The American Museum Journal 



Volume XVIII 



APRIL. 1!MS 



Number 4 



China's Ancient Monuments 



Hv \i O V (Ml A P M A X A X \) U K W S 



Illustrations from pliotogriiplis by the Autlior 



many remote corners of the eighteen 

 provinces on a systematic search for 

 (il)jects of art or archfeological value, 

 and the menace to the records of China's 

 ancient civilization has assumed ahirm- 

 mg proportions. 



Xot only have smaller o])jccts heen 

 carried away but pieces of sculpture, 

 bas-reliefs, and parts of temples t'oo 

 large for ready transportation have 

 l)een cut from their places and some- 

 times irreparably broken, leaving a 

 scarred and disfigured reminder of an- 

 cient glories. Unfortunately this work 

 of despoliation has been aided only 

 too effectually by certain unscrupulous 

 Chinese themselves who saw an oppor- 

 tunity for material gains in the plunder 

 of the art treasures of their own coun- 

 try. Moreover, China is doing very 

 little toward protecting the monuments 

 and buildings which form not only the 

 record of her own ancient civilization 

 but which are of the utmost importance 

 in the history of the world. 



The Chinese are great builders, but 

 they seldom repair the monuments 

 which they have erected. In Peking, 

 one of the most unique, picturesque, 

 and romantic cities of the world, there 

 are dozens of ancient buildings which 

 form a precious heritage of the Chinese 

 ])eo])lo and as such should be cared for 



* As stated in a note in tlie Ft-bniary .Toirnal. a joint meeting of tlie American Scenic and Historic 

 Preservation Society and the American Museum of Natural History was held on January 17, 191S. A 

 resolution, introduced by Professor Henry Fairfield Osborn, was unanimously adopted by the members 

 of the two institutions, extending to the President of the Republic of China felicitations upon the plans 

 that have been made for the protection of Chinese monuments and antiquities from vandals and for the 

 collection of these priceless relics of the history of China, and renewing the expression of hope that these 

 collections may be safely preserved in a national museum. The resolution also renewed the pledge that 

 our influence will be used to prevent the despoiling of China by the unauthorized sale of ancient works 

 of art. 



251 



AMEMUIUAL was addressed to 

 President Yuan Shi Kai of the 

 Chinese Republic in 1914 by 

 fifty-two American institutions of art, 

 learning, and humanity.^ The imme- 

 diate result was the promulgation of 

 an edict making legal recognition of 

 China's monuments and antiquities 

 and urging national cooperation in 

 their preservation. Moreover, the gov- 

 ernments of the United States, Great 

 Britain, and France through their min- 

 isters at Peking instructed their con- 

 suls throughout China to use all possible 

 endeavors to further the suppression of 

 vandalism on the part of their citizens. 

 Although this was an excellent be- 

 ginning, political events soon gave it an 

 unexpected check. Within little more 

 than a year Yuan Shi Ivai's monarchical 

 ambitions were made public, and a re- 

 bellion immediately started which in- 

 volved all China and resulted in the 

 death of Yuan. Since then the republic 

 has been in chaos or has, to say the 

 least, maintained a state of unstable 

 equilibrium. ^leanwhile the despoiling 

 of China's monuments and antiquities 

 has progressed unchecked. In the last 

 ten years foreign collectors have visited 



' This was after an energetic campaign by Fred- 

 erick McCormick. secretary of the Asiatic Institute, 

 in which Professor Henry Fairfield Osborn took 

 an active part on behalf of the American Muse\iin 

 of Natural History. 



