The 6th iteration of the esteemed Taihe Forum recently commenced at the iconic Palace Museum. Wang Xudong, the director of this majestic establishment, highlighted during the inauguration how technology and cultural conservation can go hand in hand. He revealed that the museum, leveraging digital technology, has digitized a staggering 900,000 items from its treasure trove, creating a vast digital repository that stands as a testament to the capabilities of modern archiving methods.
Delving deeper into this digitization effort, Wang elaborated on how the Palace Museum has embraced the digital era with open arms. Not only have over 900,000 items been transformed into their digital counterparts, but more than 100,000 of these artifacts have been immortalized in high-definition imagery, allowing an even broader audience to marvel at their intricacies. Taking the initiative further, the museum has also achieved a significant milestone by capturing the fundamental essence of the primary historical structures within the Forbidden City’s precincts.
This ambitious project, Wang believes, extends the museum’s age-old vision. “For years, we’ve worked relentlessly to enhance our global reach. We aspire to be a beacon, illuminating the rich tapestry of 5,000 years of Chinese culture, ensuring that audiences from every corner of the globe can experience and appreciate it,” Wang shared.
Within the vast walls of the Palace Museum lies an unparalleled collection of over 1.8 million artifacts. These range from royal collectibles, carefully curated over successive dynasties, to pieces that were once a part of imperial productions. But the museum’s significance isn’t restricted to showcasing Chinese history alone. It stands as a crossroads of diverse cultures, drawing parallels with Buddhist, Taoist, and shamanistic traditions while also hinting at the Western cultural imprints on some of its edifices and relics, as mentioned in a recent report by the Beijing News.
The Taihe Forum’s dual-day agenda revolved around the theme of “International Exchange, Cooperation, and Sharing in Cultural Heritage Conservation.” This gathering served as a melting pot for international scholars, facilitating discussions about the nuances of preserving cultural legacies.
Juergen Vervoorst, of the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, heaped praise on China’s proactive approach towards cultural conservation. He commended the nation’s agility, fervor, and allocation of ample resources in the pursuit of preserving its past for the future.
Terry Simioti Nyambe, representing the International Council of Museums, echoed similar sentiments. For Nyambe, the Taihe Forum symbolized an international communion, enabling professionals to deliberate upon preserving global heritage. “Our global tapestry of cultures, despite its vast diversity, binds us together. It teaches us mutual respect,” Nyambe reflected.
Nyambe also highlighted the challenges the world grapples with today, from wars to natural disasters. He emphasized the need for international collaborations to aid nations in safeguarding their cultural heritage. Citing recent conflicts like the Israeli-Palestinian standoff and the Russia-Ukraine tension, Nyambe underscored the importance of a collective global effort, especially during such trying times.
Nyambe concluded, “In these turbulent times, our primary focus is on saving lives. But preserving our shared heritage is a close second, and we’re ever-vigilant, waiting for the right moment to step in and assist.”
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