History: Cultural Vandalism
In the shadow of the Opium Wars, the history of the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) serves as a stark reminder of the cultural and material plunder that accompanied Western colonial expansion. This segment of media that I have collected delves into the tumultuous events that led to the looting of the palace, setting the stage for a deep reflection on the intersection of war and cultural heritage.
The first part of my collection delves into the history of the Old Summer Palace, which dates back to the Opium War. It provides background information about the war's history and guides the audience towards the current museum practices, all while maintaining a sense of historical context.
By telling those histories for you to guide through my collection, history could serve as a media since it delivers messages back then, to us as audiences who absorb those knowledge and information.
(Bygone )
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The Opium War, marked by the 1842 Treaty of Nanjing, opened a turbulent chapter in Chinese history, escalating tensions over foreign encroachments and unresolved trade disputes, particularly concerning opium. These strains led to the Second Opium War, with British and French forces pushing aggressively for further concessions from China. The conflict culminated in the looting and eventual burning of Beijing's Old Summer Palace in 1860 by allied forces, an act that was both a symbolic and literal demonstration of Western imperialism. This destruction left deep scars, symbolizing a period of national humiliation and loss, which continues to resonate in Chinese historical consciousness. This video guide us towards what was happen during that time, providing us a solid historical background.
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In this segment, the documentary examines the historical backdrop of the Second Opium War, highlighting the strategic and economic motivations that led Anglo-French forces to loot the Old Summer Palace in 1860. This part of the film sets the stage for understanding the extensive cultural heritage lost, integrating the narrative into the broader theme of colonial encounters and their impact on cultural artifacts
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Bygone China." What did the British loot from the Old Summer Palace in Beijing?, YouTube, 15 July 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYoIXcGpDzw
The Twenty Views of the European Palaces of the Yuanming Yuan
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Yi Lantai's 'Twenty Views of the European Palaces' (1783-1786) vividly captures the architectural splendor of Yuanming Yuan's European Pavilions, designed by Jesuit Giuseppe Castiglione. These prints, reflecting Qing and European design fusion, were initially created for Qing imperial relatives, illustrating both cultural appreciation and diplomatic relations at the time. They serve as a critical artifact in discussing the cultural heritage and historical narrative surrounding the Old Summer Palace, preserved at V&A to enhance understanding and foster dialogue on looted artifacts and restitution efforts.
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Yi, Lantai. “The Twenty Views of the European Palaces of the Yuanming Yuan.” Victoria & Albert Museum, 1783, collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O101266/the-twenty-views-of-the-print-yi-lantai/. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O101266/the-twenty-views-of-the-print-yi-lantai/.
Yi, Lantai. “The Twenty Views of the European Palaces of the Yuanming Yuan.” Victoria & Albert Museum, 1783, collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O398690/the-twenty-views-of-the-print-yi-lantai/. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Yi, Lantai. “The Twenty Views of the European Palaces of the Yuanming Yuan.” Victoria & Albert Museum, 1783, collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O398688/the-twenty-views-of-the-print-yi-lantai/. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
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“The whole is the untrue.” –Theodor Adorno
“The fragment has a history.” –William Tronzo
Yiyuanxinju. Major National Historical and Cultural Site in China , 26 Jan. 2016, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Summer_Palace#/media/File:Yuanmingyuan_Haiyantang_20130126.JPG. Accessed 1 May 2024.
CNN, Paul French and Oscar Holland. “Debates over Beijing’s Derelict Old Summer Palace Are about More than History.” CNN, 2 Spring 2021, www.cnn.com/style/article/china-old-summer-palace-intl-hnk-dst/index.html.
CNN, Paul French and Oscar Holland. “Debates over Beijing’s Derelict Old Summer Palace Are about More than History.” CNN, 2 Spring 2021, www.cnn.com/style/article/china-old-summer-palace-intl-hnk-dst/index.html.