[PHOTOS] Over 83,000 Japanese Queued Up To See A Stone That Looks Like "Siew Yoke"
It was on display in Japan for two weeks and now Taiwan's unusual national treasure heading home.
By Sadho Ram — 23 Oct 2014, 06:16 PM — Updated about 10 years ago
Caution: lots of pork was involved in the curation of this story...
What you see here is an image of an actual piece of pork. Keep it in mind, because what you are going to see below is something that's a replica of it and there were over 83,000 people lined up to see it in Japan.
The Meat-shaped Stone, one of the two most popular pieces of Taiwan's National Palace Museum, was on display for two weeks at the Kyushu National Museum in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
A visitor examines the "Meat-shaped Stone," one of the treasures from Taiwan's National Palace Museum, at an exhibition at the Kyushu National Museum
Image via wantchinatimes.comThe exhibition of the treasured Meat-shaped Stone ended yesterday, 22 October 2014, and it drew a total of 83,933 visitors
One of Taiwan's most revered artefacts, the 5.73-centimeter tall Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) piece is made from banded jasper and resembling the shape of a braised pork belly.
focustaiwan.tw
According to the National Palace Museum, the craftsman "took the rich natural resources of this stone and carved it with great precision... the veining and hair follicles making the piece appear even more realistic."
However, the daily average of 5,995 visitors was somewhat lower than a previous exhibition in Tokyo featuring Taiwan's Jadeite Cabbage, which drew 21,000 people per day, BBC reported
An earlier display featuring the Jadeite Cabbage caused a minor diplomatic row
Image via bbcimg.co.ukMeat-shape Stone drew an average of 5,995 visitors per day, approximately one-third of the daily visitors (21,000) who viewed the NPM's Jadeite Cabbage at the Tokyo National Museum from June 24–July 7.
kmt.org.twBut organisers put this down to the Kyushu Museum being less convenient for those wanting to travel to see the meaty treasure, BBC reported.
Carved in jadeite, the cabbage was made during the Qing dynasty, and comes complete with two insects on its leaves
Japanese visitors line up to see the Jadeite Cabbage displayed at the Tokyo National Museum.
Image via wantchinatimes.comIts display in Tokyo caused a minor diplomatic row after organisers were reluctant to use the word "national" in publicity material, in case it caused offence to Beijing. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory.
Due to the concerns for the treasured artefact's safety, the Taiwanese museum has kept its travel plans a closely guarded secret
The Meat-shaped Stone is expected to be put on display anew at the NPM in Taipei on October 24. Although the NPM has kept mum on the shipping date of the priceless sculpture out of concern for its safety.
kmt.org.twBut it's known that it had to undergo a 24-hour period of motionless after it had been packed before it was allowed to travel. Therefore, the treasure is expected to be returned to Taiwan tomorrow and then would be put on display the day after tomorrow (Friday, October 24).