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.
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.
posted by Andy Green at
11:41 PM
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