List of Chinese cultural relics forbidden to be exhibited abroad

The list of Chinese cultural relics forbidden to be exhibited abroad comprises a list of antiquities and archaeological artifacts held by various museums and other institutions in the People's Republic of China, which the Chinese government has officially prohibited, since 2003, from being taken abroad for exhibition. Many of the relics on the list symbolize the breakthrough of archaeological discoveries that were made in China since the mid-20th century, when archaeology as a modern science began to take root in China. These items are among the most important excavated treasures in China, and have a particular historical, cultural or artistic significance.

In June 2012, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage announced the second batch of 37 cultural relics forbidden to be exhibited abroad, covering paintings and works of calligraphy.[1] In August 2013, a third batch of 94 items were announced, most of which are treasures excavated at archaeological sites.[2]

Government regulations prohibiting exhibition abroad

According to Article 49 of the Regulations for the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Protection of Cultural Relics (State Council Decree No.377) promulgated on 18 May 2003:

The only existing or fragile relics among the grade-one relics are prohibited from being taken out of the country for exhibition. The catalogue of cultural relics prohibited from being taken out of the country for exhibition shall be made public on a regular basis by the competent cultural relics administrative department of the State Council.[3][4]

A first list of sixty-four cultural relics that are forbidden to be exhibited abroad was published by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage on 19 January 2002 (a year before the above regulation was enacted).[5]

In addition to the list of items explicitly prohibited from being exhibited abroad, cultural relics that fall within one of the following five categories are also prohibited from being exhibited outside of China:[6]

• ancient human remains
• the main object of reverence at a place of religious observation
• first-grade cultural relics that are unique and easily damaged
• objects listed in the catalogue of cultural relics that are prohibited from being exhibited abroad
• cultural relics that are not suitable to be exhibited abroad because of their state of preservation

Furthermore, cultural relics may not be sent abroad for exhibition if they have not previously been officially exhibited within China.[3]

First batch of items prohibited from being exhibited abroad

In 2002, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage announced its first list of 64 first-grade cultural relics that are forbidden to be taken out of mainland China for exhibition.[7][8]

