French Pino family is expected to return the first rabbit head this week

The first round of the Yuanmingyuan Rat, which has been wandering for more than 100 years, is expected to "go home" in advance. On April 26 this year, the French Pino family announced in Beijing that they would donate to the Chinese side the Yuanmingyuan copper-casting mouse head and rabbit head lost overseas. The specific time is scheduled for the second half of the year. Last night, the reporter learned from the insider that under the Chinese's efforts, the two beasts will be handed over this week and merged into the National Museum of Tibet.

Rats first rabbit "go home" this week

The French Pino family announced in Beijing on April 26 this year that they will donate to the Chinese government in the second half of the year the lost head of the Yuanmingyuan mouse. However, an insider reported to reporters last night that the mouse head and the rabbit head are expected to return in advance. The reporter asked Liu Yang, a member of the Academic Committee of the Yuanmingyuan Academy, to confirm that he had also learned from relevant parties that the two beasts would return to China within the next 128 hours.

According to Liu Yang, the French Pino family plans to donate two animal heads in the second half of the year, but under the Chinese's efforts, the time for the animal head to "go home" was advanced by at least two months. Liu Yang also revealed that the mouse head will enter the National Museum after the return of the first rabbit.

The reporter then called the National Museum. The relevant person in charge revealed that Guobo had received a notice of donation from the first animal, and the donation time was tentatively scheduled for June 28. However, Guobo has not been authorized to release information, and the specific arrangements and external publications should be determined by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

The reporter asked the National Cultural Relics Bureau to confirm the return of the mouse head, but did not receive a reply as of the time of publication.

It is understood that the donated mouse head and rabbit head are two of the twelve zodiac bronze casts lost in Beijing Yuanmingyuan. In 2019, the two beasts were auctioned in Paris, France, and attracted the attention and condemnation of the international community. The Chinese side also clearly expressed its opposition.

Since then, the Pino family bought the two animal heads from the original holders of the cultural relics and showed the Chinese side the willingness to donate free of charge. The Chinese side has positively evaluated this move and believes that this will is in line with the spirit of the principles of the International Convention for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. It is a friendly expression to the Chinese people and is also conducive to the return of more Chinese cultural relics.