Chapter 1966 Cultural Treasure

"Steven, the ancient books on these rows of bookshelves are the paintings and scriptures from the Dunhuang scripture cave. The Dunhuang scriptures of the British Library are all here, and there is not a single one.

The few picture scrolls and scripture scrolls that were displayed in the Ancient Books and Documentation Department a few days ago have all been removed and placed here. Now you can start to look at them and conduct identification.

It is no exaggeration to say that every scroll and scripture here is unique and of immeasurable value. Losing them is really a huge loss to our British Library.”

Caroline pointed to the four rows of bookshelves in front of her and said, her words were full of reluctance and even a bit of pain.

After all, she is a scholar, and she is relatively pure. It is inevitable that she will feel a little heartbroken when she suddenly loses such a large number of rare books that are so precious and important.

Looking at Ye Tian and Qian Lao, they were all flushed with excitement at this time, and their breathing became much faster.

Each of them stared closely at the four rows of bookshelves in front of them, staring at the yellowed or even dilapidated picture scrolls and scriptures on the bookshelves, their eyes were extremely hot, and they were not willing to move away for a moment.

These four rows of bookshelves are filled with pictures and scriptures from the Dunhuang scripture cave, and each row of bookshelves is filled to the brim without any gaps, which shows the large number of this batch of Dunhuang scriptures.

After hundreds of thousands of years of time and hardships, the pages of these Dunhuang scriptures have turned yellow, become very fragile, and some are even dilapidated.

However, in the eyes of Ye Tian and Mr. Shan, each and every volume of the Dunhuang Canon in front of them looks so perfect and radiates extremely bright and dazzling light.

It is the light of civilization with a long history on the land of China, it is the most direct evidence of the 5,000-year civilization history of the Chinese nation, and it is the crystallization of the wisdom of the entire Chinese nation!

It is a pity that Taoist Wang who discovered these treasures of Chinese civilization more than a hundred years ago was an out-and-out fool. In addition, China was poor and weak at that time, and it was impossible to protect these treasures of national culture.

That's why the foreign devils who swarmed here took advantage of the loopholes, looted countless Dunhuang scriptures by various despicable means, and then smuggled them out of China.

However, only a small part of the Dunhuang Canon was left to China. The loss of a large number of Dunhuang Canon can be described as an unprecedented catastrophe in the history of Chinese culture.

The foreigners who participated in the looting of Dunhuang scriptures included almost all European and American powers at that time, including the Japanese.

Among them, the most famous person who has obtained the most Dunhuang scriptures is the British Stein. The Stein Chamber of Secrets in the Chinese Pavilion of the British Museum is named after this guy.

When he came to Dunhuang for the first time in 1907, he exchanged twenty-four boxes of scripture scrolls, five boxes of carefully bound silk paintings, and a large number of embroidery and other art works at a negligible price of only four ingots of horseshoe silver. Taste.

In 1914, when Stein came to Dunhuang for the second time, he took another five boxes of written documents from Taoist Wang, and the price he paid was completely negligible.

After returning to the UK, these precious scrolls and scriptures that Stein looted from Dunhuang were collected in the British Museum and the British Library respectively and became their treasures.

Stein himself not only reaped huge economic benefits, but also gained a huge reputation, which can be described as both fame and fortune.

To this day, these priceless treasures that have been plundered by Stein and lost overseas for more than a hundred years,

Finally going back to China.

Let me ask, who are Chinese, Ye Tian and Mr. Shan, can they not be overjoyed?

Caroline's voice fell, but Ye Tian and the others did not respond. Everyone's attention was completely attracted by the huge number of Dunhuang scriptures in front of them, and there was nothing else in their eyes.

The British guys standing next to them have been completely ignored by them, and they have directly regarded them as air.

Seeing their performance, Caroline could only give a wry smile helplessly, and didn't say much.

At the same time, a trace of regret quickly flashed in the depths of her eyes, as did the rest of the British.

The scene became quiet, only the sound of rapid breathing was coming from Ye Tian and Old Shan.

After a long time, Ye Tian and the others just woke up, and their excitement calmed down a little.

Immediately afterwards, Elder Shan stretched out his hands and carefully picked up a scripture from the bookshelf beside him, and then slowly unfolded the scripture with the assistance of another old man.

All the Chinese people at the scene looked at Old Shan and the yellowed and somewhat torn scripture in his hand. Everyone's eyes were full of anticipation and nervousness.

