The 144 Billion Dollar Art Robbery Opium War Theft, Sacking Of the Yuanmingyuan The Summer Palace

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The 144 Billion Dollar Art Robbery Opium War Theft, Sacking Of the Yuanmingyuan The Summer Palace
Chinese history and their abuse at the hands of the British and French Military.
In 1860 Britain along with France raided, looted, and burned possibly the finest collection of Chinese art ever assembled. All done after addicting millions of Chinese to Opium, all of it illegally smuggled into the country for nearly 100 years.
One of the great crimes of the last 200 years.
Check our other video's including "The Red Gaurd and Mao's Preservation of Art During The Cultural Revolution".
• The Red Gaurd and Mao'...
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[@user-cd7uc7dq8p]

Peter, thank you so much for telling the true story of the Yuan Ming Yuan to the western audiences. As a Chinese lives in overseas, every time when I saw our national treasures in western museums, my heart starts to bleeding. The hundred years of humiliation flashes back to my mind.

[@fakewhiteman3412]

Africa didn't say century of humiliation, bcos century of humiliation belong to white man it was white man commit unspeakable atrocities, how come century of humiliation belong to Chinese

[@user-cd7uc7dq8p]

@@fakewhiteman3412 These is an old Chinese saying “ The nation’s rising and falling is a common responsibility of every country man.” We feel shameful for we could not defend our country from the white robbers and yellow robbers for hundred years. We are trying everything we can to defend our homeland since that time.

[@fakewhiteman3412]

@@user-cd7uc7dq8p if a rape by b how come is a to feel shameful and responsible

[@user-cd7uc7dq8p]

@@fakewhiteman3412 For a victim of crime is not shame of her, but for a nation with over 5000 years continue history, could not defend herself is a kind of shame. Since then, Chinese people fighting with our blood and sweat for hundred years, now we have everything we need to defend our homeland. It is the time to wash off the shame which is the criminal forced upon us.

[@fakewhiteman3412]

@@user-cd7uc7dq8p one hindu said, white man success was build on stolen loot in the name of Jesus, so century of humiliation belong to white man, almost 100 million indigenous people in the western hemisphere have been killed or died prematurely bcos of European and their descendants, white man gave them smallpox blankets, aftet white man killed the native, white man gave thank to God for allowing them to slaughter the" savage "

[@stevencher9968]

China has not done a single wrong to warrant such invasions and the century of greatest humiliation in human history. The two opium wars, alliance of 8 nations and the Japanese invasion not only devastated China's economy, the Chinese people lost more than 30 million lives beside the annexation of Taiwan and ceding of Hong Kong. lnstead of making war reparation compensation to China, China had to pay the aggressors astronomical amount of compensation. China had the biggest economy through out many dynasties but was reduced to a backward and poor country. lmagine the amount of lost in wealth and status thru out. How much would all these add up to. Most indignantly, when China is now rising again to claim it's rightful place through hard work and diplomacy without wars, the same imperialists that have caused all the war atrocities against her are reenacting history with more disgraceful and dishonorable acts of containment by creating military blocs and despicable trade sanctions. This is how oppressors and aggressors by their DNA would never learn from history, that wars will be made imminent subjecting the world to possible total destruction.

[@stephenwang9567]

Devil's in human flesh. Demon's won't die till God throw them into the lake of Fire n Brimstones as stated in Scriptures.

[@gohmike6169]

Spot on.! The west still want to loot from China now

[@oweneather1435]

So, the Chinese EMPIRE ( not some impoverished and backward tribal enclave) was, with all its technical, philosophic and cultured awareness was totally unable to resist, at any time, the imprecations of Eiropean states, much younger and smaller, over three hundred years? Beggars belief. What was the Army, Navy and mandarins doing? Oh yes, they were filling their pockets with corrupt payments to allow the Europeans to trade. The Opium Wars, due to the intransigence of the Empire to set up a modern trading system, instead insisting on all payments in silver tail, force sale of opium to gain that silver. As the flush faced presenter states " 3,500 to 4000" British and French troops were enough to vanquish the might of the Chinese EMPIRE. What werevthe generals, Admirals and bureaucrats doing for three centuries instead of building their armed forces, playing snakes and ladders? Get real.

[@jeffmattson2295]

You're absolutely right in everything you say...feel better?

[@nreweel]

@@jeffmattson2295 well u should ask the same question when someone r-ed your mum or your daughters.

[@davidnimmo5115]

Thank you Peter for doing this video on the history of China.It is such a disgrace that the human race can be so evil I agree that these item that are in the museums should 100 percent be given back to the Chinese.I also agree about the Elgin marbles should be given back.

