Remnants of the ancient Zidanku Silk Manuscript have returned to China after nearly 80 years in the United States, arriving at Beijing Capital International Airport on May 19, 2025. This event marks a notable moment in cultural heritage preservation and international cooperation between China and the United States.

The manuscript, estimated to be over 2,300 years old, was handed over during a ceremony at the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., following its transfer from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art to China's National Cultural Heritage Administration.

The Zidanku manuscript, named after the region of Changsha in Hunan Province, is recognized as the earliest Chinese silk text discovered and serves as a significant cultural artifact from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).

The manuscript was originally stolen by grave robbers in 1942 and illegally transported to the U.S. in 1946.

The volumes returned include _Wuxing Ling_ and _Gongshou Zhan_, designated as Volumes II and III.

These manuscripts cover topics regarding taboos and auspicious practices in military rituals.

Volume I, which remains in private ownership, has not yet been repatriated, although efforts for its return continue, as stated by the National Cultural Heritage Administration.

Xie Feng, the Chinese ambassador to the United States, described the return of the two volumes as a cultural milestone reflective of the cooperative relationship between China and the U.S. He emphasized the important results achieved through dialogue marked by mutual respect and equality.

The ambassador noted that recent heritage cooperation has been fruitful, with around 600 artifacts repatriated to China, including more than 40 this year.

Li Ling, a prominent archaeologist from Peking University who has studied the Zidanku manuscript for over 40 years, compared it to the Dead Sea Scrolls for its cultural significance, providing insights into the ancient Chinese world of occultism.

Chinese Vice-Minister of Culture and Tourism Rao Quan highlighted that the manuscript's return fulfills a long-held wish of the Chinese people to reclaim national treasures.

He emphasized the importance of understanding and interpreting these artifacts in their original cultural context.

Chase F. Robinson, director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, stated that the transfer reflects a commitment to international cooperation.

He remarked on the museum's long-standing engagement with Chinese cultural institutions aimed at expanding the understanding of Chinese art history.

The Zidanku manuscript is set to make its public debut in July at the National Museum of China, where it will be featured in an exhibition dedicated to repatriated cultural relics.

Experts view this repatriation as a breakthrough, encouraging U.S. museums to engage further with China on similar cultural issues.

The topic of repatriating cultural artifacts has gained increasing attention globally, with many countries advocating for the return of items significant to their heritage.

China has intensified its efforts in recent years, fostering cooperation in cultural heritage preservation while addressing the longstanding challenges posed by the vast number of lost treasures abroad.

The journey of these artifacts underscores the importance of acknowledging provenance and researching the histories of cultural items within an international context.