Stealing paintings cannot be considered theft... stealing paintings!... Can the matters of cultured people be considered theft?

The Nanjing Museum incident, at first glance, appears to be just a loophole in the system, but a closer look reveals a distortion of human nature.

For example, some individuals who borrowed paintings from the Nanjing Museum and refused to return them are truly deserving of scorn.

In my opinion, the word 'borrow' is quite clever.

You see, the word 'borrow' in Chinese has always carried a sense of gentility. It is neither as sneaky as 'steal' nor as brazen as 'rob', as if it comes with a filter of cultured rationality, allowing many inconvenient behaviors to be conducted gracefully.

Just like the old scholars who borrowed books from one another, often never returning them, while beautifying it with the phrase 'for safekeeping'. Some individuals' 'borrowing' of museum collections embodies this essence perfectly.

They are neither thieves scaling walls nor armed bandits, but 'insiders' holding the keys. The process may have been followed, a borrowing slip may have been issued, everything seems compliant and righteous, yet the duration of this 'borrowing' feels as long as eternity.

And the ultimate effect can sometimes be even more thorough than outright theft or robbery; the latter may provoke public outrage, while the former can quietly change the ownership of public wealth through a slow and languid delay.

To borrow a phrase from Kong Yiji, this is:

Stealing paintings cannot be considered theft... stealing paintings!... Can the matters of cultured people be considered theft?

Cultural relics carry the memories of history and the collective aesthetic; they essentially belong to the cultural code of the entire nation. They should be cherished in the display cabinets of museums, receiving countless curious and respectful gazes, fulfilling the mission of public education.

However, in the eyes of certain privileged classes, these treasures that embody time and wisdom have become unique decorations that flaunt personal identity and status.

What they appreciate may not be the artistic value of the relics at all, but the psychological superiority brought by their scarcity.

Just like some people cannot help but pick flowers from parks meant for public enjoyment to take home and place in their own vases, thinking that only in doing so does this beauty truly belong to them.

Those priceless ancient paintings in museums, to them, are merely decorations to boast about to guests in their living rooms.

Once public resources are viewed as private property that can be seized by privilege, any custodial systems or approval processes become obstacles that can be circumvented.

Of course, there are rules, often written in black and white, appearing to be tight and complete. It is said that there are already regulations from above stating that cultural relics can indeed be borrowed, but the maximum borrowing period is three years and involves complex approval procedures.

However, rules are made by people, and what Chinese people excel at is 'human relationships' and 'face'.

Getting a few key individuals in important positions on your side often means clearing the entire checkpoint, overturning all rules, and filling the air with a joyful atmosphere.

As for those who attempt to uphold the rules, their fate can sometimes be more difficult than those who break them.

For example, the director of the Nanjing Museum at that time, when he continuously sent reminders to the 'gentlemen' who had exceeded their borrowing period, might have touched a web of complicated relationships.

Reporting those who do not follow the rules can sometimes not only fail but may also result in being retaliated against, being framed with various unfounded accusations.

So perhaps the descendants of the Pang family just wanted to clarify the whereabouts of a few missing paintings this time, but accidentally uncovered a hidden large lid.

Just like Yang Jinshui said in 'The Ming Dynasty':

Some things, when not weighed, may not seem heavy, but once weighed, they cannot be contained even by a thousand pounds...