[@haniahannslew4108]

Totally agree. I really question people who pay respect to the descendent of the evil thief when Eliz2 passed away.

[@gohmike6169]

The colonizers should return all artifacts to the original countries

[@ihl0700677525]

Such things were common, like how the Japanese loot Korean palaces, or the Mongols/Yuan loot Song palaces, also sack of Baghdad, Delhi, Rome, Constantinople, Babylon, Carthage, etc. The strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must. Such is the way of the world.

[@joellis5915]

@@ihl0700677525 Vow, Barbarian/Pirate/US/UK/Europe from ancient to modern time. Still BEASTS, according to your myopia view without ever being cured or curbed as the whole world views the West's Barbarism Today. That a idiot like you are so proud and honored to be a theft, cheater, and Murder for Profit as the Secretary of State admitted to the world citizens.

[@herondesign4507]

@@ihl0700677525 According to this theory, when China returns to the world's No. 1 position, it can also loot Britain again, right?

[@ahliong]

As an overseas born Chinese, my heart bleeds to learn the extensive destruction of life, arts by the foreign countries in China. Thanks for your in depth research and sharing your information.

[@haniahannslew4108]

I feel the same when I saw those in British Museum - Chinese cultural relics fill 5 floors of British Museum. I was bleeding and screaming inside. I just found out 2 days ago that UK takes the most a total of 20640 pieces of Chinese treausres/ arts/cutlural relics. Totally, there are more than 1 Millions pieces of Chinese arts and cultural relics in 47 countries. That is how much the world looted from China, and how rich, culturally and economically, China was back then.

[@willx9352]

But what about the destruction wrought by the Red Guard. It is very convenient for China to focus on the destruction caused by foreigners as it diverts attention of the destruction carried out in the name of the Communist Party of China.

[@gzhou5432]

Reparations should be claimed ASAP

[@Jacob.D.]

Don't define ourselves as victims in any situation. Indeed there are things that the 'others' had taken from us, but please don't forget, there are still countless things we took from others...

[@DavidLuser1450butthurtSUBHUMAN]

these antiques came together with K 4 R |\/| 4 ...that's why S@t'n|c west is now going ↘⬇

[@thomaschan8205]

Thanks, Peter for this very deep insight, How dare UK tell the world that China is a threat to them? UK MUST RETURN THE LOOTS BACK TO CHINA!

[@mikemooney9124]

Peter, sincere thanks for bringing this issue to the attention of the public. Like much colonial destruction around the world it has been deliberately kept hidden for obvious reasons. However the wronging of China continues to the very present day and many of it’s treasures are now hidden in plain sight in Europe and America. These colonial countries which included the United States ransacked this Palace which held the equivalent of the Louvre x 20… the ransacking of a nation and something which the west has still not been held to account for… particularly the British… shame, shame, shame. This is how the British Empire achieved it’s greatness while it wiped out ethnic minorities in North America and pillaged India at the same time…. Enough to make you vomit.

[@kisaia]

I have learned so much from you. I'm an art teacher, and this info will be passed on to my students. We are covering cultural appropriation and cultural theft this semester as part of our art history unit. Thank you so much for sharing the ugly truth. The more we know, the better we can be in the future.

[@haniahannslew4108]

Thank you for letting your students know the truth. This truth must be told to younger people why China and many non vvestern countries are mad when vvestern countries speak on their moral high ground.

[@haniahannslew4108]

I just found out 2 days ago that UK takes the most a total of 20640 pieces of Chinese treausres/ arts/cutlural relics. Totally, there are more than 1 Millions pieces of Chinese arts and cultural relics in 47 countries. That is how much the world looted from China, and how rich, culturally and economically, China was back then. They also stole tea tree and porcelain techniq back home to plant the tree and produce porcelain. That killed Chinese tea and porcelain industry.

[@Booka60]

I have known of this sorted history for years. Each time I see a particularly fine Chinese piece coming up for auction, I always mutter to myself "Well, we know where that came from".

[@Johnmartin-vz7yc]

Peter I started collecting Chinese porcelains 20 years ago and this led to an interest in Chinese history. I discovered a whole new world of China and south east Asia, with its own culture, politics, religion you name it, that we in Europe know little or nothing about. What little we know even today is based on a Eurocentric imperialist perspective. Unlike the experience of the new world cultures which were easily dominated by Europe, China was richer and probably superior to the European culture, Voltaire thought so, that engaged with it, at least until China’s “century of humiliation”. You describe the outcome vividly. Knowing something of the history brings the porcelain to life and places it in a living context and not just as beautiful items in show cases! Thank you for an extremely objective and informative video.

