{"id":7254,"date":"2020-06-09T00:05:41","date_gmt":"2020-06-08T16:05:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsletter.sinica.edu.tw/en\/?p=7254"},"modified":"2021-01-04T16:28:30","modified_gmt":"2021-01-04T08:28:30","slug":"the-little-palace-museum-the-essence-of-historys-spectrum-the-museum-of-the-institute-of-history-and-philology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsletter.sinica.edu.tw/en\/7254\/","title":{"rendered":"The Essence of History\u2019s Spectrum\u2014The Museum of the Institute of History and Philology"},"content":{"rendered":"

Standing tall and majestic along Humanities Road is the Museum of the Institute of History and Philology<\/strong> (IHP), which boasts the largest collection and most national treasures at Academia Sinica. The predecessor of the IHP Museum was a one-room exhibition hall for archaeological artifacts founded in 1958. Designed by acclaimed Taiwanese architect Da-Hong Wang, the IHP Museum was established in 1986 as the collection grew bigger. It now hosts more than 100,000 pieces of artifacts. Follow our AS Anniversary Special Edition on an excavation hunt at the \u201cLittle Palace Museum\u201d to appreciate the rich depths of history.<\/p>\n

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The First National Treasure: Han Dynasty Wooden Slips from Edsen-gol<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our visit should start on the second floor, the \u201cHistorical Space\u201d. The first exhibition is Han Dynasty Wooden Slips from Edsen-gol, one of the four most notable academic discoveries in early twentieth-century China. The 23.8 centimeters long \u201cMonthly and Seasonal Records of Military Supplies from Kuang-ti South Platoon in the Yong-yuan Era\u201d is the best-preserved and most complete set of wooden slips, with wood pieces, strings, and ink mostly intact. It is also the first national treasure to be registered.<\/p>\n

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Closing Ranks! The Armories of the Yin Ruins<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s continue our visit at the \u201cArcheological Space\u201d on the first floor, designed to resemble an actual excavation site. It features exhibitions from four time periods separated by glass walls: Longshan Culture, Yin Ruins, Western Chou, and Eastern Chou. Among the Yin Ruins exhibition are hundreds of bronze spearheads, comprising the most important find of the Hsi-pei-kang royal cemetery excavation.<\/p>\n

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Finding the Academia Sinica Emblem: The Oracle Bone Inscriptions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oracle bones have caught researchers\u2019 attention since first being discovered in 1899. However, large-scale scientific excavations were not conducted until 1928 following the establishment of the Institute of History and Philology. Excavations at Hsiao-t\u2019un Village in Henan Province uncovered more than 25,000 pieces, with the IHP Museum housing the world\u2019s most comprehensive Yin Ruins oracle bone collection.<\/p>\n

Among this collection, the Inscribed Deer Skull, Chia-pien 3940 and 3941, are the only two remaining pieces of inscribed deer skulls in the world. Delicately shaped and highly intact, Chia-pien 3940 is a national treasure, and the inscription on Chia-pien 3941 inspired the Academia Sinica emblem.<\/p>\n

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Inscribed Deer Skull, Chia-pien 3940<\/p><\/div>\n

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Inscribed Deer Skull, Chia-pien 3941<\/p><\/div>\n

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Aside from collecting historical artifacts, IHP Museum is the embodiment of research achievements at the Institute of History and Philology since the 1920s. As first-hand material is crucial for studying history, excavated artifacts collected for research purposes bestow the IHP Museum with immense value. In addition, we hope the IHP Museum may continue to enhance it contributions to scholarship and fulfill its greater mission by opening to the general public and allowing visitors to reflect upon humanity\u2019s past.<\/p>\n

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Museum of the Institute of History and Philology<\/strong> Information<\/strong><\/p>\n