At that moment, Shinichi Kameda swaggered up to the display case, glanced at the Buddha head in the window, and loudly proclaimed, "The Buddha head you're displaying is fake!"
Zhang Jiefang said with a grim expression, "Sir, this is the Buddha head returned by your Emperor. How could it be fake? Could it be that what you returned to our Great Xia was a fake Buddha head?"
Suddenly, Koizumi Mami sneered, "Our Emperor is a descendant of the gods, and his word is law. How could he possibly return a fake Buddha head! What we returned to you was a real Buddha head, but the one you're exhibiting is a fake! I'd like to ask your museum, where exactly did you hide the real Buddha head?"
Wow!
When Koizumi Mami said this, the audience immediately erupted in an uproar!
Is the Buddha head fake?
What about the real Buddha head? Was it stolen, or was it pocketed by someone?
This is no joke! If that's really the case, this would be a huge problem!
Zhang Jiefang remained relatively calm. He said indifferently, "Ambassador Koizumi, please be careful with your words. Don't make things up without evidence. This Buddha head is the one you returned before! If you insist that it's fake, then please produce the evidence!"
Koizumi Mami glanced at Kameda Shinichi, who quickly stepped forward, examined the Buddha head, and said, "The craftsmanship of this fake Buddha head is impeccable, but there are still some minor flaws. The Tianlong Mountain Buddha heads originated in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, mainly belonging to the Gandhara school, and their most prominent feature is in the hairstyle! Most Buddha heads from that period had a wavy shape! However, look at this Buddha head; its hair is a spiral curl with a ushnisha, a typical style of the Matura school, which was common in the Ming and Qing Dynasties! Therefore, I conclude that it is fake!"
After finishing his sentence, Shinichi Kameda couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.
He only realized this flaw later. He was worried that Zhang Jiefang would notice it, but those useless experts from Daxia didn't even notice it!
Wow!
The audience erupted in cheers once again, with many antique enthusiasts nodding in approval.
This detail is hard to notice without careful observation; there is indeed a fleshy protuberance on the top of the Buddha's head.
So, this Buddha head really is fake?
At this moment, Lin Yu suddenly stood up and said, "Hair doesn't prove anything. The ushnisha (cranial protuberance) originated from descriptions in ancient Indian scriptures and was popular during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Buddhist statues during the Sui and Tang Dynasties were not static either. Your point is not convincing!"
Shinichi Kameda narrowed his eyes slightly. "Kid, I didn't expect you to know so much! But when it comes to collecting antiques, I'm from your grandfather's generation! I can tell you definitively that this Buddha head is fake!"
Lin Yu said, "You should understand that this Buddha head is related to the diplomacy between our two countries, and it is of great importance! Words are not enough. If you insist that it is fake, you must provide convincing evidence!"
"You want evidence? Fine!" Shinichi Kameda sneered. "The only way to determine the authenticity of the Buddha head is to break it. Because the Buddha head has weathered over a thousand years, its interior has long since deteriorated. So, if you break it, it will definitely turn into powder. But if it's new material, it will most likely break into very intact pieces!"
"What? It shattered?"
Everyone was stunned upon hearing this.
What kind of method is this?
Zhang Jiefang's face was extremely grim. "Mr. Bian Du, you're not joking, are you? This is a national treasure. If it's real, and it breaks, the loss will be enormous. How can we recover it?"
Koizumi Mami suddenly spoke up, coldly saying, "Director Zhang, our Emperor agreed to return the Buddha head so that more people could witness the friendship between our two countries! He also attaches great importance to this exhibition!"
"Therefore, it is still necessary to verify it! I can promise on behalf of my country that if the Buddha head is verified to be genuine after it is broken, our Japanese nation will compensate you with another national treasure!"
At this point, Zhang Jiefang was speechless.
If he doesn't fall, it's obvious he's feeling guilty!
Although Lin Yu repaired the Buddha head, it had already been proven to be fake. Wouldn't this fall expose its true nature?
Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, everyone began to speculate.
"Could someone have really tampered with this Buddha head?"
"They even dare to target national treasures! This Guanzhong Museum is simply audacious!"
"No wonder they were so determined to keep the Buddha's head in Guanzhong; so that's what they were planning?"
Hearing these whispers, Zhang Jiefang blushed and didn't know how to respond.
At this moment, Lin Yu suddenly said, "Since Ambassador Koizumi says so, it really is necessary to verify this Buddha head! However, the Buddha head from the Tianlong Mountain Grottoes is a top-tier national treasure. If it is damaged, your Japan must compensate us with a national treasure of the same level! Moreover, we must come and claim this national treasure ourselves!"
Koizumi Mami's lips curled slightly as she said calmly, "This matter concerns the Emperor's honor, and we are willing to pay any price! Just name whatever national treasure you want!"
Lin Yu nodded and said calmly, "During the reign of Emperor Guangwu of Han, the Wa (Japan) Kingdom sent tribute and congratulations. Their envoy claimed to be a high-ranking official, and Emperor Guangwu bestowed upon him a seal. This gold seal later disappeared without a trace until 1784, when it was accidentally discovered by a Japanese tenant farmer while digging a ditch. He then presented it to the Emperor!"
"Are you referring to the golden seal of the King of Wa?"
Koizumi Mami's expression changed instantly.
She knew of this golden seal, of course, and that it was currently in the palace.
But it is never exhibited to the public.
Because the Japanese have never wanted to acknowledge that Japan was once a vassal state of the Great Xia! They don't even want to acknowledge the history of paying tribute! The term 'Japanese slaves' is, in their view, an insult to the Yamato people!
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