📜 A massive new archive revealing the turbulent history of China's Honglujing Stele has reignited demands for Japan to return this 1,300-year-old cultural treasure looted during the Russo-Japanese War. The 1.2 million-character compendium, published this month by Shanghai University researchers, features rare photos and documents proving Japan's illegal 1908 removal of the monument from Lyushun.
War Trophies or Stolen Heritage?
Historical records show Japan displayed the Tang Dynasty stele at Tokyo's Imperial Palace as a 'war trophy' – a claim Chinese experts call 'cultural theft.' 'This isn't just about stone and carvings,' says Chen Wenping of Shanghai University. 'It's physical proof of China's territorial integrity during the Tang Dynasty.'
From Temples to Shrines
The stele is just one of tens of thousands of artifacts taken between 1894-1945. Three stone lions stolen from a Liaoning temple now guard Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni Shrine. 'These aren't souvenirs – they're war crime evidence,' argues lawyer Keiichiro Ichinose, whose Tokyo-based repatriation group has petitioned Japan since 2021.
The Battle Continues
Despite multiple formal requests – including a 2014 appeal to Japan's emperor – progress remains stalled. Shanghai University Vice-Chancellor Duan Yong states: 'The ball's in Japan's court. We'll keep demanding action until history is respected.' With new generations joining the cause through social media 🗣️, this cultural showdown shows no signs of fading.
