Author: Rochelle Sy Chua

國立臺灣博物館 National Taiwan Museum
No. 2, Siang-Yang Road, Taipei, Taiwan
886 (02) 23822566
admission: FREE

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Right after our visit to Taipei 228 Memorial Museum, we went straight to 國立臺灣博物館 National Taiwan Museum w/c is located at the same park.

國立臺灣博物館 National Taiwan Museum is the oldest museum in Taiwan.  Established in 1908, it is the only museum still in operation in spite being established during the colonial years (Japan->Nationalist).

The museum concentrates on 5 areas:

• Anthropology – Story of Mankind.
• Earth Sciences – Study of the Earth.
• Zoology – Study of Animals.
• Botany – Study of Plants.
• Education – Promotion of Natural History Collection & Research.

Here are some of the exhibitions during our visit:

• Legend of the Pingpu Group

• Darwin Now

• Animals & Plants in Taiwan

The rest of the pictures can be found here.

Through the åœ‹ç«‹è‡ºç£åšç‰©é¤¨ National Taiwan Museum, we get a glimpse of Taiwan’s evolution through its exhibitions, publications & education programs.  That is also why the museum is regarded as an educational institution.

One thing that I remember was that the museum’s lounge was just too pretty hahaha!  Because of its lighting, you would really get good pictures there. 😛  Here is a picture of my mom that I really really really love!

台北二二八紀念館 Taipei 228 Memorial Museum
#3 Ketagalan Blvd., Taipei, Taiwan
886 (02) 23897228
Entrance: 20NT

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台北二二八紀念館 Taipei 228 Memorial Museum was built to remember the historical tragedy that happened on February 28, 1947.  It was established to educate the people about the massacre that happened on that day, and to allow the people to be conscious of Taiwan’s history thus helping us heal old wounds and look forward to a brighter future.

I’ll try my best to share with you what I learned about how the 2-28 massacre contributed to Taiwan’s transformation from dicatorship to democracy.  The experience was just heartwarming.  I’m close to tears already just remembering my visit there.  I can feel the love of country the people of Taiwan have just by browsing through the museum pieces.

Taiwan was a Japanese colony for 50 years.  The Japanese government had established financial systems, constructed infrastructures that resulted in Taiwanese modernization.  After the 2nd World War, people from Mainland China regarded Taiwan’s identification with Japan as a form of slavery.  That misinterpretation caused friction and set the stage for cultural conflict preceding the 2-28 massacre.

After Japan surrendered in 1945, Taiwan welcomed the Chinese government with great enthusiasm not knowing that their expectation of a better new era would be the start of a tragic period.

Taiwan experienced all sorts of hardships after the arrival of the Nationalist government: political corruption, increase in crime rate, living standards where lowered.  The growing resentment erupted when a 40-y/o woman was arrested over selling cigarettes illegally.  The woman knelt and begged for mercy as it was her only means to make a living.  But the agent didn’t care and beat up the woman on her head using his pistol, leaving the woman bloody & unconscious.

Today, Taiwan had already walked out of this tragedy & martial law.  As countless lives were lost, democracy came with cost.  The museaum’s Hall of remembrance honors lives that were lost durning 2-28.

I’m pretty sure most of us who visited the å°åŒ—二二八紀念館 Taipei 228 Memorial Museum learned a lot about the history and felt the extraordinary love of country by its people.  I can’t help but leave a message on their cork board showing how much I appreciated the purpose of putting up the place & how I felt their history.

You can find the rest of the pictures here.