If you pose the question, "Which foreign country owns the most Chinese treasures?" The answer is definitely Japan. Since the time of the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties, Japan has been learning from Chinese culture and has imported many Chinese artworks. After thousands of years of accumulating these pieces, they had many Chinese treasures.

During the many conflicts from foreign countries in the 20th century, China lost many of its artifacts. Among the foreign powers, Japan, which knows Chinese culture best, has the most relics from China.

The following are some Chinese treasures that were taken to Japan:

Luodian Zitan five-string pipa created in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). An ordinary pipa has four strings but this one has five. It can be played as a guitar or as a three-string instrument. As the only surviving one of its kind since the Tang Dynasty, it is a national treasure. It went to Japan during the Tang Dynasty and is now in the Japanese Imperial House. [Photo/people.cn]

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