One person’s trash may be another’s treasure. In China, countless ancient artifacts, including national treasures, once wandered through the hands of common people, mistaken for mere scraps or worthless junk.
This saying is particularly relevant in the fields of archaeology and cultural heritage preservation. Over the years, numerous valuable relics were lost, dismissed as useless objects. However, through sheer luck or coincidence, some of these treasures were rediscovered, preserved, and eventually recognized for their true worth.
The national treasures below are prime examples of a long and arduous journey from being “discarded items” to their rightful place in museums.
Jade Pig Dragon of the Hongshan Culture
In August 1971, Zhang Fengxiang (Chinese: 张风祥), a resident of Sanxing Tala Village in Wengniute, Inner Mongolia, stumbled upon a cave entrance blocked by stones while wandering through the forest.
Driven by curiosity, he decided to explore the cave. At the bottom, he found an object resembling an iron hook but paid little attention to it at the time. Later, thinking that even scrap iron could be sold for money, he returned to retrieve the “iron lump.”
However, instead of selling it to a scrap collection station, Zhang Fengxiang took the item to the Wengniute Cultural Center.
At that time, the Hongshan Culture had yet to be identified, and the staff at the center had no idea what the artifact was. Zhang himself had no concept of its value. One staff member casually offered him 30 yuan to purchase it. It was only much later that people realized the object was an invaluable relic from the Neolithic period.
“Along the River During the Qingming Festival” of the Northern Song Dynasty
This famous painting, created during the Northern Song Dynasty, has a history spanning nearly a thousand years. It has undergone a turbulent journey, moving between imperial collections and the hands of the public before returning to the palace.
In 1911, the painting was housed in the Qing imperial palace, but Puyi, the last emperor, secretly took it to Manchukuo in northeastern China. When Japan was defeated in 1945 and Manchukuo collapsed, Puyi fled, leading to the destruction of numerous treasures. Many believed that this painting had been lost to the fires of war.
However, in 1951, while cleaning the Northeast Cultural Museum, cultural scholar Yang Renkai unexpectedly discovered “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” among a pile of discarded items.
“Cold Iron Epistle” by Wang Xizhi
“Cold Iron Epistle” is regarded as a divine masterpiece by Wang Xizhi, the renowned calligrapher of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. His brushwork is simple yet profound, embodying a deep artistic spirit.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Puyi smuggled this calligraphy piece out of the imperial palace, and it remained missing for decades.
In the 1960s, many folk paintings were collected at waste stations, where most were shredded and turned into pulp. Liu Guangqi, a cultural relic appraiser, was tasked with rescuing valuable artifacts from the refuse, a challenge akin to finding a needle in a haystack.
One day, while at a scrap collection site on Taihu Road in Hexi District, Tianjin, he noticed a paper scroll inside a peculiar-looking tube. Upon opening it, he was astonished to find two renowned calligraphy works by Wang Xizhi: “Cold Iron Epistle” and “Can-Ou Epistle.” These treasures had been lost since Puyi’s time.
Four-Goat Square Zun Wine Vessel of the Shang Dynasty
This exquisite bronze wine vessel from the Shang Dynasty is one of the most significant artifacts of its time. It serves as a quintessential representation of Shang and Zhou bronze craftsmanship, featuring a wide mouth, tall neck, and intricate carvings of the twelve zodiac animals, including goats, tigers, elephants, horses, and phoenixes.
In 1938, farmers in Hunan unearthed this ancient vessel. It was soon sold to an antique dealer for 248 silver dollars. When the dealer went bankrupt, the artifact was confiscated by the Nationalist government.
During World War II, Changsha was bombed by the Japanese army, and the vessel was presumed lost. It wasn't until 1952 that, after an extensive search, the cultural relic authorities discovered it in a bank warehouse, broken into dozens of fragments. After nearly a year of meticulous restoration, the vessel was returned to its original form and is now a national treasure.
He Zun Wine Vessel of the Western Zhou Dynasty
This artifact contains the earliest known written reference to “China.” The vessel bears 12 lines of inscriptions, comprising 122 characters, one of which reads “Tracings from China,” documenting the succession of King Cheng following King Wu and the construction of Zhou City (now Luoyang).
In 1963, a farmer found the vessel on a dirty rock face behind his house. Unaware of its significance, he used it as a food container. Later, he sold it as scrap metal for just 30 yuan. Fortunately, a museum expert recognized its importance in a junkyard and acquired it.
Western Zhou Bronze Vessel
This ancient Western Zhou bronze vessel is now housed in the Beijing Museum. With a history spanning over 3,000 years, it contains 198 characters that describe Mao Baiban’s efforts in quelling unrest and receiving commendation from the Zhou king.
The artifact was first unearthed during the Northern Song Dynasty and became part of the imperial collection. However, in 1900, when the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded China, it vanished amidst the chaos.
Over 70 years later, cultural relic workers in Beijing found it among a pile of scrap metal destined for melting, giving this national treasure a second life.
Shang Dynasty Inscribed Bronze Vessel
Now preserved in the Hunan Museum, this inscribed bronze vessel was discovered in 1962. At that time, cultural relic experts were inspecting scrap recycling centers in search of lost national treasures.
Among the collected copper scraps, they noticed a peculiar-looking bronze piece that stood out. Upon further investigation, they found more than 200 bronze fragments packed into 27 bags. After painstaking reconstruction, the artifact was restored to its original form.
Warring States Period Bronze Wine Vessel
In 1967, at a scrap collection station in Suide, Shaanxi Province, a cultural relic expert spotted an unusual item about to be thrown into a furnace.
Upon examination, it was revealed to be an exquisitely crafted bronze wine vessel from the Warring States period—a first-class national treasure with immense cultural and artistic value.
Tao Ying Ding (Pottery Eagle Tripod) of the Neolithic Age
Antiques are not only valuable artifacts but also windows into the past, offering insights into ancient human intelligence. However, distinguishing authentic relics from ordinary objects is often challenging.
In 1957, Yan Siying, a farmer in Taiping Village, was plowing his field when he struck a hard object. Initially mistaking it for a rock, he later unearthed a pottery item shaped like a bird. Unaware of its significance, he used it as a feeding dish for chickens.
A year later, archaeologists discovered the nearby Yangshao Culture site. Recalling the peculiar pot he had found, Yan decided to show it to the experts, who confirmed that it was a priceless Neolithic relic—Tao Ying Ding.
The artifact, standing 35.8 cm tall with a diameter of 23.3 cm, was immediately donated to the archaeological team. It is now preserved in the National Museum of China.
Gao Zi Gua Spear of the Spring and Autumn Period
The Gao Zi Gua is a prestigious weapon from the Spring and Autumn period and is now housed in the Shandong Museum of History.
First discovered in 1970, a rural boy mistook it for scrap iron and sold it for 5.97 yuan. It changed hands multiple times before being identified by cultural relic authorities.
Sixteen years later, the boy, now an adult, visited a museum and was shocked to find the “scrap iron” he once sold on display as a national treasure.
