An Interesting Case

Dispute over the Deng Xiaoping Vase

In case you missed Nov. 27's CCTV News program Social Record (Shehui Jilu), it had a very interesting report about a cultural relicts case that is worth recounting. (I wasn't paying close attention until the program was about 2/3 done, so the details are a bit sketchy. Perhaps someone else can help fill them in. Anyway,here's what I picked up.)

At some point during the Revolution, Deng Xiaoping and a farmer family had been neighbors. (I didn't catch the name of the location, but I don't think it was Yanan.) Deng and the grandfather became friends, and when Deng left the area, he gave the grandfather a very valuable vase as a token of their friendship.

The case began in 1973 when the grandfather "gave" the vase to the local museum. However, by the 1980's, the family wanted it returned. The museum refused, claiming the vase was donated. The dispute continued, and in 1993, the museum gave the family 800 RMB compensation for the vase. However, the family still wanted the vase back. They argued that the vase was not willingly given to the museum and that 800 RMB was not full compensation for its worth. In 2004-ish, the family sued. The local court looked to the cultural artifact law and held that because the museum had purchased the vase
for 800 RMB that it had properly acquired it. The family was still not satisfied. The grandfather subsequenlty died, and the son is still seeking the return of the vase.

Social Record interviewed both sides on the subject. The family claims it wishes to honor the friendship and respect that a great man paid on their family. The museum director, however, argued that the vase was definitely donated. Asked why no compensation had been asked for at the time, he reminded the TV interviewers that at that time in Chinese history (the C. Rev.), no one would ask for a monetary reward for giving something to the state. He stood by his position that the vase was donated. The program went back to interview surviving neighbors, but no one "remembers" what happened.

I thought this was both an interesting legal case and an interesting news report. Suggests perhaps some willingness to address a difficult time in modern history. Worthy of further reflection.

Welcome

Welcome to Confucian Liberal. This informal journal seeks to offer policy ideas and philosophical reflection in our increasingly interconnected global community.

The title embodies the twin themes of the journal. First, classical Confucians and modern liberals each believe that government has an important role to play in improving our world. Today more than ever, ensuring our public institutions function efficiently, fairly, and productively is critical to our quality of life. Our online universe, however, offers few places to raise concrete ideas on specific policies that could be adopted in the US and/or China. This journal seeks to partially fill that gap.

Second, Confucian Liberal harkens to the commonalities and differences across cultures and ideas. Confucianism and Liberalism, China and America, past and present: all have been seen as deeply at odds. Yet in a world where goods, ideas, and people cross oceans like streets, we recognize that we have no choice but to toil together. We start from our own places, but in this new small world we dive into the places of others. While differences appear pronounced at first, when we dig deep enough we recognize that our rivers flow from the common wellspring of humanity, good and bad (Tu Weiming.) But we must begin to dig; this journal scratches the surface.

Although policy ideas and philosophy will be discussed, this web log will not contain a political agenda, offer direct political criticism, or organize action of any sort. Rather, it will focus on positive analysis and measured reflection that can help us understand and improve our respective communities.


The reader's criticism is invited -- and needed.


Andy Green
Suzhou, China