DistantNews
๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ผ Taiwan /Culture & Society

Jackie Chan's 'Film Prop' Zodiac Heads Still Occupy Museum Storage, Lawmaker Questions Value

From Liberty Times · (12m ago) Chinese Critical tone

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Legislator Karen Kuo questioned the current storage and resource allocation for the controversial 'Twelve Zodiac Animal Heads' donated by Jackie Chan to the National Palace Museum's Southern Branch.
  • The 'animal heads,' described as 'film props' rather than artifacts or replicas, were removed in 2016 due to public controversy, including accusations of being a 'united front' tool.
  • Museum Director Shiao Tsung-huang confirmed the items are stored in a general repository without special treatment, and the museum will research better handling methods.

A significant controversy is once again simmering around the National Palace Museum, this time concerning the 'Twelve Zodiac Animal Heads' donated by martial arts star Jackie Chan. Legislator Karen Kuo has rightly raised critical questions about these objects, which were initially presented as 'film props' and not authentic artifacts or even replicas. Their presence at the Southern Branch, which opened in 2015, quickly became a point of contention, leading to their removal in November 2016.

Are we spending public funds every year to support a batch of controversial and valueless replicas?

โ€” Karen KuoLegislator Karen Kuo questions the use of public funds to store the controversial 'animal heads.'

The core of the issue, as highlighted by Legislator Kuo, is the continued occupation of valuable museum storage space by these controversial items. She pointed out that the museum incurs costs for climate control, pest prevention, and security for its repositories. The question arises: why should public funds be used to maintain objects that are not considered cultural relics and have generated significant debate, including accusations of being a tool for Beijing's 'united front' influence operations?

Because these items have not undergone anๅฏฉ่ญฐ (deliberation) process, they are currently stored in a general repository. No special treatment is given; they are just lying there.

โ€” Shiao Tsung-huangMuseum Director Shiao Tsung-huang explains the current status of the 'animal heads.'

Museum Director Shiao Tsung-huang acknowledged that the 'animal heads' are currently stored in a general repository, receiving no special treatment, and are essentially 'lying there.' He also conceded that the museum will explore better ways to handle these items. This admission underscores the lack of a clear resolution or strategy for dealing with donated items that prove problematic.

Are there better ways to handle them, or should we review the acceptance mechanism?

โ€” Karen KuoLegislator Karen Kuo asks about alternative solutions and the museum's donation acceptance policies.

From our perspective at Liberty Times, this situation is emblematic of a larger problem: the need for a more rigorous vetting process for donations, especially those with potential political undertones. The initial acceptance of 'film props' as public art, particularly given the historical context of the original Yuanmingyuan zodiac heads looted by foreign forces and the subsequent nationalist campaigns in China to reclaim them, was questionable. We must ensure that our national treasures and the resources dedicated to their preservation are not compromised by items that lack genuine historical or artistic value, or worse, serve a political agenda.

We will further research how to handle them better.

โ€” Shiao Tsung-huangMuseum Director Shiao Tsung-huang responds to suggestions for better handling of the donated items.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog