South Korea returns Qing Dynasty lion statues to China after 90 years
A pair of historic stone lion statues will soon leave South Korea after nearly a century at the Kansong Art Museum. The artefacts, believed to date from China’s Qing Dynasty, are being donated to the Daming Palace National Heritage Park in Xi’an. The decision follows an agreement signed during a recent Korea-China summit.
The two statues—a male and female pair—have stood at the museum since its opening in 1938. Each measures 1.9 metres tall and weighs about 1.25 tons. They were originally acquired in Japan in 1933 by the museum’s founder, Chun Hyung-pil.
In China, such lion statues traditionally guard gates and tombs, symbolising protection and prosperity. Experts from China recently examined the artefacts and confirmed their Qing Dynasty origins (1644–1911). Their historical, artistic, and scientific value was also highlighted. The donation was finalised on Monday when museum director You Hong-june signed an agreement with China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration. Presidents Lee Jae Myung and Xi Jinping attended the summit where the transfer was announced. While the statues’ exact return date remains unconfirmed, their final placement at the Daming Palace site is planned.
The return of the statues marks a significant moment in cultural exchange between South Korea and China. The artefacts, once part of the Kansong collection, will now rejoin China’s cultural heritage as part of the Daming Palace restoration. Officials have described the move as a gesture of strengthened diplomatic and cultural ties.