[@haniahannslew4108]

I hope European countries particularly UK and France return arts and cultural relics from the Yuanmingyuan The Summer Palace back to China.

[@haniahannslew4108]

I wonder whether they feel shameful to build their country to this day from looting and robbing other countries' treasures and hardwork.

[@gerry9286]

Great comment.

[@loktom4068]

@@haniahannslew4108 To the WEST, looters the keepers. Still practicing all the famous Victorian gêné pools bible text book office looting, chaos, and génocides.

[@DavidLuser1450butthurtSUBHUMAN]

@@haniahannslew4108 keep dreaming naivete....satan aint' satan if it can repent

[@hsimon90]

There are many, many tragic moments in this complex tale. Very sad that this masterpiece of Chinese culture was destroyed in this way. The world is filled with things that are nothing special. The Summer Palace was something special. We are all poorer for its ruin.

[@fargr5926]

well said. the turmoil continues, until today.

[@MrBravoamigo]

From a Chinese perspective, this is a very informative, objective and unbiased description of the Opium Wars. The attack on Peking, capital of the Ching Dynasty, was a joint union of armies from 8 countries headed by the British and French........including the USA! Italy, Japan, Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary. My heart sinks!

[@Bailey110489]

Yes, Qing dynasty was weak, Chinese people suffered so much!

[@willengel2458]

they still do it today in the name of freedom and democracy.

[@Anonymous------]

@@willengel2458 More like Fleedom and Deathmocracy.

[@gramma677]

If people think America was involved with their enemy, the British in the summer palace, then I don't know what to do. C'mon man. C'mon. Jeeez@@willengel2458

[@MrBravoamigo]

Study the history well please. The Eight-nation alliance included Germany, Japan, Russia, Britain, France, United States, Italy, and Austria-Hungary according to Wikipedia. Read it intensively! This is fact and not fabricated by me or any Chinese!@@gramma677

[@foxxxzh]

Thank you so much for introducing this tragic history to western audiences

[@sherylgergen6672]

Wonderful, interesting lecture! This is a very tragic part of Chinese history that many do not know of. I believe any of these priceless treasures known to have been stolen should be returned to China. Would love to see more of these informative videos! Thank you!

[@haniahannslew4108]

I bet British history books don't teach this thing to their people so that they can keep their image and name shining.

[@belle801000]

Absolutely agree. They should return to China all the looted things. Germany returned many of the Arts and treasure looted by the Nazi during WW2, why won't the British, Spaniards and French do the same????? Double standard.

[@Purwapada]

given back to china so they can be destroyed by the next cultural revolution. why not ask the chinese to give back what they stole from other groups in the region

[@hanfucolorful9656]

You may want to see the video with title: #3D technology restores the original of Yuanmingyuan imperial garden

[@sherylgergen6672]

@@hanfucolorful9656 I'll check that out. Thank you!

[@huzhuiwei]

The palace’s demolition was witnessed by Captain Charles "China" Gordon: “after pillaging it, [we] burned the whole place, destroying in a vandal-like manner most valuable property, which could not be replaced for millions... you can scarcely imagine the beauty and magnificence of the palaces we burned... it was a scene of utter destruction which passes my description”.

[@johnyossarian9059]

@John Ashtone This is an apologia for British imperialism

[@johnyossarian9059]

@John Ashtone says a British colonialism apologist

[@yummytummy88]

@John Ashtone don't be surprised China will return the favor in due time.

[@sweesboey7177]

