【环球时报综合报道】编者的话： 据法国24小时新闻电视台日前报道，该国计划通过立法简化流程， 加速将被盗文物"物归原国"。近年来，包括法国在内的一些西方国家政府和博物馆，已经归还了数量有 限的被掠夺文物。与此同时，部分欧美博物馆开始对其角色定位进行反思，从"有权拥有和解读艺术品 的收藏机构"逐渐演变为"对文物负有道德责任的保管者"。有专家对《环球时报》记者表示，这表明西 方博物馆正在经历身份危机，也折射了近代以来西方文化霸权的逐渐衰落。有评论称，随着时间的推 移，西方将越来越难为其保留被盗文物找借口。 " 普世博物馆 "VS" 有道德责任的保管者 据美国全国公共广播电台（NPR）报道，泰国政府去年致函美国旧金山亚洲艺术博物馆，要求后者归还 4尊佛教青铜雕像。"我们对此做了初步研究。"该博物馆负责东南亚艺术的副策展人赖克尔说，要确定 它们是被盗窃的并不难。在这些文物被送回泰国之前，旧金山亚洲艺术博物馆在其展览中解释了这些文 物最初是如何被机构收藏的。这种行动凸显了一种日益增强的趋势——博物馆对一些黑暗真相不再讳莫 如深。 NPR称，直到大约10年前，大多数西方博物馆都没有深入思考过其收藏文物的出处问题，更不用说 ...

Core Points - The Netherlands has officially returned 119 Benin bronzes to Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of heritage preservation and cultural promotion for national identity [1][2] - The bronzes, which were taken by British forces in 1897, include various artifacts such as human figures, animal figures, and royal insignia [1] - The return of these artifacts is part of a broader initiative by the Dutch government to address historical injustices related to colonial-era cultural property [2] Group 1 - The return ceremony took place at the National Museum in Lagos, where Nigeria's Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy highlighted the cultural significance of the bronzes [1] - The bronzes were created by the Edo people starting in the 13th century using lost-wax casting, showcasing intricate details and geometric patterns [1] - Among the returned items, notable pieces include a bronze commemorative head from the Benin Kingdom and an ivory sculpture depicting a narrative scene [1] Group 2 - The Dutch government has established an independent advisory body, the "Colonial Era Cultural Property Return Advisory Committee," to evaluate and recommend the return of cultural properties taken during colonial rule [2] - The return agreement was signed in February 2023, with a focus on cooperation and future collaboration between the Netherlands and Nigeria [2] - Initiatives include a digital heritage expert seminar to explore the digital preservation of the Benin bronzes and the development of online exhibition platforms [2]

Core Points - Nigeria and the Netherlands held a ceremony to return 119 Benin bronzes, fulfilling a commitment made in February [1][2] - The returned artifacts include a king's head, an ivory sculpture, and two animal-shaped bronzes, with the rest going to the traditional ruler of the Benin Kingdom [1] - The return of these artifacts is seen as a step towards restoring national pride and dignity for Nigeria [1] Summary by Sections Artifact Return - The 119 artifacts returned include 113 from the Leiden Museum in the Netherlands, which were acquired through violent means [2] - The Benin bronzes date back to the 16th to 18th centuries and represent the art of the Benin Kingdom [2] Cultural Diplomacy - Nigeria's Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy emphasized the country's right to reclaim its historical heritage [1] - The return is viewed as a model for other Western countries to follow in returning colonial-era looted artifacts [1] International Agreements - Germany has signed an agreement to return over 1,000 Benin bronzes to Nigeria, indicating a growing sense of historical responsibility in the international community [1][2]

Core Points - The article discusses the ongoing efforts by various countries, including Egypt and Nigeria, to reclaim cultural artifacts that were looted during colonial times, highlighting the importance of these artifacts in preserving national identity and history [1][10]. Group 1: Japan's Efforts in Repatriation - A Japanese civil organization, the "China Cultural Relics Return Movement Promotion Association," is actively urging the Japanese government to return Chinese artifacts looted during historical conflicts, emphasizing the need for accountability regarding Japan's imperialist past [2][5]. - The association has documented 15,245 rare Chinese artifacts that flowed into Japan from 1895 to 1945, with estimates suggesting that over 3.6 million items were looted during this period [4][6]. - The organization has faced challenges in negotiations with Japanese institutions, receiving repeated refusals for meetings and responses regarding their requests for artifact repatriation [5][6]. Group 2: Egypt's Repatriation Successes - Egypt has successfully reclaimed over 30,000 artifacts since 2014, with recent recoveries including 25 significant items after negotiations with the United States [8][9]. - The process of repatriation involves collaboration with international authorities and legal frameworks, such as the UNESCO 1970 Convention, to facilitate the return of illegally exported cultural property [11]. - Egypt plans to establish a comprehensive database of artifacts and utilize advanced technologies like blockchain to track the provenance of cultural items [9]. Group 3: Nigeria's Cultural Heritage Recovery - Nigeria has been actively pursuing the return of looted artifacts, particularly from the Benin Kingdom, with recent successes in negotiations with Western countries [10][11]. - The Nigerian government collaborates with various agencies to create memorandums of understanding for the repatriation of cultural property, emphasizing the need for compensation for historical injustices [11]. - Civil organizations like "Open Restitution Africa" are playing a crucial role in documenting and advocating for the return of African artifacts, reshaping the narrative around cultural heritage [11].