Dear young readers, the history passed down the generations across the succeeding dynasties over 5,000 years has created the spectacular Chinese civilization, an unrivaled wonder in human history.The nebulous night sky of history oversees the rise and fall of nations, of peoples, of individuals, and of their dreams and ambitions. It sees laudable sages and throngs of heroes and heroines on their journey to finding their places within itself, themselves passing into myth and legacy. It is only through meditating upon this collective mythos that one begins to appreciate the fathomless depths of Chinese culture.Suspended like stars in this sky are cultural relics which can be bulky or delicate, austere or ornate, solemn or humorous, grand or novel. As we gaze upon their constellations, we come upon awe, reverence and fascination, catching glimpses of the intricate culture which would evoke such emotions. The Chinese term “文物” (wenwu, cultural relics or artifacts) first appeared with specific meaning in The Commentary of Zuo (Zuo Zhuan), a chronicle of the Spring and Autumn Period (771-476 BC). Specifically, the term meant “laws and regulations regarding rites and music” prevalent at the time.As time went on, society and science flourished, language evolved both in spoken and written forms. The concept and meaning of the term “wenwu” also changed continuously in annals and biographies, poems and proses, and academic works of all kinds. Eventually, its definition settled on the description widely adopted today: All objects of value created by humans or related to human activities left in the historical development of human society.Cultural relics are often subject to lengthy periods of neglect in which they can become buried deep in the earth, abraded from their former colors, broken into disparate fragments, or forgotten in foreign lands far from their origin.Only through the work of archaeologists, naturalists, historians and other cultural experts in exploration, excavation, restoration, categorization, authentication and storage of cultural relics do the rusty and worn metals and scraps left in obscure corners come back into daylight, gaining their rightful position as national treasures. Sometimes experts have to persistently demand the return of such artifacts from foreign collections, since they encapsulate specific periods in Chinese history.Their forms and patterns divulge the ancients’ philosophy of endlessly pursuing knowledge and aesthetics in both physical and spiritual realms; their materials and techniques embody the skills and wisdom of our ancestors, who could turn stone into gold;their marks and meanings portray the unconventional outlook of the sages; the rules of their purpose reveal the grandeur and inclusiveness of the Chinese nation; their loss and eventual recovery bespeak the ups and downs of the nation across the dynasties; while their resurgence and rejuvenation bear witness to the resilience of the Chinese civilization despite the endless vicissitudes.Dear young readers, we take cultural relics as national treasures because they have profound historical and cultural value, but more importantly, the journey of the cultural relics from the glory of the world to the dusty corner and then back in the light of day is a true reflection of how the Chinese civilization withstands the most testing storms, accumulates strength in the most difficult times until it rises again.While time has dulled the vibrancy of national treasures, it continues to polish the civilization into a jewel; while the centuries have washed away the gloss of artifacts, they have transposed their brilliance towards the nation’s resurgent identity.Today, they lie peacefully and quietly in the museum windowcase, telling people of both the languid and turbulent years. They are waiting for you to open this book, to join mom and dad in delving into this rich sea of knowledge, to appreciate their wonder and magnificence.I hope you enjoy this book. Li Yeping