Name	Period	Where found	When found	Current location	Image
Coloured pottery pot depicting a stork, a fish, and a stone axe (彩绘鹳鱼石斧图陶缸)[9]	Neolithic	Ruzhou, Henan	1978	National Museum of China, Beijing
Pottery ding vessel in the form of an eagle, from the Yangshao culture (陶鹰鼎)[10]	Neolithic	Hua County, Shaanxi	1958	National Museum of China, Beijing
Houmuwu ding (后母戊鼎)[11]	Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BCE)	Anyang, Henan	1939	National Museum of China, Beijing
Li gui, a bronze wine cup with an inscription commemorating King Wu of Zhou's defeat of the Shang Dynasty (利簋)[12]	Western Zhou (1046–771 BCE)	Lintong, Shaanxi	1976	National Museum of China, Beijing
Da Yu ding, a bronze ding cauldron cast by Yu, with an inscription dated the 23rd year of the reign of King Kang of Zhou (大盂鼎)[13]	Western Zhou (1046–771 BCE)	Qishan, Shaanxi	1820–1850	National Museum of China, Beijing
Guoji Zibai pan, a bronze trough with an inscription commemorating the defeat of Xianyun people by Duke Xuan of Guo in the 12th year of the reign of King Xuan of Zhou (虢季子白盘)[14]	Western Zhou (1046–771 BCE)	Baoji, Shaanxi	1820–1850	National Museum of China, Beijing
Four phoenix crowns from the tomb of the Wanli Emperor (凤冠)[15]	Ming Dynasty (1368–1644)	Changping District, Beijing	1957	National Museum of China, Beijing
Ivory cup inlaid with turquoise, from the tomb of Fu Hao (嵌綠松石象牙杯)[16]	Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BCE)	Anyang, Henan	1976	Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Institute of Archaeology
Jin Hou Su zhong, a set of 16 ceremonial bronze bianzhong bells from the tomb of Marquis Xian of Jin (晉侯蘇鍾)[17]	Western Zhou (1046–771 BCE)	Quwo, Shanxi		Shanghai Museum
Da Ke ding, a bronze ding cauldron cast by Ke during the reign of King Xiao of Zhou (大克鼎)[18]	Western Zhou (1046–771 BCE)	Fufeng, Shaanxi	1890	Shanghai Museum
Taibao ding, a bronze ding cauldron cast by the Duke of Shao during the reign of King Cheng of Zhou (太保鼎)[19]	Western Zhou (1046–771 BCE)	Liangshan County, Shandong	mid 19th century	Tianjin Museum
Red lacquered bowl from the Hemudu culture (河姆渡出土朱漆碗)[20]	Neolithic	Yuyao, Zhejiang	1977	Zhejiang Provincial Museum, Hangzhou
Pottery stove from the Hemudu culture (河姆渡出土陶灶)[21]	Neolithic	Yuyao, Zhejiang	1977	Zhejiang Provincial Museum, Hangzhou
Jade cong from the Liangzhu culture (良渚出土玉琮王)[22]	Neolithic	Yuhang, Zhejiang	1986	Zhejiang Institute of Archaeology
Crystal glass (水晶杯)[23]	Warring States period (475–221 BCE)	Hangzhou, Zhejiang	1990	Zhejiang Institute of Archaeology
Bronze stand for ceremonial vessels from the tomb of the son of King Zhuang of Chu (淅川出土銅禁)[24]	Spring and Autumn period (771–403 BCE)	Xichuan, Henan	1978	Henan Museum, Zhengzhou
Pair of square bronze jars from the tomb of the Duke of Zheng(新鄭出士蓮鶴銅方壺)[25]	Spring and Autumn period (771–403 BCE)	Xinzheng, Henan	1923	Palace Museum, Beijing Henan Museum, Zhengzhou
Rectangular bronze mirror from the tomb of the Prince of Qi (齐王墓青铜方镜)[26]	Western Han (206 BCE – 9 CE)	Zibo, Shandong	1980	Zibo Museum
Bronze ding vessel from the tomb of the King of Chu (铸客大铜鼎)[27]	Warring States period (475–221 BCE)	Shou County, Anhui	1933	Anhui Provincial Museum, Hefei
Lacquered wooden platform shoes from the tomb of Zhu Ran (朱然墓出土漆木屐)	Three Kingdoms (Eastern Wu)	Ma'anshan, Anhui	1984	Zhu Ran Family Cemetery Museum
Lacquered picture plate from the tomb of Zhu Ran (朱然墓出土贵族生活图漆盘)[28]	Three Kingdoms (Eastern Wu)	Ma'anshan, Anhui	1984	Zhu Ran Family Cemetery Museum
Painted lacquer wooden screen depicting scenes of filial sons and virtuous women in Chinese history, from the tomb of Sima Jinlong (司马金龙墓出土漆屏)[29]	Northern Wei (386–534)	Datong, Shanxi	1965	Datong Museum
