A significant commemorative event, marking the 90th anniversary of the evacuation of the Palace Museum collection during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, is set to begin this Thursday in Shanghai. The exhibition, titled “The Long March of the National Treasures: An Exhibition Commemorating the Southward Evacuation of the Palace Museum’s Artifacts,” is being held at the Shanghai History Museum. This event is a collaboration between the Palace Museum of Beijing and the People’s Daily National Humanities History magazine.
This exhibition is more than a showcase of artifacts; it delves into the historical context and narratives surrounding the evacuation. It reconstructs the journey through a variety of display methods, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in a dialogue that spans nine decades. The focus is on historical materials and research findings, offering a comprehensive view of the evacuation process.
In January 1933, with the Japanese army occupying Shanhai Pass, the precarious situation in North China prompted the Palace Museum’s Executive Board to convene an emergency meeting. They decided to move significant artifacts to southern China for safekeeping. From February to May 1933, the museum successfully transported 13,427 crates and 64 packages of artifacts to Shanghai in five batches.
The evacuated collection included invaluable bronze wares, renowned calligraphy, and paintings such as Wang Xizhi’s “Timely Clearing After Snowfall” and Zhao Ji’s “Listening to a Zither.” Important ancient texts like the “Complete Library of the Four Treasuries” (Siku Quanshu) were also part of the shipment. Other institutions, like the National Museum of Art and the Summer Palace, contributed to the evacuation, ensuring the preservation of their collections.
Most of the evacuated artifacts were returned to the north in September 1958, but Shanghai’s role as a significant storage location during this period is a focal point of the exhibition. The exhibition not only chronicles the collection’s journey to Shanghai but also weaves it into the fabric of the city’s collective memory.
The exhibition employs innovative digital technologies like multimedia imaging and interactive displays to bring the artifacts and their stories to life. These creative interpretations aim to provide visitors with a unique cultural experience, offering insights into the history and beauty of these national treasures.
Running until March 29, 2024, the exhibition will also travel to Guiyang, Beijing, and other cities across China. To enhance the visitor experience, the organizers have planned a series of academic seminars, cultural lectures, research classes, and other activities. These will provide a deeper understanding of the turbulent years associated with the nation’s history and the fate of its invaluable cultural heritage.
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