@John Ashtone What you said about Mao destroying Chinese culture during the Cultural Revolution is one of the frequent shibboleths we hear from not very well informed foreigners. It completely ignores certain facts, while giving undue and exaggerated emphasis to others. The Cultural Revolution's most destructive phase happened between 1966 to 1968, and there was indeed widespread destruction of cultural properties and sites. Temples had their effigies burnt, sometimes tombs had their headstones smashed and some ancient stelae were also destroyed. Most of the destruction though of historical sites could be repaired - for instance, after the Cultural Revolution, the stelae in the Confucian temple in Qufu were pieced together, and some wooden plaques as well as old wooden statues were replaceable. The originals may be gone, but they were replaced by very faithful replicas. On the other hand, none of the major art and cultural collections in museums were touched by the Cultural Revolution. None of the great Buddhist cave art was damaged during this period, nor any of the palaces in Beijing, Shenyang and Chengde (or their contents) and archaeology flourished during the early 1970s. Actually, certain museums, especially the Shanghai Museum, benefitted from the Cultural Revolution, because a lot of prominent artworks and ancient books in private collections were donated to museums so that owners would escape persecution for owning any item anathematised as being part of the '4 olds'. The main tragedy was that a lot of lesser known art and books held in private hands were destroyed in millions of private homes by their owners who wanted to avoid persecution. But China did not become, and is today not, a cultural desert. Just visit any major metropolitan museum to view the staggering amount of art on display - the Palace Museum (which still holds more than 1 million art pieces despite more than 600,000 items being shipped to Taipei by the KMT in 1949); the National Museum in Beijing; the Shanghai Museum; the Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan; and various others in Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Loyang, etc. The numbers of ancient printed books, many dating back to the Song and subsequent dynasties, held in public libraries all over China, is very impressive. So, it is nonsense to claim that the West saved Chinese culture. In fact, traditional Chinese culture was destroyed long before Mao by the influx of Western influence in China, especially during the May 4th Movement in 1919 when classical Chinese education was rejected by Western influenced intellectuals, and the coup de grace was delivered later by Western pop culture, which entered China in a big way from the 1990s and catered to the lowest common denominator of consumerism and contributed much to brushing aside the remaining bits of traditional culture. By contrast, Mao's anti-Confucius campaign did not long survive his death in 1976, and today, with official patronage, Confucianism is enjoying a resurgence in China. There is a current cultural renaissance of a sort in China, but with a huge amount of consumerist and pop art influence which one can find a little tasteless, but the renewed interest in classical literature such as poetry of the Tang, Song and Yuan periods, the Hanfu movement, Peking opera, etc, are good signs of cultural continuity and revival. This owes nothing to the West.

[@multiplierfx6429]

@John Ashtone So it's 100% OK then for China to ransack and loot the Windsor to save it from future generation of brits who might won't be able to appreciate its own culture? What a typical western mental gymnastics just to escape the fact that your ancestors were thieves.

[@bradbailey5807]

Looks like you've got a hit on your hands, Mr. Combs, judging by the number of comments on this video. Please tell us more about Western Imperialism and its destruction of entire cultures, countries, customs and traditions around the world in the last 400 to 500 hundred years.

[@bradbailey5807]

@@gramma677 You're confusing the 2,700 year old Chinese monarchy with the term "imperialism." They're two completely different things. Kindly get a clue before putting your foot in your mouth.

[@David-hk3ly]

Some egregious examples of further looting 1900 British troops looted the oldest Chinese painting in history the Admonitions scroll by Gu Kaizhi of the 5th century AD. It sits in the British Museum. The troops of 8 nations literally emptied the entire Forbidden Palace of its treasures. 1907-1908 Aurel Stein and Paul Pelliot shipped the entire contents of a secret library of thousands of manuscripts and paintings) from Dunhuang China to Britain, India and France. The library and paintings dating from the 7-9th centuries are holed up in the British Museum and Musee Guimet as well as libraries and museums in Japan, Russia, India and South Korea. 1908 Pyotr Kozlov shipped thousands of objects (books and paintings)from the abandoned ruins of Kara Khoto (11 the century AD) Inner Mongolia to St Petersburg. 1904-1907 Albert Von LeCoq shipped 350 crates including the famous frescoes of Bezeklik which he sawed off in pieces. Dozens of these gigantic frescoes were blown to pieces during Allied raids in WWII. The caves of Bezeklik sit empty today since the art on the wall was stolen. 1924 Langdon Warner from Harvard, using a special glue, unpeeled 24 frescoes from the walls of Dunhuang China dating from the 8th -11 centuries. They today sit at the Fogg Art Museum. When Warner intended to continue to plunder in 1925 he was kicked out of the Dunhuang area putting an end to cultural imperialism.

[@fagugu5041]

Thank you so much for sharing

[@BM-rm5pw]

Thank you Peter for educating us regarding the dark history of Opium War in China. Warren Delano Jr. was an American merchant and became the second biggest drug smuggler (after Britain) who made a large fortune smuggling illegal opium into China in 1830"s. He was the maternal grandfather of U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. This type of history should also be depicted in the museum.

[@alanx1522]

Thanks for sharing. Well put, but I am sure your portrayal of what actually happened in the Summer Palace was the tip of the iceberg in every level. Tears in my eyes watching your video. Chinese nation been very forgiving given what happened & and a century of humiliation. No more. I am confident China is ready.

[@goldreverre]

That was great. I've read all this history before and know Chinese history pretty well, but you told it in a particularly engaging manner. I always felt burning the palace was akin to the burning of Alexandria's library... such a terrible loss that can never be recovered.

[@haniahannslew4108]

You know. When Nordredam Cathedral in Paris got fire, many Chinese people were happy and said: " that was karma". France soldier also took part in burning down the Summer Palace and looted all those treasures from China.

