Qing Dynasty Stone Lion Statues from Kansong Art Museum to Return to China After 90 Years

Qing Dynasty Stone Lion Statues Taken to Japan in the 1930s to Return to China
Kansong Art Museum's Collection Repatriated After 90 Years
Donation Facilitated by President Lee Jaemyung's State Visit to China

A pair of Qing Dynasty Seoksaja (stone lion) statues, which were taken out of Japan during the Japanese colonial period in the 1930s and have since been preserved by the Kansong Art Museum, will return to China after about 90 years.

A pair of Seoksaja statues placed at the main gate of Bohwagak, Kansong Art Museum. Provided by the National Museum of Korea

At the request of the Kansong Art Museum, the National Museum of Korea, which has been handling the donation process, signed an official agreement with the National Cultural Heritage Administration of China regarding the donation at the "Qing Dynasty Stone Lion Statues Donation Agreement Ceremony" held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the 5th. President Lee Jaemyung and President Xi Jinping attended the event, witnessing this symbolic moment of cultural exchange between the two countries.

The stone lion statues being donated were cultural artifacts purchased by the late Jeon Hyeong-pil (1906-1962) at a Japanese auction in 1933. At that time, Jeon Hyeong-pil acquired the stone lion statues along with several other stone relics from the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties. When Bohwagak, the exhibition space of the Kansong Art Museum, was established in 1938, the stone lions were placed at its entrance and became symbolic sculptures. They remained in the same location for about 87 years.

It is known that Jeon Hyeong-pil expressed during his lifetime that "since the stone lion statues are originally part of China's cultural heritage, it is only right for them to eventually return to their rightful place." Accordingly, the Kansong Art Museum considered donating the statues when building a new storage facility in 2016, but the plan was suspended due to unfavorable administrative and diplomatic conditions. Later, with the 120th anniversary of Jeon Hyeong-pil’s birth approaching in 2026, the museum decided to proceed with the donation to honor his spirit of cultural patriotism, delegating all related procedures to the National Museum of Korea.

The pace of the donation discussions accelerated as President Lee Jaemyung’s state visit to China was scheduled. The National Museum of Korea conveyed the museum’s intention to the Chinese side, and in response, the National Cultural Heritage Administration of China dispatched a team of five experts to conduct an on-site evaluation. The Chinese experts concluded that the statues are "distinctive works of Qing Dynasty stone sculpture with high historical, artistic, and academic value," noting that "the marble likely came from Beijing or the North China region, and based on the sculptural and decorative techniques, the statues were probably placed at the entrance of a royal residence or the home of a high-ranking official."

In China, stone lion statues have traditionally been placed at the entrances of palaces, official residences, and tombs as symbols to ward off evil spirits and wish for prosperity. This symbolism is echoed in President Xi Jinping’s remarks during his 2014 state visit to France, when he stated, "The lion that is China has already awakened, but it is a peaceful and gentle lion."

With the signing of the agreement, the stone lion statues will be transferred to the Chinese authorities following the necessary procedures.

Yoo Hongjun, Director of the National Museum of Korea, stated, "This donation revives the spirit of Kansong Jeon Hyeong-pil, who sought to connect nations and eras through cultural heritage," adding, "It will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen cultural cooperation and trust between Korea and China."