 Ma Chengyuan ( 3 November 1927 – 25 September 2004 ) was a Chinese archaeologist , epigrapher , and president of the Shanghai Museum . He was credited with saving priceless artifacts from destruction during the Cultural Revolution , and was instrumental in raising funds and support for the rebuilding of the Shanghai Museum . He was a recipient of the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Award in 1993.
Ma was born in Hangzhou , Zhejiang Province , China . He was a descendant of the Ming dynasty official Ma Xiangbo . He studied Chinese archaeology at the University of Nanjing , graduating in