More than Belonging: Reclaiming Sovereignty in the Debate on Cultural Relics Restitution
Linlin Zhang

Beijing Language and Culture University，Haidian Beijing，100083；

Abstract：This paper looks at the problem of cultural artefact restitution by starting with a personal experience at the Usher Gallery in Lincoln. There, the author saw an unlabelled cabinet with clear Eastern features, but no information about where it came from or who made it. This raised important questions about how museums treat objects from other cultures, and whether these objects are truly respected when they are taken out of their original context. Many people argue that sharing culture is more important than giving objects back. Others believe that returning artefacts is the only fair solution. This paper supports the second view. Before people talk about sharing or cooperation, they must first return objects to their rightful owners. Without this step, there can be no real respect or equal exchange. The paper discusses why some museums still avoid returning items, such as fear of losing power or lack of clear laws.  It argues that when museums display objects without names, stories, or backgrounds, it is not just careless, but a form of symbolic violence. In the final part, examples of countries working together to return artefacts were shown. These cases prove that restitution is possible and helpful. In the end, the opinion that museums need to face their past honestly and take real steps toward justice is emphasized. Restitution is not only about the past—it is about how humanbeings build fair and respectful cultural relationships today.

Key words: Displaced cabinet； Restitution； Cultural relics； Cultural sovereign

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