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Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica / Exhibition Hall
Academic Inheritance
The first director of this institute, Mr. Fu S-Nien, established the Institute of History and Philology in 1928. With the support of the Institute's superior organization and research capabilities, it commissioned the establishment of the Central Museum Preparation Office in 1933. He believed that the main purpose of a museum was to educate the public, improve the quality of the national people, and broaden the cultural perspective of the people. His museum concept was strongly characterized by natural history museums, which was quite different from museums that collected and displayed antiques.
During the years before the war and for more than a decade until the end of the war, the relationship between the Institute of History and Philology and the Central Museum Preparation Office became even closer. The two units cooperated in multiple archaeological excavations and ethnological surveys. After the Central Museum Preparation Office moved to Taiwan with the Institute of History and Philology, it merged with the Palace Museum in Beijing in 1949 to form the "United Management Office of the National Central Museum and the Palace Museum." In 1965, it was reorganized into the "National Palace Museum." The Central Museum thus disappeared.
In 1958, the Archaeology Hall of the Institute of History and Philology was completed, with one archaeology exhibition room. In 1986, the History and Cultural Relics Exhibition Building was put into use, with the first and second floors set up as exhibition halls, and the museum's scale was initially formed. By June 2002, after renovation, the History and Cultural Relics Exhibition Building reopened, and the spirit of the Central Museum was once again revived in the History and Cultural Relics Exhibition Building of the Institute of History and Philology, which was guided by history, archaeology, and ethnology.
The most significant difference between the collections of this museum and those of general art museums lies in the fact that they not only possess historical, cultural, and archaeological value, but also specifically illustrate the development context of the Institute of History and Philology since the late 1920s and the academic history of modern China.
New Positioning in the Knowledge Society
Since its establishment, the Institute of History and Philology of the Academia Sinica has always adhered to the fundamental academic principles that researchers should leave the narrow study of books - "search for things from the heavens to the earth" - and that the collection and research of first-hand materials should be the primary task of historical research. This persistent spirit of scientific critical thinking and the pursuit of truth based on evidence is not only the traditional spirit of the Institute of History and Philology, but its specific research achievements are also reflected in the content of the History and Cultural Relics Exhibition Building.
In the 21st century globalized era, knowledge is no longer a rare item confined to ivory towers, but must enter the public sphere of various social classes, initiate discussions, stimulate imagination, and outline future visions. This museum aspires to build a bridge between the knowledge system and the general public, to inherit past achievements, and to face future challenges. We also hope that the voices and criticisms from the society can serve as a driving force for the Institute of History and Philology to reflect and improve itself.
A New Milestone in the Academic Museum
In order to meet the new knowledge and cultural mission of the new era, this museum was closed for renovation in 1997 and the display themes and contents were re-planned. At the same time, the environment of the museum's storage rooms was improved, and two constant temperature and humidity special rooms were set up according to the characteristics of bronze and organic materials. In 1994, the Cultural Relics Conservation Laboratory was established to fulfill the responsibilities of cultural relics research, preservation, and maintenance. Finally, related resources and personnel for exhibitions and educational promotion were integrated, aiming to gradually transform this museum into a professional museum. The current focus of the collection work includes actively reorganizing the Central Chinese archaeological artifacts in the collection, and cooperating with the "National Collection Digitization Project" of the National Science Council to digitize cultural relics images and data. After the museum reopened in 2002, it will mainly focus on permanent collection exhibitions, and hold small special exhibitions and related educational and promotional activities each year to share the research achievements of this institute with the general public.
As Mr. Fu S-Nien advocated in the early days of the establishment of the institute, the coexistence of research work and museums is not contradictory. In addition to being diligent in academic research, taking on the responsibility of popularizing education and improving cultural standards is also the long-term position of the Institute of History and Philology. As a venue for displaying the academic research achievements of this institute, the History and Cultural Relics Exhibition Building will not only be a material for academic research, but also allow visitors to appreciate and gain insights, thus stimulating people's understanding and interest in academia and promoting the advancement of science and culture.
