Yuanmingyuan animal head sculptures exhibited in Kunining
Xia Tilei
The other day, the Poly National threasure Exhibition entitled Homecoming after 140 Years kicked off in Kunming. 4 Yuanmingyuan animal head sculptures were exhibited, together with fourteen Buddha statues of the Northern and southern Dynasties (386-589) that represent the pinnacle of the Chinese Buddha statue building history.
The four bronze Yuanmingyuan animal head sculptures are the monkey head, the ox head and etc of twelve Chinese zodiac signs, which used to stand around the water clock fountain. They are all Chinas national first-class cultural relics, making the exhibition the high est-profile of its kind in Kunming in recent years.
The bronze Yuanmingyuan animal head sculptures were cast in the Reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing .
Dynasty (1644--1911) as part of the fountain in front of the Haiyan Hall of the Yuanmingyuan Imperial garden. The represent the top craftsmanship of the Qing Dynasty. Given their unique artistic style, great historical significance and rich cultural implications, they have shocked the world upon their creation and are of incalculable value.
The bronze monkey head, based on the image of Monkey King, is rich in the Chinese flavour. Its hairs are so meticulously sculpted that they can be counted one by one; its eyes are especially vivid and lifelike. The bronze ox head adopts the Western style and looks like a spanish fighting bull, with staring eyes, forward-bending horns ans a majestic air. The bronze tiger head is a far cry from the Chinese traditional style and would be easily mistaken for a lion if it were not for the stripe pattern on top of its head resembling the Chi nese character for king.
