PLUNDERING OF CHINA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 21, 13 June 1914, Page 9

PLUNDERING OF CHINA.

ART TREASURES TAKEN* AWAY. CRAVE EUROPEAN? SCANDAL. London, .March 27. The Asiatic Institute of Xoxv York makes the charge that China is Winn ruthlessly plundered of her ancient .works for the enrichment of European museums and private collection*. Theinstitute, calls it "robbery under, the el on k of art collecting." , The following detailed explanation of what is g»ing oil appears 011 a monograph entitled "Plunder and Destruction of Antiquities in China." The Asiatic Institute lias received Chinese protests dating liack six years, emphasising Chinese abhorrence of k\w European system, whose practices have now invaded China. These practices are the widespread pillaging of temples and sacred places of. the dead and other ancient works in Africa and throughout Asia, in the name of superior civilisation, punitive warfare.'science Or other subterfuge. They protest against the introduction into China of a foreign conception of time, 0f,./scien,ce.< ami of history, by newer nations, whose sense of antiquity as peculiarly exemplified in their museum system, enables them to participate in and foster the destruction jtiul robbery of holy tilings.

DI'RIXO THE REYOLUTIOX. Til a statement on the subject the secretary of the Asiatic Institute save "All signs M'ein to indicate that depredations have commenced upon the archaeological ami art wealth of China In an extent- even greater than the vandalism with which Europe visited the art lind beauty of the shores of the Mediterranean. The market for ( hiuesc antiquities, particularly sculptures, c;iuie with the (dose of the Russo-Japanese war, but, 110 nation beaVs the si i-mn „f heinir chief vandal in China. The market is nil international one. and has been developed under Japanese mid Furopeau direction. with Paris as headquarters. So wll ha< the market been worked hy the dealers that the increase in price* of Chinese M-uiplme in (lie pa-a live or >ix years ha* been -H> or .111- times. For example, one piece of sculpture of Xorlli Wei times (ninth century. A.D.i, estimated to have cost LSI) in China, after passing ihroujih only two or thr'"» hands, is sold hy a dealer at ClOllO, Hue America!} museum ha> HI stone heatU, broken from >tatue> in the interior of China. All lnrjre museums of the world have or are acquiring similar fragments. Coileetoi's and nmsi'unts in America are sending special representatives to China with slims to buy. Similar expeditions am setting- forth from Furope. "To ])lmnler and destroy China's ant'ifjuities." concludes tlie appeal, "tends In break down Chinese society. Tl. cripples research ami education, and re- ; tarda progress. This plundering of ,C'hina is a peculiar crime, since it will complete European civilisation's spoliation, and will destroy hope of a 0011j sciousneas in Western civilisation of such evil."