The 32-ton Iron Lion in China is a testament to the enduring existence and immense value of cultural heritage. However, the incident of “improper preservation” has become a costly lesson for Chinese archaeologists.
The wisdom possessed by ancient people may have exceeded our imagination at this point. Such examples abound in China: from ancient tombs and the mausoleums of emperors from great dynasties to all kinds of exquisite and skillfully crafted cultural relics. These not only embody the hard work of laborers but also the intellect of the ancients.
However, due to technological and methodological limitations, we have been unable to properly preserve most of the products of this intellect. For example, the ancient lion statue “Zhen Hai Hong” that we are about to discuss today has existed for thousands of years, but it is now gradually crumbling due to the “clever” protection of experts.
This lion statue measures 6.264m in length, 5.47m in height, and up to 2.918m in width.
In the city of Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China, there is an incredibly famous lion statue that dates back over 1,000 years. This lion statue measures 6.264m in length, 5.47m in height, and up to 2.918m in width, with an estimated weight of around 32 tons.
The Zhen Hai Hong currently exists in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, and according to historians’ conjectures, it was cast around the year 590 AD and has a history spanning thousands of years. What astonishes countless people is that it is not only of colossal size and weighs up to 32 tons but also has a majestic, lifelike appearance.
After thorough research, experts believe that this lion statue is modeled after the beloved mount of Manjushri Bodhisattva (according to Chinese Buddhist tradition, Manjushri Bodhisattva was entrusted by the Buddha Shakyamuni to propagate Buddhist teachings here). In addition to the hypothesis that this iron lion is the mount of Manjushri Bodhisattva, another legend has been passed down in folklore. It is believed to be a divine object capable of suppressing tsunamis. Shijiazhuang is located near the sea, so since ancient times, local people have had to contend with storms and tsunamis. Hence, it was named Zhen Hai Hong.
It can be said that this lion statue is a priceless treasure in terms of manufacturing technology and historical value. However, such an invaluable treasure has suffered numerous disasters caused by humans since the 19th century.
Zhen Hai Hong faces southwest, striking a fierce and majestic pose.
First, in 1803, due to a storm, the Zhen Hai Hong statue was “blown away,” however, local officials did not recognize the severity of the situation and were reluctant to waste financial resources to rescue it, so the iron lion lay on the ground for over 90 years.
When Zhen Hai Hong was finally “rescued,” the area where the statue made contact with the ground had been severely eroded. But this did not affect the integrity of the lion statue. However, the second nightmare soon arrived; over time, China began to realize the importance of protecting cultural relics and sought advice from Soviet experts on how to preserve the lion statue. As a result, the Soviet experts took an action that many still regret today!
They believed that since the iron lion feared water, measures should be taken to prevent the statue from coming into contact with water. Accordingly, it was best to build a pavilion to prevent rainwater from eroding the lion statue.
However, after the pavilion was built, the rusting of the iron lion worsened. Due to the existence of the roof, the lion statue was deprived of ventilation, leading to increased humidity around its surface. When the local authorities became aware of the issue, they decided to remove the roof, but too much time had passed, and the lion statue had suffered severe rust damage.
This incident caused an uproar in public opinion and raised many questions about the responsibility of experts in heritage preservation. The “renovation” that lacked scientific rigor and caution destroyed a priceless historical treasure, leaving a costly lesson for future generations.
Placing support tubes caused cracks to appear, with more than a dozen damages on the surface.
To rectify past mistakes, in 1984, experts in China suggested placing Zhen Hai Hong on a pedestal, whereby the Shijiazhuang government poured cement into the base of the statue and installed steel support tubes on its surface. These two actions directly dealt a fatal blow to the four legs of the iron lion, causing cracks and more than a dozen damages on the surface.
After each “renovation,” severely damaged parts of the statue were replaced with new materials, leading to the gradual replacement of the original, “diluting” its inherent historical value. Currently, the iron lion that has endured thousands of years of history still bears the marks of time with cracks and weathering. Although it has lost its “soul” and the inherent “patina” of the heritage.
