a large number of cultural relics looted by Japan during the war and has not yet been returned. However, this issue has not received international and domestic attention. Therefore, it is urgent for the academic community to pay attention to related theories and practices. Interpret the problem rationally and seek a solution.
This is exactly the purpose of writing the book "The Way Home Looted Cultural Relics".
Chai Rong sorted out the situation of Japanese plunder of Chinese cultural relics.
In fact, Japan has been coveting Chinese cultural relics for a long time. From the end of the Qing Dynasty to the July 7th Incident, it often used expeditions in various places to steal and plunder; after the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Japan blatantly carried out the Chinese cultural relics. Systemic plunder.
Although there was a general survey of the losses suffered by Chinese cultural relics during the Second World War during the Republic of China, only a very limited part of the record was recorded, and there is no complete statistical data so far. This requires further investigation and research.
In the conversation, the speaker also analyzed the main reasons why the Japanese plundered cultural relics have not returned so far, and based on the practice of returning Jewish art objects, sorted out the recourse measures that China can take at present.
Wang Yunxia suggested that a special cultural relics recourse agency should be set up to carry out systematic investigations; the role of multiple dispute resolution mechanisms should be used to promote mutual benefit; at the same time, political solutions should not be given up.
Chai Rong pointed out that taking into account the emerging new policy for the return of cultural relics from European colonies in the world, in addition to the cultural relics plundered during World War II, the cultural relics plundered by Japan since the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 should be included in the scope of return.
In the interactive session, Hu Shanchen and Li Yuan, the other two authors of the book "The Way Home Looted Cultural Relics", had a lively discussion and answers to the concerns of readers and audiences.
In the meantime, many readers have asked whether patriotic entrepreneurs buy looted cultural relics back to China through high-priced purchases. Is this method worth promoting?
The author believes that the method of purchase does not legally distinguish whether the current holder owns the lost cultural relics, which is not conducive to the recourse of the looted cultural relics, and may also increase the risk of the loss of existing cultural relics. Therefore, in a certain sense , The way of buying is not worth promoting.
Regarding the biggest unresolved case related to Chinese cultural relics during the "World War II"-the mystery of the missing skull of the Beijing man, the author believes that there are many speculations about its disappearance. Although the whereabouts have not been found, there is no doubt that it belongs to the "World War II." The cultural relics transferred during the period shall be returned to China unconditionally once they are discovered.
Finally, the speaker suggested that the public can also do something to help the recovery and return of lost cultural relics, including not buying or helping to purchase (including repurchase) cultural relics that have been illegally lost or of unknown origin; if clues to lost cultural relics are indeed found, promptly Report to relevant departments; pay attention to the return of some influential cultural relics to NGOs, and provide publicity and assistance within its capacity.
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