[@luosylenol6494]

@@haniahannslew4108 I believe such comments are only from very few people, most Chinese people have sympathy for the tragedies that happen anywhere.

[@haniahannslew4108]

@@luosylenol6494 No you are wrong. If you were in China, you would know how a lot of Chinese poeple felt. Many of them said "that was karma." They said Paris deserved that fire. Many Chinese people didn't feel any sympathy for Nordredam. The fire in Nordredam cathedral was nothing compared to what the France soldier burning down entire Summer Palace AND looting all the treasures and relics.

[@luosylenol6494]

@@haniahannslew4108 There are 1.4 billion people in China, you are taking a part for the whole. I believe more people have sympathy. Regarding the Summer Palace loot, Peter Combs has illustrated the history very well, and all the arts should be returned to China

[@haniahannslew4108]

@@luosylenol6494 There are 1.4 billion people in China. I didn't say all Chinese people. I said many and a lot of Chinese people said "that was karma." They said Paris deserved that fire. Many Chinese people didn't feel any sympathy for Nordredam.

[@giovannilee2602]

Very good video ! The good thing is the Chinese have not forgotten the humiliation….still burns in their mind

[@mostlykeith]

Makes me ashamed to be British... The UK should return all known looted/stolen items at once and stop being hypocrites about Russia’s invasion of The Ukraine...

[@charlesoh14]

Peter you are sharing a very important information worldwide. I hope one day soon all treasures everywhere will be returned to their rightful owners. Thanks again

[@PeterCombs]

I hope so too

[@liankaiyang9135]

@@PeterCombs 你是一个正直的人。每次想到我们的圆明园被烧毁，文物被掠夺，每次想到鸦片战争我的心都很愤怒

[@robertluff3976]

Absolutely brilliant presentation. Thank you so much Peter for explaining this terrible series of events in such detail. This could really be described as recent history. We all remember the return of Hong Kong to the Chinese people! I am a person who likes to understand the value of things and your estimate of the value of the palace collection is both realistic and astounding. Of course, you are correct that many bad things have occurred over history but this is one of those events that is not explained with this level of detail in the history classes of the West. Thank you again.

[@danise2079]

This was very informative and interesting to watch it makes me angry to see these museums displaying treasures that’s been stolen from all over the world which should be given back they have profited from them long enough

[@haniahannslew4108]

Totally agree. I feel the same when I saw those in British Museum - Chinese cultural relics fill 5 floors of British Museum. I was bleeding and screaming inside. I just found out 2 days ago that UK takes the most a total of 20640 pieces of Chinese treausres/ arts/cutlural relics. Totally, there are more than 1 Millions pieces of Chinese arts and cultural relics in 47 countries. That is how much the world looted from China, and how rich, culturally and economically, China was back then.

[@vancloudguy]

Not stolen, robbed is a more fitting word.

[@haniahannslew4108]

@@vancloudguy So true. They robbed.

[@luosylenol6494]

Peter, you are a true scholar, bring the great art of China to the world, hope more and more people can learn from you.

[@laurawong2509]

Thank you, Mr Combs, thank you so much for your very informative report on the looting and burning of the Summer Palace. It's so very tragic as what was stolen and destroyed cannot be resurrected. I feel that what was stolen and now in museums should be returned back to China. Even those sold in auctions and in private hands. This is especially so if it is on show in museums.

[@felixchan5173]

Thank you for the concise history of the infamous opium war and the despicable loot and destruction of Yuan Ming Yuen. They also bury a good part of the Chinese history in the burning of the library and the scrolls of calligraphy which is invaluable. It is a crime of the century!

[@bobbypang2909]

Wonderfully said and I never heard it better. I was from Britain and the opium war or looting of the summer palaces was something that was either unknown to most or never acknowledged. It is only in the recent 20yrs that more and more is written about it but little remains mentioned. I would like to see more of these videos of yours being made. So when people see these arts and treasures, they know where they came from.

[@MrBravoamigo]

Every Chinese know, young and old. Looting of the summer palace by British and French soldiers is too notorious!

[@theresaleung823]

@Bobby Pang And it will never be acknowledged. Colonist will not admit any atrocities to those that were bullied. They might have to pay reparations, which would be a no-no in their eyes!

[@haniahannslew4108]

That is why China and many non vvestern countries are mad when Uk and other EU countries speak on their moral high ground when UK and EU are so much morally worse.

[@haniahannslew4108]

@@MrBravoamigo Even overseas Chinese who were not born in China know too.

[@haniahannslew4108]

Britain also stole tea tree and porcelain techniq back home to plant the tree and produce porcelain. That killed Chinese tea and porcelain industry.