Mural depicting horse riders from the tomb of Lou Rui (娄睿墓鞍马出行图壁画)[30]	Northern Qi (550–577)	Taiyuan, Shanxi	1979	Shanxi Institute of Archaeology
Memorial stone engraved with illustrations of Buddhist Stories (涅槃变相碑)	Tang Dynasty (618–907)	Linyi, Shanxi		Shanxi Museum, Taiyuan
Stone sculpture of a Daoist deity (常阳太尊石像)	Tang Dynasty (618–907)	Yuncheng, Shanxi		Shanxi Museum, Taiyuan
Jade ceremonial dagger-axe (大玉戈)[31]	Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BCE)	Wuhan, Hubei	1974	Hubei Provincial Museum, Wuhan
Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng[32]	Warring States period (475–221 BCE)	Sui County, Hubei	1978	Hubei Provincial Museum, Wuhan
Carved and lacquered wooden outer coffin from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng (曾侯乙墓外棺)[33]	Warring States period (475–221 BCE)	Sui County, Hubei	1978	Hubei Provincial Museum, Wuhan
Pair of intricately decorated bronze food and wine vessels cast using the lost-wax process from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng (曾侯乙青铜尊盘)[34]	Warring States period (475–221 BCE)	Sui County, Hubei	1978	Hubei Provincial Museum, Wuhan
Wooden screen with carved images of phoenixes and deer, decorated with polychromatic lacquer (彩漆木雕小座屏)[35]	Warring States period (475–221 BCE)	Jiangling, Hubei	1965	Hubei Provincial Museum, Wuhan
Clay sculpture of the head of a goddess, inlaid with jade eyes, from the Hongshan culture temple at Niuheliang (红山文化女神像)[36]	Neolithic	Lingyuan, Liaoning	1983	Liaoning Institute of Archaeology
Duck-shaped glass object (鸭形玻璃注)[37]	Northern Yan (407–436)	Beipiao, Liaoning	1965	Liaoning Province Museum, Shenyang
4 metre tall bronze tree with a dragon curling up the trunk, and leaves, fruit and birds on the branches (青铜神树)[38]	Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BCE)	Guanghan, Sichuan	1986	Sichuan Institute of Archaeology
Ceremonial jade object with engraved drawings of stylized human figures (三星堆出土玉边璋)[39]	Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BCE)	Guanghan, Sichuan	1986	Sichuan Institute of Archaeology
2 metre tall bronze tree with coins on its branches and a phoenix perched at the top (摇钱树)[40]	Eastern Han (25–220)	Mianyang, Sichuan	1990	Mianyang Museum
Gansu Flying Horse (铜奔马)[41]	Eastern Han (25–220)	Wuwei, Gansu	1969	Gansu Provincial Museum, Lanzhou
The Qin bronze chariots, from the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (铜车马)[42]	Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE)	Lintong, Shaanxi	1980	Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shihuang, Lintong
Shi Qiang pan[43]	Western Zhou (1046–771 BCE)	Fufeng, Shaanxi	1967	Baoji Bronzeware Museum
Large bronze ding vessel with three handles and ox-head decoration (淳化大鼎)[44]	Western Zhou (1046–771 BCE)	Chunhua, Shaanxi	1979	Chunhua Museum
Bronze He zun, with an inscription recording the construction of the capital at Luoyang by King Cheng of Zhou[45]	Western Zhou (1046–771 BCE)	Baoji, Shaanxi	1963	Baoji Bronzeware Museum
Stone sculptures from the tomb of Huo Qubing at the mausoleum of Emperor Wu of Han at Maoling (茂陵石雕)[46]	Western Han (206 BCE – 9 CE)	Xianyang, Shaanxi		Maoling Museum, Xianyang
Nestorian Stele — a stele recording the introduction of Christianity into China in 635 (大秦景教流行中国碑)[47]	Tang Dynasty (618–907)	Shaanxi	1623	Xi'an Beilin Museum, Xi'an
Gilt silver jug imitating the shape of a leather water bottle, with a design of prancing horses Hejia Village hoard (舞马衔杯仿皮囊式银壶)[48]	Tang Dynasty (618–907)	Xi'an, Shaanxi	1970	Shaanxi History Museum, Xi'an
