Discovering Taiwan - Revisiting Taiwan's Natural History and Naturalists

Walking into the "Discovering Taiwan" special exhibition feels like taking a journey through time, exploring Taiwan with past naturalists. The exhibition not only displays natural specimens, but also tells stories about "discovery". Through the investigation process of Mori Usonosuke and Kikuchi Yonetaro, we can feel how the scholars at that time personally walked through the mountains and forests to record Taiwan's flora and fauna. This made me rethink that the knowledge we take for granted now is actually the result of the efforts of countless people. "New Elephants of Taiwan" is like a small natural history of Taiwan. The black long-tailed pheasant, the hokuto stone, and the cherry landlocked salmon, each discovery represents a piece of collection history of the National Taiwan Museum. What surprised me most were the aboriginal cultural relics in the exhibition hall, such as the shell bead anklets from a hundred years ago, which made people imagine how they were worn and passed down at that time. The last "Future of the Past" left a deep impression on me. When I stood in front of the Taiwan clouded leopard specimen, I felt an indescribable emotion in my heart. These specimens are not only records of the past, but also reminders of how we should cherish the existing natural environment. The fact that contemporary artists transform specimens into new works also makes me feel that museums do not just preserve old things, but are also a bridge connecting the past and the future. This exhibition gave me a new understanding of the museum's collection. Behind every specimen and every label lies the discoveries and efforts of countless people. Next time I come to the National Taiwan Museum, I will definitely look at these seemingly static histories with a different perspective. In fact, they are still telling their own stories. Discover Taiwan - Revisiting Taiwan's Natural History and Naturalists Exhibition period 2017/11/21 09:30 ~ 2026/12/27 17:00 Location National Taiwan Museum Main Building 3rd Floor #January Good Places 2025 #Special Exhibition #Taiwan Clouded Leopard #Specimen #Plant Specimen #Animal Specimen