[@SuzushimaChin]

Jardine Matheson a company involved in the opium war (they supplied opium to china) delisted in Hongkong the year 1997 when china took control of the state. It relisted in Singapore the same year. They were so scared the Chinese will sanction them even though the Qing Dynasty had collapsed for a good 8 decades

[@unifieddynasty]

Much like the Greek and African artifacts, a common argument has also been made regarding artifacts taken from China. It goes something like, 'if we hadn't taken them, they would've been destroyed [by the Cultural Revolution]'. There are several refutations of this argument: 1. We cannot assume the artifacts would've been destroyed. The vast majority of Chinese history is still preserved and maintained in China. 2. There are many more examples of cultural destruction than just the Cultural Revolution. Relevantly, there is the looting and burning of the Summer Palace, or the imposition of western culture as part of western imperial hegemony. 3. Even if the artifacts were preserved overseas, does it justify them being kept overseas now? Why not return them to their rightful country? 4. If the neoconservative notion of 'saving' artifacts can be applied to China, then it can be applied to any nation in the world. No nation has ever escaped the destruction of their own artifacts throughout history. Shall we preserve Britain's artifacts by sending them to China? 5. The people who took the artifacts did so for material gain, not for the morality of saving the artifacts. And this is in the context of the Opium Wars, a wholly immoral, materialistic, culturally destructive crime instigated and perpetrated against China. 6. If the Chinese people want to preserve or destroy parts of their historical artifacts, it is up to the Chinese people, and it has always been up to the Chinese people for millennia before the Cultural Revolution. It is not up to outside actors to decide for the Chinese people.

[@fatherloves7325]

thanks for the great video!! Learned a lot. Yes, it is shameful that the British and French looted the Summer Palace. They need to return the looted items to China.

[@PeterCombs]

Totally agree

[@charlotteritchie3338]

Hi Peter, I was utterly transfixed by this video, by your excellent retelling and explanation of this fascinating and shameful part of Sino-European history. Thank you so much, and I agree with the others who suggest that you might do more of these….💗

[@petralui6873]

Thank you Peter for lighten me up that there are still people like you who care for the truth! 🙏🫶 I didn't know about this history myself until I traveled to China and spoke to people who explained it to me. As a European, I was stunned, surprised and ashamed at the same time.

[@cynthia888noni]

What a teacher you are! Wonderful! We enjoyed every bit of this video. I did hear about the opium wars, but never realised what an impact it had on the Chinese community and how it has changed their history. Thank you for showing us a glimpse of the letters that were written so eloquently. Have a great day!

[@haniahannslew4108]

I just found out 2 days ago that UK takes the most, a total of 20,640 pieces of Chinese treausres/ arts/cutlural relics. Totally, there are currently more than 1 Millions pieces of Chinese arts and cultural relics in 47 countries. That is how much the world looted from China, and how rich, culturally and economically, China was back then.

[@seitch1]

Thank you Peter for pulling together this fascinating look at the sacking of the Yuanmingyuan. The details are often glossed over in Western school lessons. Hopefully with KZbin as the medium, more people will be able to learn about history and though that have a better understanding of China and the Chinese today.

[@JenHope118]

Heartbreaking to recollect China's lost. China , a 5000 years old civilization was really rich during the Han, Yuan, Tang and Qing Dynasty. Chinese culture is mainly Confucius education. Admiral zhengHo sailed round the world, but didn't invade or break up other countries, they trade only. The Chinese were really rich during the Song, Yuan Tang and Qing Dynasty. The British extorted a million value in silver ingots from Qing Dynasty just so they could leave China. The ancient Chinese were so naive to think that others would treat them with respect.

[@pengann9648]

Certainly a great presentation! The information that were presented in our history books were much distorted. This presentation should be widely circulated. Instead of keeping it quiet, the parties involved should openly acknowledge the wrong doings, and not continue to behave in such domineering manner.

[@kinddragon313]

The French writer Victor Hugo wrote, "I prove once again that a robbery has just taken place. These two robbers, one named France, the other named English!

[@peterhope1986]

Great great video! Please do more of this type of videos whenever you can. Apparently it takes great deals of time and efforts in making this video. Couldn’t say enough of thanks to you Peter

[@hetervedehoff9514]

Thank you for this great story about this (for me) unknown part of history. It does give me new inside but also it puts me to think why China is so closed for other countries. And if I keep this story in my mind you can much much better understand the Chinese now. Thank you again and if you can make more these kind of videos it would be really really great! Looking forward to it.

[@willengel2458]

is Cuba a closed country? Cuba is forever under embargo and sanctions by the US. how about Iran?

