Academia Sinica's Collection of Century-Old Tsou Cultural Relics Returns Home for Exhibition, Opening May 8th
45 century-old Tsou cultural relics from Academia Sinica's collection will be exhibited at the Dabang Nature and Tsou Culture Center in Chiayi starting May 8th. This repatriation exhibition aims to showcase the diverse history, life, beliefs, and craftsmanship of the Tsou people, promoting local cultural revitalization and transmission.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 14:21
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 14:31 (10 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 14:34 (3 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Tsai Chih-ming, Chiayi County, 28th) 45 century-old Tsou cultural relics collected by Academia Sinica recently returned home and arrived at the Dabang Nature and Tsou Culture Center in Chiayi, set to open on May 8th for an exhibition. It will present the diverse aspects of Tsou history, life, beliefs, and craftsmanship, and through the oral memories of elders, reconnect objects with people, culture, and land.
The Tsou Cultural Relics Repatriation Exhibition is a collaborative effort between the Museum of the Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica, and the Chiayi County Tsou Kuba Tfuya Community Culture Development Association. An unpacking press conference for the cultural relics was held yesterday afternoon, attended by County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang, Alishan Township Chief Kao Jui-fang, non-affiliated County Councilor Wu Ching-shan, Director Wang Shu-li of the Museum of the Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica, and elders from the Tsou Tfuya and Dabang communities. The exhibition is scheduled to open on May 8th and run until November 8th.
Cheng Pei-hsi, the curator of the cultural relics repatriation exhibition, who is also a commissioned supervisor at the Chiayi County Department of Education and former principal of Chashan Elementary School in Alishan Township, stated in a phone interview with Central News Agency that the Academia Sinica Museum houses over 80 Tsou cultural relics, all estimated to be over a hundred years old, collected by Academia Sinica scholars during their research in Alishan 50 to 60 years ago.
Cheng Pei-hsi stated that before the exhibition, elders from the Tfuya and Dabang communities were invited to the Academia Sinica Museum to select suitable cultural relics to bring back. Considering the space of the Dabang Nature and Tsou Culture Center and the condition of the cultural relics themselves, only 45 pieces, along with their display cases, could be borrowed. These will be exhibited alongside 10 to 20 precious personal collections of Elder Wang Jung-hua from the Lichia community.
Cheng Pei-hsi pointed out that Academia Sinica's stance is to hope that cultural relics can return to the communities, provided that the communities have the equipment and space to protect and display them. However, currently, the Tsou communities do not possess such conditions, so the borrowed cultural relics will return to Academia Sinica for preservation after the exhibition.
Cheng Pei-hsi stated that this exhibition is divided into four sections, including Tsou women's clothing and accessories, Tsou men's clothing and accessories, Tsou daily life tools, and Elder Wang Jung-hua's personal collection. Through different aspects of the exhibits, the diverse manifestations of Tsou culture in history, life, beliefs, and craftsmanship are presented.
Cheng Pei-hsi emphasized that after overcoming many difficulties, these cultural relics finally returned to the land of the Tsou people. She thanked Academia Sinica for its guidance, and the Township Office and Representative Council for approving NT$1.2 million in funding. Of this, NT$1 million covers exhibition curation and forums, and NT$200,000 is allocated for transportation, meals, guided tours, etc., to allow schools within Alishan Township to visit the exhibition, extending participation to the entire township.
Weng Chang-liang stated that Taiwanese people are beginning to attach importance to cultural脉絡 and understanding their origins is very important. This curation process has sparked discussions among the Tsou people; everyone is welcome to visit the exhibition and delve into the life stories of the Tsou people. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150428
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-Hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.
(Central News Agency reporter Tsai Chih-ming, Chiayi County, 28th) 45 century-old Tsou cultural relics collected by Academia Sinica recently returned home and arrived at the Dabang Nature and Tsou Culture Center in Chiayi, set to open on May 8th for an exhibition. It will present the diverse aspects of Tsou history, life, beliefs, and craftsmanship, and through the oral memories of elders, reconnect objects with people, culture, and land.
The Tsou Cultural Relics Repatriation Exhibition is a collaborative effort between the Museum of the Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica, and the Chiayi County Tsou Kuba Tfuya Community Culture Development Association. An unpacking press conference for the cultural relics was held yesterday afternoon, attended by County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang, Alishan Township Chief Kao Jui-fang, non-affiliated County Councilor Wu Ching-shan, Director Wang Shu-li of the Museum of the Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica, and elders from the Tsou Tfuya and Dabang communities. The exhibition is scheduled to open on May 8th and run until November 8th.
Cheng Pei-hsi, the curator of the cultural relics repatriation exhibition, who is also a commissioned supervisor at the Chiayi County Department of Education and former principal of Chashan Elementary School in Alishan Township, stated in a phone interview with Central News Agency that the Academia Sinica Museum houses over 80 Tsou cultural relics, all estimated to be over a hundred years old, collected by Academia Sinica scholars during their research in Alishan 50 to 60 years ago.
Cheng Pei-hsi stated that before the exhibition, elders from the Tfuya and Dabang communities were invited to the Academia Sinica Museum to select suitable cultural relics to bring back. Considering the space of the Dabang Nature and Tsou Culture Center and the condition of the cultural relics themselves, only 45 pieces, along with their display cases, could be borrowed. These will be exhibited alongside 10 to 20 precious personal collections of Elder Wang Jung-hua from the Lichia community.
Cheng Pei-hsi pointed out that Academia Sinica's stance is to hope that cultural relics can return to the communities, provided that the communities have the equipment and space to protect and display them. However, currently, the Tsou communities do not possess such conditions, so the borrowed cultural relics will return to Academia Sinica for preservation after the exhibition.
Cheng Pei-hsi stated that this exhibition is divided into four sections, including Tsou women's clothing and accessories, Tsou men's clothing and accessories, Tsou daily life tools, and Elder Wang Jung-hua's personal collection. Through different aspects of the exhibits, the diverse manifestations of Tsou culture in history, life, beliefs, and craftsmanship are presented.
Cheng Pei-hsi emphasized that after overcoming many difficulties, these cultural relics finally returned to the land of the Tsou people. She thanked Academia Sinica for its guidance, and the Township Office and Representative Council for approving NT$1.2 million in funding. Of this, NT$1 million covers exhibition curation and forums, and NT$200,000 is allocated for transportation, meals, guided tours, etc., to allow schools within Alishan Township to visit the exhibition, extending participation to the entire township.
Weng Chang-liang stated that Taiwanese people are beginning to attach importance to cultural脉絡 and understanding their origins is very important. This curation process has sparked discussions among the Tsou people; everyone is welcome to visit the exhibition and delve into the life stories of the Tsou people. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150428
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-Hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.