A letter from Hugo to Captain Bartlet (original text):

Sir, you asked for my opinion on the expedition to China. You think this expedition was done honorably and well. It's very kind of you to value my thoughts so much. In your opinion, this expedition to China, conducted under the banners of Queen Victoria and Emperor Napoleon, was a great honor to France and England. You wish to know how far I think it is possible to approve of this victory of England and France.

Since you want to know, here is my opinion: Somewhere on earth, there once was a world wonder, and its name was the Old Summer Palace. Art has two principles: idea and fantasy. Ideas gave rise to Western art, and dreams gave birth to Eastern art. Just as the Parthenon is a representative of conceptual art, the Old Summer Palace is a representative of dreamy art.

It brings together all the achievements of a nation's almost superhuman imagination. Unlike the Parthenon, the Old Summer Palace is not only a unique and unique masterpiece, but also a sublime example of dream art - if dreams can have examples. You can imagine a fairyland-like building that you cannot describe in words, that is the Old Summer Palace.

This dreamy scene is made of marble, white marble, bronze and porcelain, with cedar beams, embellished with precious stones, and covered with silk; altars, boudoirs, and castles are distributed among them, and gods and ghosts are located there. Inside; the glaze is shining and resplendent; after skilled craftsmen with a poetic temperament create an Arabian Nights-like fairyland,

added gardens, pools and mist-filled fountains, leisurely strolling swans, Stork and peacock. In a word: this is a dazzling treasure cave full of human magical fantasy expressed in the form of palaces and temples. This is the Old Summer Palace. It was made possible by the long-term hard work of two generations. Who was this city-like, century-spanning building built for? For the people of the world.

Because the crystallization of history belongs to all mankind. Artists, poets, and philosophers all over the world know that there is an Old Summer Palace, and Voltaire still mentions it. People often say that Greece has the Parthenon, Egypt has the Pyramids, Rome has the Arena, Paris has Notre Dame, and the East has the Old Summer Palace. Even though some people have never seen it, they all dream about it.

This is a shocking masterpiece that is not yet known to outsiders, just like the shadow of distant Asian civilization seen from the horizon of European civilization at dusk.

This miracle no longer exists.

One day, two robbers walked into the Old Summer Palace. One looted and the other set fire to it. It can be said that victory is the victory of the thieves. Together, the two victors completely destroyed the Old Summer Palace. People seem to have seen the name of Elgin, who was infamous for dismantling and transporting Parthenon back to England.

What happened in the Parthenon happened again in the Old Summer Palace, and this time it was done more ferociously and thoroughly, so that not a single tile was left behind. All the treasures of all our churches combined cannot equal the wonder and splendor of this Oriental Museum. There are not only art treasures there, but also countless gold and silver treasures.

What a great achievement! What a huge windfall! One of the two victors filled his pockets, and the other filled his coffers. Then they hooked up arms and returned to Europe with a smile on their faces. This is the story of two robbers.

We Europeans think of ourselves as civilized people, but in our eyes, the Chinese are barbarians, but this is what civilized people do to barbarians.

In the face of history, these two robbers are called France and England respectively. But I protest, and I thank you for giving me such an opportunity. The crimes committed by rulers are not the fault of the ruled. Governments sometimes become robbers, but people never do.

The French Empire put half of the loot into its own pockets, and now seems to consider itself the master, showing off the exquisite antiques snatched from the Old Summer Palace. I hope that one day, France can change itself, change its mind, and return this ill-gotten wealth to the plundered China.

Before that, I would like to testify: a theft took place and the perpetrators were two robbers.

Sir, these are my words of praise for the expedition to China.

Victor Hugo

November 25, 1861 at Hauteville-Haus

Extended information:

A letter from Hugo to Captain Bartlet (English):

Sir, you asked me for my opinion on the expedition to China. You think the expedition was done decently and beautifully. It's very kind of you to attach so much importance to my idea.?

In your opinion, this expedition to China under the banner of Queen Victoria.And Emperor Napoleon is an honor shared by France and England.?

You want to know to what extent I think I can endorse this victory by Britain and France.

Now that you want to know, here is my opinion: somewhere on earth, there was a world miracle , its name is Yuanmingyuan. Art has two principles: concept and dream.?

Idea produces western art, and fantasy produces Oriental art. Just as the Parthenon is the representative of the art of ideas, the Yuanmingyuan is the representative of the art of dreams.

It gathers almost all the achievements of a nation created by superhuman imagination. Unlike Paternon, Yuanmingyuan is not only a unique and unparalleled masterpiece,?

but also a lofty model of dreamlike Art - if dreams can be exemplified. You can imagine a fairyland building that you can't describe in words. That's the Yuanmingyuan.

This fantasy is built of marble, white marble , bronze and porcelain, cedar beams, gemstones and silk covers; the altars, boudoirs and castles are distributed among them,

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and the gods and ghosts are in them; the glaze is shining, and the golden blue is shining; after the poet-like skilled craftsmen have created the fairyland of the night.Plus gardens, pools and misty fountains, leisurely swans, storks and peacocks.?

In a word, it is a dazzling treasure cave in the form of palaces and temples, full of human fantasies. This is the Yuanmingyuan. It came into being through the long- term hard work of two generations.?

For whom is this city-like, cross-century building built? For the people of the world.Because the crystallization of history belongs to all mankind. Artists, poets and Philosophers all know that there is a Yuanmingyuan. Voltaire still mentions it.?

It is often said that there are Parthenon Temple in Greece, pyramids in Egypt, arenas in Rome, Notre Dame in Paris and Yuanmingyuan in the east.

Although some people have never seen it, they all dream of it. This is an impressive and unknown masterpiece, just like the distant Asian civilization seen from the horizon of European civilization at dusk.

This miracle no longer exists.

One day, two robbers entered the Yuanmingyuan, one looted and the other set fire to it. It can be said that victory is the victory of the thieves. Together , the two winners completely destroyed the Yuanmingyuan.?

It was as if the name of Erkin, which was notorious for the

removal of Patron back to England, had been seen again.

What had happened in Paternon was repeated in the Old Summer Palace, and this time it was done more fiercely and thoroughly, so that nothing remained.?

Together, all the treasures of our churches are not equal to the magnificent Oriental Museum.?

There are not only art treasures, but also numerous treasures of gold and silver.What a feat ! What a windfall! One of the two winners is full of pockets, the other is full of money cabinets.?

Then he went back to Europe, shoulder to shoulder, arm to arm, and eyebrows to laugh . This is the story of two robbers.

We Europeans think of ourselves as civilized people, and in our eyes, the Chinese are barbarians, but this is what civilized people do to barbarians.

In the face of history, the two robbers were called France and England respectively. But I protest, and I thank you for offering me such an opportunity. The crime committed by the ruler is not the fault of the ruled.?

The sometimes becomes a robber, but the people will never. The French Empire packed half of its spoils into its own government pockets, and now regards itself as its owner, showing off the exquisite antiques stolen from the Yuanmingyuan.?

I hope that one day France will be able to make a fresh start and return the unjust wealth to the looted China.

Before that,

I would like to testify that there was a theft committed by two robbers.

Sir, this is my compliment on the expedition to China.

Victor Hugo

House, Ottville, 25 November 1861.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Letter to Captain Bartley