AUG 5 Presentation

JULY 24 Progress report

The National Palace Museum and its controversies

• New BloomLinks to an external site.,

• Global Taiwan Institute

Two people we talk to At the NPM:

• Record 1

• Record 2

Two more people outside of NPM :

• Andrew : his hubby

• Josh : his cousin

https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3115954/why-taiwans-national-palace-museum-controversy-more-storm-teacup

https://newbloommag.net/2020/09/12/national-palace-museum-kmt/

https://globaltaiwan.org/2023/05/making-taiwans-history-visible-through-museum-diplomacy/

• We have created a team Padlet to track and operate our task

• We got two interviews at the National Palace Museum

• We gathered more online sources for our report

• We gathered more than enough photos for this project

China is actively seeking the return of over 600,000 artefacts housed in Taiwan's National Palace Museum, relocated by Chiang Kai-shek during the 1949 civil war. This issue is part of broader political tensions between China and Taiwan. China's efforts include public criticism and cyberattacks, while Taiwan refuses to return or loan the treasures, citing their preservation from the Cultural Revolution as justification. The situation underscores the deep-rooted political and cultural conflicts between the two sides.

### 2. Why Taiwan’s National Palace Museum controversy is more than a storm in a teacup

The article from the South China Morning Post delves into the complex and contentious history of Taiwan’s National Palace Museum. It discusses the KMT’s relocation of Chinese artefacts to Taiwan in 1949, the museum's role in shaping Taiwanese identity, and the ongoing political debates over its status. The controversy involves issues of "de-Sinicisation," the museum's mission, and its representation of Taiwanese versus Chinese cultural heritage. The article emphasizes that the museum's artefacts are seen as national treasures, central to broader political and identity struggles.

### 3. New Bloom: National Palace Museum and the KMT

This article explores the historical context of the National Palace Museum's establishment in Taiwan. It focuses on the KMT’s strategic relocation of artefacts from Beijing’s Forbidden City in 1949 to bolster its legitimacy. The museum’s role in Taiwan’s nation-building efforts, particularly under martial law, and its evolving significance in Taiwanese identity politics are highlighted. The article notes a shift among younger generations, who may not view these artefacts as integral to their Taiwanese identity, reflecting changing perceptions and the island's complex political landscape.

### 4. Making Taiwan’s History Visible through Museum Diplomacy

This article examines Taiwan's use of museums as a tool for international diplomacy and cultural assertion. It highlights how Taiwan leverages institutions like the National Palace Museum to foster international partnerships and showcase its cultural heritage. This strategy counters China's claims and promotes Taiwan's distinct identity on the global stage. The article underscores the importance of cultural diplomacy in Taiwan's broader efforts to gain international recognition and support, presenting museums as vital in narrating Taiwan's history and heritage independently from China.

How does it relate to Taiwan's identity as a nation and your own personal identity?

What do you think should be done moving forward about the National Palace Museum?

The existence of the National Palace Museum in Taiwan is deeply connected with its history. As a result of the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party of China in 1949, the government of the Republic of China shipped some of the Forbidden City's collections to Taiwan to protect them from war damage. These collections have become part of the continuation of Chinese culture in Taiwan, and also reflect Taiwan’s role as a protector of Chinese culture to some extent. To me, the collection of the National Palace Museum symbolizes pride in the inheritance of Chinese culture, but for others, these collections may have more complex political implications. After all, some older people experienced the Civil War between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, and the impact on politics may be more important than history and culture.

How does it relate to Taiwan’s identity as a nation and your own personal identity?

The importance of the National Palace Museum to the people of Taiwan. The National Palace Museum is not just a place to display Chinese art and cultural relics, it is also a place that carries historical memory (歷史記憶) and cultural identity. It shows how Taiwan preserves and develops its cultural heritage in the process of modernization, while also reflecting the complex and delicate relationship between Taiwan and China. To me, it is just a place that preserves the long history of Chinese culture and shows it to people from all over the world who come to Taiwan to let them understand Chinese culture. As time has passed, the politics, culture, and ideas of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have gradually drifted apart. What we should do is to look to the future, create Taiwan's own local history since 1949, and preserve it well. This is not to say that the Chinese culture of the past is not important, but that it must keep pace with the times in order to integrate with international standards and let the world know a different Taiwan.

What do you think should be done moving forward about the National Palace Museum?

For the future of the National Palace Museum, I think the following directions can be considered:

1. Digitalization and globalization: The National Palace Museum can strengthen the digitization of its collections and allow more people to access these precious cultural relics through the Internet. This not only helps spread culture, but also attracts more scholars and tourists from around the world.

2. Diversified exhibitions: In addition to traditional Chinese art and cultural relics, the National Palace Museum can also consider displaying exhibits of Taiwanese local culture and other cultures, so as to more fully display Taiwan's multicultural face.

3. Cultural exchange: It can enhance cultural exchanges with other countries and regions and promote cultural understanding and exchange through joint exhibitions, academic cooperation, etc.