[@jingzheng4117]

In 1405, China had big fleets went to as far as the Cape of Good Hope Africa. 62 ships, 28000 men, 7 trips in total. Didn’t have battle with any country, didn’t turn any place to a colony.

[@annapanna80]

This was an amazing hour. Thank you! 🙌 The west needs to learn more non-western history. We are often so self centered when it comes to history and culture.

[@thomasgomez4898]

I really enjoyed your historical survey of the Opium Wars. As a collector of Asian Art I thank you.

[@13hehe]

Thank you. I'm Chinese Canadian (born in China) and you do justice to the subject. On this topic... I visited Athens this past summer and visited Greek museums there. Athenians are still waiting for the return of their Elgin marbles. The damages of British imperialism..

[@h3dbopqux6ekvas98]

I can't stand to listen to the end of this video with my blood boiling. How can human bring be so cruel to humanity and culture.

[@onitasanders7403]

This was absolutely mesmerizing. Would love lo see more of these gems. This was an hour of my life worth spending with you, learning about the past, putting all these works of art in prospective. It was greatly appreciated. A thousand times, thank you.

[@annbushey4028]

Thank you Peter so much. You use the depth of your scholarship and knowledge to enlighten and clarify. Also your respect for the people of the art you love is deeply moving.

[@Sam-tq4zj]

Indeed a very good information of history. Now, I understand why China keep mentioning Hundred years of humiliation in the context of dealing with Western countries . It's happening again this time round. Western countries try to stop China from being better in all aspects. Interesting piece of the information here is China had been supplying 80% of trade in the old days. Now they are back.

[@lulubird2351]

Our entire family watched it. Would love more of this if you can. LuAnn F.

[@jayrenbiz]

Love your unbiased depiction of this whole thing and I truly learned alot!

[@claramartins6727]

I absolutely loved this storytelling of history! Please make more of these videos, I appreciate how much effort goes into the making them. Thank you.

[@andrewfung1672]

Many thanks for a great job. Keep it up. The Elgins: like father like son. The father looted the "Elgin" marbles (now in the British Museum?) from the Parthenon, Athens. The son looted and burnt the Yuanmingyuan.

[@wheniamfree]

Thanks, Peter for this nice documentary... I don't think if it had happened in Versaille or London the French or English would forget about it.

[@glennpierce1500]

Thank you for the wonderful presentation. I now have a good understanding of the Opium Wars which I have always wondered about. You are a great educator in the area of Chinese and Asian antiquities.

[@gillyphipps4457]

Peter, thank you. Your history lesson was a joy to listen too … and the travesty of the looting and destruction will stay with me … sad tales.

[@lorriedmussett4692]

I couldn't has asked for anything else to watch that would bring me complete joy & relaxation over dinner. PETER PLEASE DO AS MANY OF THESE AS YOUR WILLING TO DO! I can listen to you for hours, day , whatever. I just enjoy how you present stuff. I enjoy learning e ery time! I love that it's not odfixal and stuffy.

[@melodicallydriven7952]

Thank you for the evaluating the loss, it is impressive. And not only that but also the invaluable treasure lost to humanity forever

[@MariAmmaSar]

At 15:32, where you mention the inexplicable end of Chinese voyages overseas in 1525, that would match up with the murderous Spanish and Portuguese raids into India in the late 1490s'. Alfonso d'Alberqerque had several run ins with Arab traders and Muslim pilgrim ships in the Indian Ocean at the time he arrived in Goa and Malabar in 1500 or so. The seafaring Chinese admiral Cheng Ho lived in Calicut, Malabar for about 10years and he died there.

[@kkay2000]

Thanks, Mr. Combs. An excellent expose...

[@nodargviniashvili8470]

Dear Peter, Thank you so very much for your endeavors to enrich our knowledge, a gift much appreciated, may you grant us many more!! Nodar & Hania Gviniashvili

[@PeterCombs]

So nice of you

[@jorggerdom7559]

It would be interesting wich pieces from the yuanmingyuan are identified in museums, collections etc. Maybe a second part of this video. Thank you very much for your great knowledge.

[@bettywong53]

Thank you very much for telling the world the true story. Thank you, Thank you !

[@yusufbych6308]

Thank you for telling the story, We need to get it into the daylight.

[@meimiaolin2581]

Definitely a very thought provoking video from Peter Combs.

[@chanty-ti7hs]

I am a Chinese but borned in Singapore. I enjoy every bit of your narrative. Thank you for your research and hard work.

[@Jason-sf8vx]

Yuanmingyuan was one of the most beautiful place with alot of valuable collections

[@onitasanders7403]

This was absolutely fascinating and well worth the hour of my life learning about the back story of those great works of art from that time period. Thank you so much for taking the time to research and present to all of us a most enlightening adventure. A thousand times, “Thank You”.

