Compiler: Jia Shu

Publishing Date: May 2019

Publishing House: Xueyuan Press

A seminar on the book A First-rate Family of Cultural Relic Restoration was held in Beijing this August.

The work, published by Xueyuan Press, is a revised edition of the book Jia Family of Cultural Relic Restoration, which was published in 1997. It offers a glimpse of how the family has engaged in the restoration of cultural relics, which is of such great importance to cultural heritage, as well as mirroring the progress of cultural relic restoration in China over the past century.

The 500-page book has been compiled by Jia Shu, the family's third-generation restorer who works at the National Museum of China.

The book is made up of 10 sections, and includes lots of details about the origin of a school of restorers in Beijing and introduction of the Jia family.

It also collects a large number of photos about Chinese cultural treasures and the Jia family's life and connections to many famous artists, all of which are valuable both in terms of academic research and the enhancement of cultural relic awareness.

The prestigious late historian and paleographer Li Xueqin wrote a preface for this book, explaining the importance of restoring cultural relics.

According to Li, the glitter of ritualistic Chinese bronze vessels dating back to the Shang (1600-1046 BC) and Zhou (1046-256 BC) dynasties continues to shine in the eyes of modern audiences thanks to the efforts of both the archaeologists who unearthed them, and restorers, whose skillful hands reinstate their glory.

(Source: people.cn/Translated and edited by Women of China)