In the next moment, Shan Lao's trembling voice came out and reached the ears of everyone present.

"This is the "Miaofa Lotus Sutra. Volume Five", a handwritten Buddhist scripture from the mid-Tang Dynasty. It has a history of more than a thousand years. It is a truly priceless treasure. There is no doubt that this is one of the Dunhuang scriptures. "

Before his words fell, the scene was already boiling.

"Great! I never thought that this batch of Dunhuang scriptures would return to China one day. The heavens have eyes!"

"Isn't the handwritten "Miaofa Lianhuajing" in the middle of the Tang Dynasty a priceless treasure? In the history of Chinese culture, this is definitely an epoch-making moment, and it is worth remembering forever!"

Several top calligraphy and painting appraisal experts from the Forbidden City and the National Museum all cheered, each of them was as excited as a child, and they were almost dancing.

While cheering loudly, these top experts and scholars had tears in their eyes, and they almost shed tears.

Even Ye Tian, ​​who had seen all this through perspective and knew the authenticity of these Dunhuang scriptures like the palm of his hand, was very excited at this time, and waved his fist lightly.

After cheering for a while, everyone's mood gradually calmed down.

Next, these top calligraphy and painting appraisal experts from the Forbidden City and the National Museum went to the bookshelves one after another, carefully took off the scriptures or picture scrolls from the bookshelves, and began to appreciate and appraise them.

Ye Tian was the same, he also walked forward, carefully picked up a scripture from the bookshelf, slowly unfolded it, and started to read.

Although he does not believe in Buddhism, he knows Chinese characters and has the ability to identify antique works of art that no one can match. It is no problem to identify the authenticity of these Dunhuang scriptures.

As a result, one can imagine that the Buddhist scripture in his hand is indeed a genuine Dunhuang scripture, which came from the end of the Tang Dynasty. It is a truly priceless treasure with inestimable value.

After reading two scriptures in succession, he stopped, then turned his head to look at Caroline and the others, and said with a smile:

"That's right, Ms. Caroline, the bookshelf in front of you is indeed genuine Dunhuang scriptures, and they are all in good condition. It can be seen that your library is very professional.

The task of appraising these Dunhuang scriptures is left to Mr. Shan and the others. They are all professionals with profound knowledge. Take me to the rest of the bookshelves to see the specific number of these Dunhuang scriptures! "

"Okay, Steven, please follow me, I'll take you to see the situation on the other three bookshelves"

Caroline smiled and nodded, without any excuse.

Afterwards, Ye Tian gave Shan Lao and the others a few words, and then followed Caroline and the person in charge of the China Pavilion to another bookshelf next to them.

That bookshelf is also full of paintings and scriptures from the Dunhuang Sutra Cave, and the number is no less than that on the previous bookshelf.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten minutes have passed.

Under the leadership of Caroline and the others, Ye Tian and David walked through the four bookshelves and came to the end of the fourth bookshelf.

There are many ancient silk paintings and some written documents here, and no one has touched them for many years, and a layer of dust has fallen on the surface.

Coming here, Ye Tian reached out to pick up a silk painting from the bookshelf, gently unfolded it, and carefully admired it.

After admiring it, he rolled up the silk painting and put it back on the bookshelf.

Immediately afterwards, he looked at the two boxes on another bookshelf next to him, and said curiously:

"Hey! There are still two boxes here. I wonder if they contain the Dunhuang Canon? Ms. Caroline, can you open these two boxes and let me have a look?"

While speaking, he had already walked in front of the two boxes, but he did not reach out to open them, but looked at Caroline and the person in charge of the China Pavilion with deep eyes.

Hearing his words and seeing his actions, the face of the person in charge of the China Pavilion suddenly changed, becoming extremely ugly, but returned to normal in a blink of an eye.

Caroline's complexion didn't change much, maybe she really didn't know what was in those two boxes.

Of course, it is also possible that she is practicing, and her acting skills are very clever and she does not show her emotions!

"Steven, these two boxes do contain the Dunhuang Canon, one box contains thirty scripture scrolls, and the other box contains more than twenty picture scrolls.

A professor at the University of Cambridge used to borrow these Dunhuang scriptures for research. We just returned them yesterday, and we haven’t had time to sort them out. It was our mistake! "

The person in charge of the China Pavilion explained that his face was red and white, and his expression was quite embarrassing.

If you say that, I have to believe it! Go to hell!

Ye Tian sneered secretly, but he didn't expose the other party's small thoughts.

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