In ancient times, only emperors and members of their families
had furniture made from red sandalwood.
Now, if you step into the Beijing Olympic Tower, the
headquarters of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of
the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), you will have a chance to take a close
look at the priceless timber, as an example has been placed in the
eastern part of the lobby.
The wood sculpture, 3.21 meters long, 1.37 meters wide and 1.16
meters tall, weighs 365.5 tons. A miniature of the typical Chinese
imperial palace gate in the Forbidden City, it is named "National
Gate."
It has been donated by Chan Lai Wa, curator of China Red
Sandalwood Museum, which claims to be the world's largest private
museum specializing in red sandalwood collections.
It took more than 100 veteran artisans more than 700 days to
complete the work, which consists of five compartments plus movable
windows and doors, along with different decorations such as
immortals, birds and beasts on its roof ridges.
"The National Gate symbolizes China's opening-up to welcome
athletes and guests from all over the world to be here for the
Olympic Games," Chan said. She is also a member of the National
Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference, the country's top advisory body. Chan has been listed
as the wealthiest woman in China by Forbes, estimating her
personal wealth at US$494 million last year.
Chan said work began on the gate in 1999 and on July 13, 2001,
the day Beijing won the bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, she
expressed her will to donate it to BOCOG. "Five years later, my
dream came true," Chan said. On July 12, the wood sculpture was
moved to the Beijing Olympic Tower, and Jiang Xiaoyu, executive
vice-president of BOCOG, spoke highly of Chen's involvement in the
Olympics and said the red sandalwood sculpture was a showcase of
the essence of Chinese culture.
According to Chan, who was born to a noble Manchu family of the
Yellow Banner Clan, red sandalwood is among the most precious of
woods in the world. It is hard, but elastic, and emits a delicate,
floral fragrance. The dark purple and black color is said to
represent the solemnity and magnificence of imperial rule and the
fine and variable texture proclaims its imposing manner. After
being waxed and polished, it looks like silk.
Chan said that red sandalwood trees need to grow for hundreds of
years before being felled and made into furniture. Furthermore,
most trees are hollow inside and are not suitable to be furniture
materials. So, there is an old saying that "red sandalwood has the
same price as gold."
"I have built the sandalwood museum to protect the heritage and
the country's traditional culture, as well as to reintroduce the
magnificence of Chinese traditional furniture. I want to get back
lost treasures and keep them forever in China," Chan said.
(China Daily August 4, 2006)