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Extreme Antiquing: Eleventh-century Chinese letter – just 124 characters long – sells for $32m
by rd95

    Wang Zhongjun, a self-made billionaire who some say is China’s answer to Shakespeare in Love producer Harvey Weinstein, purchased the letter at an auction in Beijing on Sunday, according to reports in the Chinese media.

    Wang, the 55-year-old chairman of Huayi Brothers Media, one of China’s largest entertainment groups, reportedly paid 207 million yuan (£21.9m/US$31.7m).

    The letter – thought to be the only surviving work by Song dynasty scholar and government official Zeng Gong – was written on 27 September 1080, according to China Radio International. It is called Jushi Tie, which roughly translates as “a letter on happenings”.