Ming Dynasty statue unearthed in WA back in Chinese hands
A small Buddha statue discovered by prospectors in Shark Bay is officially returned to Chinese officials in an emotional ceremony.
A Ming Dynasty Buddha statue, unearthed in Shark Bay, Western Australia, eight years ago, has been returned to Chinese officials at a ceremony in Denham. Leon Deschamps and Shayne Thomson, the prospectors who discovered the 15-centimetre bronze statue, promised their friend Nick Pedrocchi, a Malgana man, that they would ensure its safe passage home. The statue, tested to determine its history, will be displayed in a Beijing museum.
At the ceremony, Deschamps and Thomson honored their deceased friend, sharing their emotional connection to the Buddha. The statue will return to China with red dirt from Shark Bay and a golden pearl shell. Simon Wu, president of the Australia China Friendship Society WA, emphasized the significance of the repatriation, stating it as an example of bringing cultures, countries, and people together through a small object.
The Buddha's connection to Shark Bay extends to the region's pearling industry, which was established by Chinese people in the 1850s. The statue's journey back to China is expected to foster a lasting friendship between the two nations.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
