作為文明古國，中國有著悠久的歷史和燦爛的文化，幾千年來為世界留下了綿延不絕的文化瑰寶。每一件文物，承載著不同時期的重大事件，亦或是記錄著不同朝代的人文生活，讓歷史鮮活地呈現(xiàn)在我們的眼前。

　　當(dāng)我們被這些文物所驚艷和震撼的同時，也不得不承認(rèn)，時間讓它們逐漸褪去了昔日的“容顏”。瓷器破損、壁畫褪色、廟宇荒蕪，都逃不過歲月的痕跡。幸運的是，時間也見證了它們背后的守護者們世代的付出與奉獻，他們拭去歲月的塵埃，給予文物的“第二次生命”。

　　他們就是文物保護修復(fù)師們，如同醫(yī)生一樣，為文物“望聞問切”量身定制開出“處方”；“中西合璧”將傳統(tǒng)工藝與新興科技相結(jié)合，讓文物的生命在歷史的長河中得以延續(xù)。而他們的“病人”則是舉世無雙的文化瑰寶：北京故宮的宏偉宮殿，山西平遙的古城城墻，陜西西安的秦兵馬俑又或是千年歷史的青銅器皿……

　　國家文物局?jǐn)?shù)據(jù)顯示，全國共有國有可移動文物1.08億件（套），不可移動文物76.7萬處。全國文物系統(tǒng)從業(yè)人員達到16萬人。 一代又一代的文物保護修復(fù)師們更替?zhèn)鞒?，但?zé)任與熱忱從未減退。在文化和自然遺產(chǎn)日即將到來之際，我們一起走進文物修復(fù)師們的世界。

　　Heroes of the past　　

　　With a long history and rich cultural splendors, ancient China provided the world with an uninterrupted lineage of civilizations lasting for millennia that are still inspiring.

　　Thanks to the cultural relics our ancestors left behind, key events that might have influenced the destiny of a dynasty, or special moments in the lives of people long gone, come to life.

　　However, when we pay to admire, and in some cases be astounded by, such relics, we can hardly ignore the fact that, often, time has taken its toll on the relics, be they porcelain shards, fading murals or weathered roofs on ancient temples.

　　Fortunately, time has also witnessed the dedication and diligence of those who painstakingly keep the past alive and relevant. Their devotion is often counted in generations. Behind the polished museum exhibits, these are the people who wipe the dust of ages from the artifacts and give a second life to the items that have been silent observers of history.

　　They are, of course, the conservators and restorers of cultural relics. Just like medical practitioners who vow to spare no effort to save a patient, they, too, make diagnoses and tailor treatment to ailments of the nation’s treasures. They combine traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology to ensure their longevity.

　　Their “patients” are often icons, like the grand palace at the Forbidden City in Beijing, the walls of Pingyao Ancient City in Shanxi province, millennia-old bronzewares, scarred with verdigris and a timeworn patina, or the magnificent underground legion of the Terracotta Warriors from the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC).

　　Generation after generation, deft hands and keen eyes, powered by robust hearts and unbowed enthusiasm, have skillfully kept the twin wolves of damage and decay at bay.

　　According to the National Cultural Heritage Administration, an army of more than 160,000 people is engaged in cultural relic-related work nationwide, protecting the more than 108 million cultural relics, which are housed in China’s public institutions, and the 767,000 “unmovable” monuments, ancient architecture, structures and heritage sites that are registered nationwide.

　　Tourists walk by the Gate of Supreme Harmony, which is under restoration, at the Palace Museum, on April 23.

　　2023年4月23日，北京故宮博物院，游客從正在修繕的太和門前走過。

　　On March?31, veteran restorer Lan Desheng,?55, from Emperor Qinshihuang’s?Mausoleum Site Museum,?examines a Terracotta Warrior?at the institute in Xi’an, Shaanxi?province.

　　2023年3月31日，陜西西安，今年55歲的秦始皇帝陵博物院修復(fù)專家蘭德省在修復(fù)現(xiàn)場正在保護一件彩繪俑頭。蘭德省修復(fù)秦俑26年，在漫長的職業(yè)生涯中，他帶領(lǐng)團隊修復(fù)了130余件兵馬俑。

　　He（Lan Desheng）applies an eye drop?on a terracotta statue to clean?the eye.?

　　2023年4月3日，陜西西安，秦始皇帝陵博物院文物修復(fù)專家蘭德省用毛筆將醫(yī)院眼科上常用的聚乙二醇滴眼液拿來保護兵馬俑的“眼睛”。這樣既有保濕作用，還能慢慢地浸潤、清理殘留在眼角的細(xì)小微生物。

　　Xi Jiulong, head of the Yongle Palace mural art protection research institute, introduces a mural at the palace in Yuncheng, Shanxi province, on March 28.

　　2023年3月28日，山西運城，永樂宮壁畫保護研究院院長席九龍介紹三清殿壁畫的起甲、脫落、粉化等病害問題。

　　Plastic sheets are?applied to the rammed earth of?the city wall of Pingyao Ancient?City, in Jinzhong, Shanxi province, on Oct 20, 2021.

　　2021年10月20日，山西省平遙縣，平遙古城城墻內(nèi)側(cè)夯土裸露，工作人員用塑料布遮擋當(dāng)天的小雨。

　　Two young restorers?gather 3D data from a statue in?Yungang Grottoes in Datong,?Shanxi province, on April 6.

　　2023年4月6日，山西大同，兩名年輕的云岡石窟數(shù)字化團隊成員王家鑫（右）和龐博正在采集三維數(shù)據(jù)。云岡石窟借助科技進行文物修復(fù)和保護，建立“數(shù)字檔案”，助力古老石窟“活起來”。

　　On March 23, at Shanxi Museum in Taiyuan, Shanxi, a restorer works on a mural.

　　2023年3月23日，山西太原，山西博物院壁畫修復(fù)師對該省呂梁市興縣裴家川口村發(fā)掘的壁畫進行加固處理保護。

　　On May 16, Fan Zaixuan, 62, a restorer at Dunhuang Academy, works on a damaged mural at the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Gansu province.

　　2023年5月16日，甘肅敦煌，敦煌研究院文物保護專家樊再軒在莫高窟第196窟文物保護修復(fù)工作現(xiàn)場。62歲的樊老師在敦煌研究院已經(jīng)工作了42年，雖然退休了，但仍堅守在文物保護工作的第一線。