Zoomorphic drinking horn made from agate Hejia Village hoard (兽首玛瑙杯)[49]	Tang Dynasty (618–907)	Xi'an, Shaanxi	1970	Shaanxi History Museum, Xi'an
Bronze bell cast in 711, weighing 6,500 kg, originally from the bell tower at the Tang capital Chang'an (景云铜钟)[50]	Tang Dynasty (618–907)			Xi'an Beilin Museum, Xi'an
Gilt and silvered monk's staff donated to Famen Temple by Emperor Yizong of Tang in 873 (银花双轮十二环锡杖)[51]	Tang Dynasty (618–907)	Fufeng, Shaanxi	1987	Famen Temple Museum, Fufeng
Set of eight nested relic boxes containing a relic supposed to be a finger bone from Śākyamuni Buddha, from Famen Temple (八重宝函)[52]	Tang Dynasty (618–907)	Fufeng, Shaanxi	1987	Famen Temple Museum, Fufeng
Bronze model pagoda from Famen Temple (铜浮屠)[53]	Tang Dynasty (618–907)	Fufeng, Shaanxi	1987	Famen Temple Museum, Fufeng
"Five stars rise in the East" arm protector (“五星出东方”护膊)[54]	Eastern Han (25–220) to Jin (265–420)	Minfeng, Xinjiang	1995	Xinjiang Institute of Archaeology
Bronze table frame inlaid with gold and silver, decorated with figures of four dragons and four phoenixes (铜错金银四龙四凤方案)[55]	Warring States period (475–221 BCE)	Pingshan, Hebei	1974	Hebei Institute of Cultural Relics
Bronze ding vessel with iron feet from the tomb of the King of Zhongshan (中山王铁足铜鼎)[56]	Warring States period (475–221 BCE)	Pingshan, Hebei	1977	Hebei Institute of Cultural Relics
Jade burial suit from the tomb of Liu Sheng, Prince of Zhongshan (刘胜金缕玉衣)[57]	Western Han (206 BCE – 9 CE)	Mancheng, Hebei	1968	Hebei Provincial Museum, Shijiazhuang
Gilt bronze lamp in the shape of a serving girl, from the tomb of Lady Dou Wan (长信宫灯)[58]	Western Han (206 BCE – 9 CE)	Mancheng, Hebei	1968	Hebei Provincial Museum, Shijiazhuang
Five bronze pieces from an otherwise decayed folding screen, from the tomb of the King of Nanyue (铜屏风构件5件)[59]	Western Han (206 BCE – 9 CE)	Guangzhou, Guangdong	1983	Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King, Guangzhou
Horn-shaped jade cup from the tomb of the King of Nanyue (角形玉杯)[60]	Western Han (206 BCE – 9 CE)	Guangzhou, Guangdong	1983	Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King, Guangzhou
Silk painting depicting a man riding a dragon (人物御龙帛画)[61]	Warring States period (475–221 BCE)	Changsha, Hunan	1949	Hunan Provincial Museum, Changsha
Silk painting depicting a man with a dragon and a phoenix (人物龙凤帛画)[62]	Warring States period (475–221 BCE)	Changsha, Hunan	1949	Hunan Provincial Museum, Changsha
Plain gauze robe from the tomb of the Marquis of Dai at Mawangdui (直裾素纱禅衣)[63]	Western Han (206 BCE – 9 CE)	Changsha, Hunan	1972	Hunan Provincial Museum, Changsha
Wooden outer coffin from the tomb of the Marquis of Dai at Mawangdui (马王堆一号墓木棺椁)	Western Han (206 BCE – 9 CE)	Changsha, Hunan	1972	Hunan Provincial Museum, Changsha
T-shaped silk funeral banner from the tomb of the Marquis of Dai at Mawangdui (马王堆一号墓T型帛画)[64]	Western Han (206 BCE – 9 CE)	Changsha, Hunan	1972	Hunan Provincial Museum, Changsha
Brocade banner depicting the Sun God and hunting scenes (红地云珠日天锦)[65]	Northern Dynasties (386–581)	Dulan, Qinghai	1983	Qinghai Institute of Archaeology
Nine volumes of Buddhist texts written in the Tangut language that were printed using wooden movable type, from Baisigou Square Pagoda (西夏文佛经《吉祥遍至口和本续》纸本)[66]	Western Xia (1038–1227)	Helan, Ningxia	1991	Ningxia Institute of Archaeology
Red-glazed pottery model of a granary (青花釉里红瓷仓)[67]	Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368)	Jingdezhen, Jiangxi	1974	Jiangxi Provincial Museum, Nanchang
Picture of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove composed from more than 300 moulded bricks (竹林七贤砖印模画)[68]	Southern Dynasties (420–589)	Nanjing, Jiangsu	1960	Nanjing Museum

