National Taiwan Museum
The National Taiwan Museum (NTM; Chinese: 國立臺灣博物館; pinyin: Guólì Táiwān Bówùguǎn), established in 1908, is the oldest museum in Taiwan. It was founded by the colonial government during Taiwan's period of Japanese rule. The museum is located in Zhongzheng District, Taipei.
國立臺灣博物館 | |
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Established | 24 October 1908 (original building) 1915 (current building) |
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Location | Zhongzheng, Taipei, Taiwan |
Coordinates | 25.04275369637105°N 121.51503772096355°E |
Type | National museum |
Curator | Chen Chiming (陳濟民) |
Website | ntm.gov.tw |
History
Empire of Japan
Established in 1908, the museum is the oldest in Taiwan. The colonial government of Japan set up the Taiwan Governor Museum (臺灣總督府民政部殖產局附屬博物館), which officially opened on 24 October 1908, to commemorate the inauguration of the North-South Railway. The museum had a collection of over 10,000 items in its initial stages. In 1915, the new building of the museum in Taihoku New Park was inaugurated and became one of the major public buildings during Japanese rule.[1]
In 1935 it was used to house the First Cultural Pavilion at The Taiwan Exposition: In Commemoration of the First Forty Years of Colonial Rule.[2]
Republic of China
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After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China, the Department of Education of the Taiwan Provincial Government took over the administration of the museum in 1949 and renamed it Taiwan Provincial Museum until 1999.[3] The museum underwent two major renovations in 1961 and 1994 respectively. Since 1999, the museum has been administered by the Central Government and renamed "National Taiwan Museum." Throughout the years of war and political transition and after twice being renamed, it stands as the only museum established during the colonial years, which is still in operation on its original site.
In 1998, the Ministry of the Interior declared the museum a "National Heritage." On 21 November 2017, the museum reopened after two months of renovation works.[4]
Capital Museums System
"Capital Museums System" is a project started by the Council for Cultural Affairs in 2005. With the National Taiwan Museum at the center and combining nearby historic monuments such as the 228 Memorial Park, Presidential Office Building, and Taipei Guest House as the starting point to those who want to know the history of Taiwan.
The project includes:
- National Taiwan Museum
- The old Kangyo Bank building (勸業銀行舊廈): Formerly used as the head office of the Land Bank of Taiwan, designated as a natural history museum.
- Camphor Factory of the Monopoly Bureau (專賣局舊樟腦工廠): Renovation completed in 1990, highlights Taiwan industrial history with exhibits on camphor-processing and modern industry.
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The following historical buildings will also be restored and added to the system as museums:
- Railway Department of the Transportation Administration (台灣總督府交通局鐵道部): Used as the head office of Taiwan Railways Administration. It is under repair now and will become the Railway Museum in the future.
- Monopoly Bureau (臺灣總督府專賣局): Currently the head office of the Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation, it will be used for industry exhibition in the future.
- The old Mitsui Bussan Company building (三井物產株式會社舊廈)
Exhibitions
The museum has witnessed Taiwan's history and recorded its natural and humanitarian developments. Through this window, one may catch a glimpse of Taiwan's evolution with regard to the fields of earth sciences, humanitarian developments, zoology, and botany.
The museum maintains its original scale, with five departments — anthropology, earth sciences, zoology, botany and education. The collection features specimens of Taiwan's indigenous animals and plants as well as cultural artifacts. Through its regular exhibitions and special exhibitions, publications and various educational programs, the museum is serving the public as an educational establishment.
- Special exhibitions
- International exhibitions
- Touring exhibitions: every year, the museum organizes exhibition tours selected from among the special exhibitions that are suitable for showing in natural history educational halls around the island.Taiwan Governor Museum at night 1923
- Permanent exhibitions:
- Section on Taiwan's pre-history culture.
- Section on Taiwan's indigenous culture.
- Outdoor exhibitions: includes bronze buffaloes, Collection of Stone Tablets, relics of the Giant Stone Culture, old cannons, and old locomotives.
Transportation
The museum is accessible within walking distance northwest from NTU Hospital Station of the Taipei Metro.
See also
References
- http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aedu/201711200033.aspx
- Special Exhibition|Back in their times: a visual history of Taiwan from the 1930s to the 1960s, 20 December 2018
- "History". National Taiwan Museum. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
- DeAeth, Duncan (21 November 2017). "National Taiwan Museum reopens after 2 month renovation". Taiwan News. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
External links
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