The first director of this institute, Mr. Fu S-Nien, established the Institute of History and Philology in 1928. With the support of the Institute's superior organization and research capabilities, it commissioned the establishment of the Central Museum Preparation Office in 1933. He believed that the main purpose of a museum was to educate the public, improve the quality of the national people, and broaden the cultural perspective of the people. His museum concept was strongly characterized by natural history museums, which was quite different from museums that collected and displayed antiques.
During the years before the war and for more than a decade until the end of the war, the relationship between the Institute of History and Philology and the Central Museum Preparation Office became even closer. The two units cooperated in multiple archaeological excavations and ethnological surveys. After the Central Museum Preparation Office moved to Taiwan with the Institute of History and Philology, it merged with the Palace Museum in Beijing in 1949 to form the "United Management Office of the National Central Museum and the Palace Museum." In 1965, it was reorganized into the "National Palace Museum." The Central Museum thus disappeared.
In 1958, the Archaeology Hall of the Institute of History and Philology was completed, with one archaeology exhibition room. In 1986, the History and Cultural Relics Exhibition Building was put into use, with the first and second floors set up as exhibition halls, and the museum's scale was initially formed. By June 2002, after renovation, the History and Cultural Relics Exhibition Building reopened, and the spirit of the Central Museum was once again revived in the History and Cultural Relics Exhibition Building of the Institute of History and Philology, which was guided by history, archaeology, and ethnology.
The most significant difference between the collections of this museum and those of general art museums lies in the fact that they not only possess historical, cultural, and archaeological value, but also specifically illustrate the development context of the Institute of History and Philology since the late 1920s and the academic history of modern China.
New Positioning in the Knowledge Society
Since its establishment, the Institute of History and Philology of the Academia Sinica has always adhered to the fundamental academic principles that researchers should leave the narrow study of books - "search for things from the heavens to the earth" - and that the collection and research of first-hand materials should be the primary task of historical research. This persistent spirit of scientific critical thinking and the pursuit of truth based on evidence is not only the traditional spirit of the Institute of History and Philology, but its specific research achievements are also reflected in the content of the History and Cultural Relics Exhibition Building.
In the 21st century globalized era, knowledge is no longer a rare item confined to ivory towers, but must enter the public sphere of various social classes, initiate discussions, stimulate imagination, and outline future visions. This museum aspires to build a bridge between the knowledge system and the general public, to inherit past achievements, and to face future challenges. We also hope that the voices and criticisms from the society can serve as a driving force for the Institute of History and Philology to reflect and improve itself.
A New Milestone in the Academic Museum
In order to meet the new knowledge and cultural mission of the new era, this museum was closed for renovation in 1997 and the display themes and contents were re-planned. At the same time, the environment of the museum's storage rooms was improved, and two constant temperature and humidity special rooms were set up according to the characteristics of bronze and organic materials. In 1994, the Cultural Relics Conservation Laboratory was established to fulfill the responsibilities of cultural relics research, preservation, and maintenance. Finally, related resources and personnel for exhibitions and educational promotion were integrated, aiming to gradually transform this museum into a professional museum. The current focus of the collection work includes actively reorganizing the Central Chinese archaeological artifacts in the collection, and cooperating with the "National Collection Digitization Project" of the National Science Council to digitize cultural relics images and data. After the museum reopened in 2002, it will mainly focus on permanent collection exhibitions, and hold small special exhibitions and related educational and promotional activities each year to share the research achievements of this institute with the general public.
As Mr. Fu S-Nien advocated in the early days of the establishment of the institute, the coexistence of research work and museums is not contradictory. In addition to being diligent in academic research, taking on the responsibility of popularizing education and improving cultural standards is also the long-term position of the Institute of History and Philology. As a venue for displaying the academic research achievements of this institute, the History and Cultural Relics Exhibition Building will not only be a material for academic research, but also allow visitors to appreciate and gain insights, thus stimulating people's understanding and interest in academia and promoting the advancement of science and culture.
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