The gleaming bronze heads of the Tiger, Pig, Ox, and Monkey are drawing throngs of visitors to Macao’s Poly MGM Museum. These remarkable sculptures, originating from Beijing’s Old Summer Palace, known as Yuanmingyuan, have captivated audiences with their intricate craftsmanship and poignant history.
Once part of a magnificent water clock fountain, the 12 Chinese zodiac animal heads adorned the gardens of the Old Summer Palace during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911). In 1860, the palace faced devastation when it was looted by the Anglo-French allied forces during the Second Opium War. Many of the bronze heads were lost, and their whereabouts remain a mystery, symbolizing a turbulent chapter in China’s past.
The four rediscovered heads are now the centerpiece of the exhibition \
Reference(s):
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