[@georgegharakhanian5956]

I have read a lot of history but this was done beautifully I am very thankful for the knowledge. Drew Sheard weed us

[@georgegharakhanian5956]

I am trying to subscribe to your Channel and I don't know how I press this subscribe button 304 times nothing happened

[@lynnetteanderson3818]

Thank you so much for putting this video together. I love learning about Chinese history. It is very much tied in with my fascination for Chinese porcelain.

[@0311ohrah]

Thank you Peter for your extensive knowledge and detail narrative on the subject in English.

[@adamlehr8820]

Thank you, Peter. I never knew this, the sacking of the Summer Palace, what history I did read throughout my life born in 1956 was slanted favorably towards the Europeans. I read Pearl S. Buck's books, The Good Earth and Tsu Hsi, the last Empress of China. You gave a wonderful narrative, I stayed with the phone until the very end.

[@pattymyers4729]

This was wonderfully entertaining and informative. I never knew alot about the Opium Wars. Such a tragedy all around. Thank you for the video and your knowledge!

[@michellemaynard2047]

Best video ever! Thank you for all you do. You’re the best! And you freely give so much. Perhaps if we had more people like you, the type of history this video represents, would stop being repeated. Thank you again.

[@20thcenturyboy85]

Superb history lesson. THANK YOU!

[@ZenLH]

Amazing presentation of China history, culture, arts…in the opium war period and the inhuman Western colonialism and imperialism!👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@haniahannslew4108]

I hope UK return arts and cultural relics from the Yuanmingyuan The Summer Palace back to China.

[@shengsun5916]

Thank you Mr. Combs.

[@PeterCombs]

Very welcome

[@tangbesitangbesi7009]

With the advancement of internet, the amount of works and efforts put in by a handful of people in the know of genuine historical events being too destructive or degrading/embarassing to be inscribed in modern self-serving history books would serve to open the eyes of the World and could serve lessons for the future, however much likes the author gets here is still under-rated

[@Winter_Jasmine]

Please share this video. Britain & France return all the artifacts from Colonialism.

[@picoluanifyable]

Dear Peter, this is so welcome, thank you for the work. Hope you make a sequel

[@stephenharthoorn3374]

Thank you for offering such a compelling and intriguing program. I found it masterfully presented and beautifully curated. I’ve watched your channel for about 6 months, and I’m as hooked as my cats are on catnip, the little scamps. Yes, more history please. It goes hand in hand with art, doesn't it?

[@Haijwsyz51846]

This is the best iteration of the opium wars that I have ever seen. Great job! Keep up the good work! 👍👍👍👍👍

[@onesirmichael]

Excellent.

[@elainelee2491]

Thank you so much for making this video, it was a very informative and there are many things that I wasn't aware of. Please continue and making these kind of videos..

[@eccuk777]

I very much enjoyed this and it would be lovely to see more of this topic--a big thank you🙏

[@anatolianrugs9348]

Thank you so much for great information, please happy to hear more same kind videos 🥰

[@robertschlesinger1342]

Excellent video. I also collect and follow the Asian Art market. Your estimate of valuation seems a low estimate and in today's market, could be significantly higher, perhaps even twice as high or more.

[@golfhk]

Great study and true history facts

[@heatherlinakridge]

Excellent, excellent video. Very engaging. Please do more like this. I learned so much.

[@patrictutaki3786]

Thank you for sharing that tragic piece of history about China France and Great Britain are still doing what they've done in the past and America which is mostly Europeans is doing the same thing

[@patriciahammes5574]

Absolutely please do more! Thank you!

[@harrodguy]

Peter, absolutely amazing video and story. Thanks for sharing this. Yes please more history lessons.

[@romconti]

Well done, Peter. Thank you. And more like this, please!

[@leonkamen1464]

Thank you very much for outstanding lecture. I have found it extremely interesting and am eager to listen to new lectures conducted by you.

[@luosylenol6494]

Just subscribed such great channel

[@Kotak8]

Once of the most painful & humiliating parts of Chinese history.

[@damnbrosky]

I love stories like this so much, it brings so much light to my room of understanding , thank you!

[@here_now_I]

It is extremely painful to watch this, and I had to stop watching in the middle, not because I am a Chinese, but for the unrecoverable loss of such unprecedented achievements in art and architecture in human history.

[@khoi5591]

This was a very informative and interesting video. Love your narration. Your personality never gets old. If you do another like this, do take your time putting it together! Please don't feel pressured.

[@antonioenriquez3142]

Thanks a lot for this insight of history! I'm in awe of the Yin and Yang of mankind!