the last horseback archer soldier 1860

video:
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/tusXEVpvR4s/

i can`t see that video

Interesting horse riding. Like American indian... :D

yes they can :D

jiao wrote:

the video here:
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/YOxs3tMxIeg/

the england has send the new best guns to qing before 100 years , but after there army see the guns never used in regius rooms, now more chinese cultural relic save and sell in some western civilization nation's museum, the one is england proud they are first end the business of Black people as Helot,one is France proud they are first capitalism country, times to now they can not consider show or sell the bandit's booty is a glorious event?what are you think about it ?

Hi Jiao,

Of course the Western powers that looted China should not be proud of this fact, because some of our ancestors truly acted like pirates.

But history must be seen in perspective. If these items were not taken out of China at the time, there would have been big chances that they would have been destroyed. As an antique arms collector, dealer and researcher time and time I am confronted with the fact that Chinese antiques that were preserved in the west are in far better condition than those preserved in China.

This is due to two main reasons:
1. Conservation methods in the West are much better developed, and more funds is put into them.
2. The Chinese haven't cared for their own heritage for a long time, neglecting and even destroying it.

For example, the burning of the Hanlin academy and all its books, the emptying of the military depots in Beijing in order to make steel during Mao's "Great Leap", and the destruction of many historical sites, books and artifacts during the cultural revolution, all destroyed many times more heritage than the West ever stole from China.

Now China laments things like that the only known copies of the Da Ming Huidian are in foreign museum collections, but if they were not taken out of the Hanlin academy they would have been destroyed by the Chinese themselves.

Now China is rising to power again it makes claim of wanting its heritage back, but in my opinion, I am sorry if I offend anyone, China first ought to be able to take care of this heritage before anything is returned.

At present, I see swords and arrowheads with active rust on them in the Beijing military museum, moths in the silk covering of imperial saddle covers, Qianlong era arrows that are nailed to a wall so low that visitors can and do touch the nocks and feathers, and they do. Even the restorations on the Palace Museum and Temple of Heaven are crudely done by workers, rather than professional restorers.

I would be strongly against museums like the Louvre, the Royal Armories or the Metropolitan Museum giving back artifacts to these museums because they will be damaged beyond repair within a generation or two while these museums have large budgets and world renowned experts with the sole purpose of proper preservation. And preservation should be concern number one, not ownership. Nobody can really own these items, we all borrow them from time and our job is to take care of them best as we can.

In the present situation, the Western museums and collectors that own them are in far better position in taking care of them and they have been for the last century or so.

So although looting is bad, we should be thankful that this turn of history at least helped to preserve important relics that would otherwise be lost. forever.

-Peter

the Somali also proud they has powers looted the world, for solve this taboo the Netherlands on ship is fine :D

i see the pirates build there pirates perspective, form pirates theory, your tv is not good save and use in my hoom so i has many reason got it and sell it without you agree it ,and your wife can not enjoy her liveing it is reason .......(say sorry only for the exemple)

this world still is dark leading by pirates looted civilization, who is a good example that somali can be more powerful, may be the age of black people coming soon, only a few years they can use all world money build there decorum/civilization/science and technology and it is a good reason move the Louvre to somali 8), maybe they can build the world museums cause the Africa is hometown of all the human

The same dilemma is not limited to china. The artifacts robbed from Egypt are quite safe in western museums, whereas the are under risk of islamic revolution while in egypt.

Ok.. st Petersburg has a sfinx outdoors in crowded city, that is not good conservation.

Funy discusion . All big kingdoms whtever was from (from Mesopotamia to Great Britain...) was build in robbed from material resources to art . To this days was same sistem . Only businesmans was changed armies , thats all. :?

There is just one horse stunt group that does nearly all the work for the historical movie industry in China. They are quite disinterested in any historical accuracy - all they can do is what the director demands.

The last cavalry engagement in China was much later than this, when Ma Bufang defeated the Red Army under Lin Biao in the 1930s near Xining. Lin Biao got his revenge eventually.

S

Stephen Selby wrote:

The last cavalry engagement in China was much later than this, when Ma Bufang defeated the Red Army under Lin Biao in the 1930s near Xining.

Ooh. Shiny. What sources should I check out if I want to learn more about this engagement and the war/campaign that formed its bigger context?

That would indeed be very interesting, Stephen... Do you have some details??? photographs????

Best regards, JJ