Chinese Cultural Relics Turned Into Memes

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In order to mark International Museum Day and gain renewed attention for Chinese cultural relics, Sina Breaking News posted pictures of some ancient artefacts with meme-style text overlaid, which have since been widely shared.

Some social media users saw the funny side but others claimed they were "insulting".

These figurines apparently sharing a high five are on display in Beijing's Palace Museum. Dating back to the Tang dynasty (618 to 907 AD), they are fashioned in painted pottery.

According to the museum's website the figurines' "costume and posture" suggest they are likely "to be performing what is known as a soft dance... belonging to ethnic Han people".

The museum does not specify if high fives are a traditional component of the dance.

This pottery statue of a man's head is thousands of years old, dating back to the neolithic era. His meme makeover is 'Aaah???'...which is probably an appropriate response to being thousands of years old.

According to the Zhejiang Library, this figure is also housed in the Beijing Palace Museum.

The library's website says the figure originates from the Qing dynasty, which spanned from the mid-17th Century until 1912 and depicts a "Lohan sitting figure".

A Lohan (or luohan) is one who has attained enlightenment, or is far along the path towards it.

So unless you are too, the figure here could probably be forgiven for not listening.

The images posted by Sina Breaking News have attracted tens of thousands of shares, likes and comments, some of which showing Weibo users unimpressed.

However, others found the memes "cute" and funny, also consider them a new method of attracting attention to Chinese cultural relics and the museums, and increasing people’s interest towards history and cultural artefacts.

The debate comes in the wake of an incident in Beijing's Forbidden City earlier in May. Tourists were warned not to steal rocks after one posted a picture of souvenirs she had taken from the grounds of the palace complex. Many social media users condemned the incident at the time.

So what do you think of this kind of behaviour? Do you consider it insulting? Or just a bit of fun to attract attention to museums?

What is your opinion? 

Let us know! Comment below (click "写留言" at the bottom of the page)!

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