A rare sacred Chinese bronze water vessel made between 2,200 and 3,600 years ago has been sold despite protests by the Chinese government.

尽管中国政府提出抗议，但在2200年至3600年前制造的罕见而神圣的中国青铜水壶被出售。

The recently discovered bronze Tiger Ying sold at auction for 410,000 pounds, Canterbury Auction Galleries said.

坎特伯雷拍卖画廊表示，最近发现的青铜虎鎣以410,000英镑的价格被拍卖。

China’s State Administration of Cultural Heritage condemned the auction saying the relic was taken illegally from the country in the 19th Century.

中国国家文物局对拍卖表示谴责，称该遗物是19世纪非法从国内采集的。

Only six similar vessels were previously known to exist.

以前被认为只有六只类似的水壶存在。

The vessel dates from the Western Zhou dynasty - 1027-771 BC - and was named the Tiger Ying because the spout and cover were each cast with models of the animal, the auctioneers said.

该水壶可追溯至西周王朝，即公元前1027至771年，因其喷口和壶盖都配有动物模型，因此被命名为虎鎣，拍卖员称。

It was taken by a British soldier during the capture of what is now called the Old Summer Palace in 1860. The auction house said letters from a Royal Marines captain to his family detailed the looting of the site, with one reading: "I succeeded in getting several bronzes and enamel vases that will, I hope, some day find their way to [his home in the UK]."

这是由一名英国士兵于1860年在现在被称为圆明园的宫殿拿走的。该拍卖行称皇家海军陆战队队长给他的家人的信中详细描述了在该场地的掠夺情况，其中一封信说：“我成功了地拿到几个青铜器和珐琅花瓶，我希望它们总有一天会来到[他在英国的家]。”

The vessel was found with three other later Qing dynasty bronze works of art in a home in Kent and had been given an estimated price of between 120,000 pounds and 200,000 pounds, a Canterbury Auction Galleries spokesman said.

坎特伯雷拍卖画廊发言人表示，该水壶在肯特郡的一处住宅中被发现，另外还有三件清朝后期的青铜艺术品，估价约为12万至20万英镑。

The Chinese government agency said it had contacted the auction house "through various channels", demanding the cancellation of the sale and telling the auction house to "abide by the spirit of international agreements and code of professional ethics, as well as respecting the cultural rights and national feelings of the Chinese people".

中国政府机构表示，已通过各种渠道与拍卖行联系，要求取消拍卖并告知拍卖行“遵守国际协议和职业道德守则的精神以及尊重文化权利和中国人民的民族感情“。

Hajni Elias, a Chinese art and cultural historian, said: "We cannot underestimate the wealth and sophistication of the late Zhou culture that created such an outstanding bronze vessel. Only men of high status, such as a king, his nobles and officials were able to obtain them.

中国艺术和文化史学家哈伊尼-埃利亚斯说：“我们不能低估周朝后期文化的财富和复杂性，这种文化创造了如此杰出的青铜器，只有身份高贵的人，如国王，贵族和官员才能够拥有它们。”

"They represent some of the finest vessels and are treasured by collectors and connoisseurs worldwide."

“它们代表了最好的水壶，并被全世界的收藏家和鉴赏家所珍爱。”

The State Administration of Cultural Heritage said it would "continue to take all necessary measures to retrieve cultural relics illegally obtained from China".

国家文物局表示将“继续采取一切必要措施，收回从中国非法获取的文物”。

The auctioneers said they would not be commenting on the Chinese requests.

拍卖商表示，他们不会对中国的要求作出评论。

（来源：爱语吧）