Chinese protests fail to stop 'illegal' water vessel sale
中国抗议未能阻止“非法"青铜水壶的出售
The Chinese government demanded the sale of the rare water vessel should not go ahead
中国政府要求停止该青铜水壶出售
A rare sacred Chinese bronze water vessel made between 2,200 and 3,600 years ago has been sold despite protests by the Chinese government.
不顾中国政府的抗议, 一个罕见而神圣的来自于2200至3600年前中国青铜水壶已经被出售。
The recently discovered bronze Tiger Ying sold at auction for £410,000, Canterbury Auction Galleries said.
最近被发现的青铜虎蓥在拍卖会上售出41万英镑，坎特伯雷艺术拍卖行说。
China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage condemned the auction saying the relic was taken illegally from the country in the 19th Century.
中国国家文物局谴责了这次拍卖，说，这件文物是在十九世纪从中国被非法拿走的。
Only six similar vessels were previously known to exist.
以前已知只有六个类似的器皿存在。
The vessel dates from the Western Zhou dynasty - 1027-771 BC - and was named the Tiger Ying because the spout and cover were each cast with models of the animal, the auctioneers said.
拍卖行说，该器皿来自于公元前1027-771的西周时期 - 而且因其壶嘴和盖子都是由老虎模具铸造的而被称为虎蓥。
'Respect national feelings’
"尊重民族感情"
It was taken by a British soldier during the capture of what is now called the Old Summer Palace in 1860. The auction house said letters from a Royal Marines captain to his family detailed the looting of the site, with one reading: "I succeeded in getting several bronzes and enamel vases that will, I hope, some day find their way to [his home in the UK].”
这个文物是在1860年圆明园被攻占时被一个英国士兵拿走的。拍卖行说，一个皇家海军陆战队队长在给他的家人的信件中详细的描述了对圆明园的掠夺，在一封信中写道: “我成功地拿到了几个青铜和搪瓷花瓶，我希望，有一天它们会到 (他在英国的家)。“
looting：looting v. 抢劫，掠夺
enamel：美 [ɪˈnæməl] n. 搪瓷;珐琅;指甲油
The vessel was found with three other later Qing dynasty bronze works of art in a home in Kent and had been given an estimated price of between £120,000 and £200,000, a Canterbury Auction Galleries spokesman said.
坎特伯雷艺术拍卖行发言人说，这个器皿是和另外三个大一些的、来自于清朝晚些年间的青铜艺术品一起，在肯特郡的一个家中被发现。这些文物的估价是在12万英镑和20万英镑之间。
The Chinese government agency said it had contacted the auction house "through various channels", demanding the cancellation of the sale and telling the auction house to "abide by the spirit of international agreements and code of professional ethics, as well as respecting the cultural rights and national feelings of the Chinese people”.
该中国政府机构表示，曾与拍卖行 "通过各种渠道 "取得联系，要求取消出售，并告诉拍卖行应“遵守国际协议和职业道德守则的精神，以及尊重中国人民的文化权利和民族感情。”
The Chinese government said it would be taking "all necessary measures" to get the relic back
中国政府称将“不惜一切努力”将这件文物收回
Hajni Elias, a Chinese art and cultural historian, said: "We cannot underestimate the wealth and sophistication of the late Zhou culture that created such an outstanding bronze vessel.
中国艺术和文化史学家 Hajni Elias说: “周朝晚期文化的财富和深度是不容忽视的，这种文化创造出如此杰出的青铜器皿。
Only men of high status, such as a king, his nobles and officials were able to obtain them.
只有身居高位的人，如国王、贵族和官员才能得到它们。
"They represent some of the finest vessels and are treasured by collectors and connoisseurs worldwide.”
“它们是器皿中最优秀的代表，受到世界各地的收藏家和鉴赏家的珍爱。
The State Administration of Cultural Heritage said it would "continue to take all necessary measures to retrieve cultural relics illegally obtained from China”.
中国国家文物局表示，将 “继续采取一切必要措施，取回非法从中国获得的文物”。
The auctioneers said they would not be commenting on the Chinese requests.
拍卖行表示，他们将不对中国的要求作出评论。
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