????A bronze sculpture unearthed
Sunday in east China's Zhejiang Province, is of great importance
in confirming cultural exchanges between ancient China and foreign
countries, experts said.
????The sculpture features a figure of Buddha
sitting upon a lotus throne and a flying dragon between the
pedestal and the lotus throne.
????Xu Pingfang, a leading archaeologist,
said that this pattern is rarely seen anywhere in the world.
????The dragon is a traditional Chinese
symbol, while Buddhism came from outside China. The sculpture,
unearthed from the ruins of the Leifeng Pagoda, is valuable
evidence of the fusing of Chinese and foreign cultures.
????Another valuable relic found in the
same place is a locked casket.
????The archaeologists also excavated ancient
silk fragments, leather belt remains and other ancient treasures
from the pagoda, which was built in 975.
????The excavation work has now been concluded.
????(Xinhua 03/12/2001)