Footnotes

1. 第二批禁止出国(境)展览文物目录(书画类) (in Chinese). State Administration of Cultural Heritage. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
2. 94件一级文物列入"第三批禁止出境展览文物目录" (in Chinese). Chinanews. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
3. Regulations for the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Protection of Cultural Relics, State Administration of Cultural Heritage, 29 October 2007, archived from the original on 19 March 2012
4. 中华人民共和国文物保护法实施条例, The Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, 23 May 2005
5. 中国文物事业改革开放30年, State Administration of Cultural Heritage, 29 December 2008, archived from the original on 19 March 2012, retrieved 16 September 2011
6. 文物出境展览管理规定, State Administration of Cultural Heritage, 28 October 2007, archived from the original on 19 March 2012, retrieved 16 September 2011
7. 国家文物局发出通知　首批一级文物禁止出国（境）展览, The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site
8. 国家文物局发出通知　首批一级文物禁止出国（境）展览, Beijing Global Culture Information Technology, archived from the original on 2015-09-23, retrieved 2011-09-16
9. "彩绘鹳鱼石斧图陶缸". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
10. "陶鹰鼎". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
11. "司母戊铜鼎". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
12. "利簋". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
13. "大盂鼎". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
14. "虢季子白盘". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
15. "凤冠". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
16. "嵌绿松石象牙杯". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
17. "晋侯苏钟". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
18. "大克鼎". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
19. "太保鼎". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
20. "河姆渡出土朱漆碗". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
21. "河姆渡土"陶灶"". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
22. "良渚出土玉琮王". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
23. "水晶杯". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
24. "淅川出土铜禁". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
25. "新郑出土莲鹤铜方壶". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
26. "齐王墓青铜方镜". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
27. "铸客大铜鼎". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
28. "朱然墓出土贵族生活图漆盘". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
29. "司马金龙墓出土漆屏". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
30. "娄睿墓鞍马出行图壁画". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
31. "大玉戈". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
32. "曾侯乙编钟". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
33. "曾侯乙墓外棺". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
34. "曾侯乙青铜尊盘". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
35. "彩漆木雕小座屏". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
36. "红山文化女神像". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
37. "鸭形玻璃注". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
38. "青铜神树". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
39. "三星堆出土玉边璋". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
40. "摇钱树". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
41. "铜奔马". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
42. "铜车马". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
43. "墙盘". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
44. "淳化大鼎". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
45. "何尊". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
46. "茂陵石雕". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
47. "大秦景教流行中国碑". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
48. "舞马衔杯仿皮囊式银壶". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
49. "兽首玛瑙杯". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
50. "景云铜钟". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
51. "银花双轮十二环锡杖". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
52. "八重宝函". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
53. "铜浮屠". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
54. ""五星出东方"护膊". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
55. "铜错金银四龙四凤方案". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
56. "中山王铁足铜鼎". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
57. "刘胜金缕玉衣". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
58. "长信宫灯". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
59. "铜屏风构件5件". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
60. "角形玉杯". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
61. "人物御龙帛画". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
62. "人物龙凤帛画". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
63. "直裾素纱禅衣". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
64. "马王堆一号墓T型帛画". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
65. "红地云珠日天锦". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
66. "西夏文佛经《吉祥遍至口本续》纸本". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
67. "青花釉里红瓷仓". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.
68. "竹林七贤砖印模画". The Chinese Cultural Heritage Protection Web Site.