Harvard Bixi facts for kids
| Harvard Bixi | |
Harvard Bixi before the north facade of Widener Library
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| Coordinates | 42°22′25″N 71°7′1″W / 42.37361°N 71.11694°W |
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| Location | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Type | Chinese tortoise-borne stele |
| Material | Marble |
| Height | 17 feet |
| Opening date | 1796-1820 (construction date) September 17, 1936 (presented to Harvard) |
| Dedicated to | Harvard University |
The Harvard Bixi is a giant stone turtle carrying a tall stone tablet. It is 17 feet high and weighs 27 tons. This special Chinese marble monument is located at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It stands in Harvard Yard, near Boylston Hall and Widener Library. Chinese alumni of Harvard gave this stele to the university in September 1936. It was a gift for Harvard's 300th anniversary.
Contents
The Bixi's Journey
From Imperial China to Harvard
This Bixi was made around 1820 in Beijing, China. The stone tablet was originally a gift from the Jiaqing Emperor to a high-ranking official named Songyun. The tablet was kept in a grand palace in Beijing called the Old Summer Palace.
The palace was damaged in 1860. After that, the stele was moved. You can still see detailed carvings of dragons chasing pearls on the sides and top of the tablet. These carvings show that it once belonged to the Emperor.
A Special Gift for Harvard's Anniversary
In the 1930s, there were five Harvard alumni clubs in China. Over 35 members from these clubs helped to donate the Bixi. They wanted to give a unique gift for Harvard's 300th birthday celebration in September 1936.
Two important members, Dr. J. Heng Liu and Fred Sze, even attended the celebration. New words were carved onto the front of the marble tablet for this occasion. It is believed that Hu Shih, a famous scholar, wrote the beautiful Chinese words for the new inscription.
What the Inscription Says
The words carved on the Bixi's tablet are in Chinese. They celebrate Harvard University's 300th anniversary on behalf of the Chinese Harvard alumni. In 1936, Dr. J. Heng Liu provided an English translation of these words. This translation is kept in the Harvard Archives.
The inscription talks about how important education is for a country's strength and progress. It says that dedicated people work to promote education, and their efforts have a big impact over many years. The Bixi's inscription uses Harvard University as an example of this. It mentions how John Harvard helped start the college over 300 years ago.
The inscription also expresses pride in Harvard's achievements and its worldwide reputation. It highlights how Harvard's students have made important contributions around the world.
Protecting the Bixi
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Over time, the Bixi has faced challenges from the weather. Things like acid rain and harsh weather have made some of the carvings hard to read. In the early 1980s, experts from the Harvard Art Museums looked at the stele. They suggested moving it indoors to protect it.
A spot was chosen inside the Holyoke Center Arcade, but the plan was too expensive. In 1998, a sign was placed near the Bixi. It explained where the stele came from and said the university was looking for an indoor home for it. There were also plans to move it to the Center for Government and International Studies (CGIS) buildings. However, the Bixi has remained in Harvard Yard.
Since 2004, different groups, including the Harvard Clubs in Beijing and Taipei, have shown interest in helping to preserve or restore the Bixi. In 2009, the university started working on adding more information at the base of the stele. They hired a designer to create a new sign.
In 2012, a project began to create a 3-D digital scan of the Bixi. This uses special technology to make a detailed digital copy. You can now see a preview of this 3D model in the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology's virtual 3D gallery. This helps preserve the Bixi's details for the future.
