Story perspectives

China Pressures Japan for Return of Historic Stele

1/18/2026

Center

China Seeks Heritage Return

Chinese researchers and Japanese activists urge Japan to return the Tang Honglu Well Stele, looted over 120 years ago.
The appeal comes as regional tensions rise and China campaigns to reclaim cultural heritage.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans a snap election to solidify leadership, with the vote to be called by January 23 and voting possible in early February, risking delays to the national budget.

Left

China Demands Artifact Return

Chinese researchers intensify calls for Japan to return the Tang Honglu Well Stele, seized during the Russo-Japanese War.
A Shanghai University research center confirms the Tang Honglu Well Stele records interactions between the Tang Dynasty and the Bohai Kingdom.
The stele weighs approximately 9.5 tons and is the largest looted Chinese artifact in Japan.
Historical documents reveal Japan's systematic methods for collecting Chinese treasures during wartime.

History

Historical Context

Japan formally annexed Korea in 1905 after the Russo-Japanese War, leading to the appropriation of cultural artifacts like the Tang Honglu Well Stele. This 9.5-ton stele, now in Japan, represents Japan's wartime looting of Chinese heritage. As tensions rise, Chinese activists demand its return, highlighting ongoing disputes over cultural property that exacerbate nationalistic sentiments and diplomatic challenges between China and Japan.

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China Seeks Heritage Return

Chinese researchers and Japanese activists urge Japan to return the Tang Honglu Well Stele, looted over 120 years ago.
The appeal comes as regional tensions rise and China campaigns to reclaim cultural heritage.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans a snap election to solidify leadership, with the vote to be called by January 23 and voting possible in early February, risking delays to the national budget.

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