Overseas Chinese Museum

Xiamen Overseas Chinese museum is a comprehensive museum with the theme of overseas Chinese history. It is also the only overseas Chinese Museum in China, initiated by the late patriotic overseas Chinese leader Tan Kah kee. The museum building is a palace style building made of high-quality white granite, which continues the "Jiageng style" of Chinese and western. There are a large number of domestic and foreign artifacts, specimens and cultural relics related to the history of overseas Chinese, especially animal specimens. If you're lucky, you may meet student volunteers to explain.

Overseas Chinese Museum

synonym

Overseas Chinese Museum generally refers to overseas Chinese Museum

The overseas Chinese museum is a historical museum with national characteristics. It is located on the west side of No. 493, Siming South Road, Xiamen City, Fujian Province, with a construction area of more than 3000 square meters. As of March 2017, it has more than 7000 exhibits. The museum was founded by the famous overseas Chinese leader, Mr. Tan Kah Kee, and was donated by overseas Chinese and returned overseas Chinese. It started construction in 1956 and officially opened in May 1959. The overseas Chinese museum is divided into six parts: the emergence and development of overseas Chinese, the tragic experience of overseas Chinese before liberation, the friendship between overseas Chinese and the people of the country where they live, the contribution of overseas Chinese to the motherland, the past and present of overseas Chinese society, and the review of overseas Chinese policies.

A plaque inscribed by Mr. Liao Chengzhi is inlaid on the new gate of the overseas Chinese Museum. The overseas Chinese museum is known as "the unique overseas Chinese History Museum in the world" by British female writer Han Suying. The museum was initiated by Mr. Tan Kah kee. It was built in May 1959 and officially opened to the public. As of March 2017, the exhibition area is 2400 square meters, displaying more than 1200 pieces of information and photos, more than 2000 pieces of precious cultural relics, and more than 1000 pieces of specimens of various rare birds, animals and aquatic products.

Development history

On September 20, 1956, Tan Kah Kee personally wrote the origin of advocating the overseas Chinese Museum.

On May 14, 1959, the overseas Chinese Museum opened.

From September 1965 to August 1978, the museum was closed because of the cultural revolution.

In January 1995, a new storage department and a security department were set up, and the original Exhibition Department and the liaison department were merged into an exhibition department.

On June 27, 1999, the main body of the two wings expansion project of the main building of the overseas Chinese Museum was capped.

In May 2007, the overseas Chinese Museum opened to the public free of charge.

On May 18, 2008, the overseas Chinese Museum was awarded the first batch of national first-class museums by the State Administration of cultural relics.

In May 2013, because it did not meet the national first-class Museum standards, it was cancelled the national first-class Museum level and reduced to the national second-class Museum.

Layout of exhibition area

The first part is going to the world

First, show the world map. The dotted place names on the map show the places where the overseas Chinese lived and settled down, and the places where they settled down. In the hall, the models of ancient sailing boats were imitated, which also revealed the hard journey of the ancestors of overseas Chinese to make a living and witnessed the tragic fate of the contracted Chinese workers. The pictures and materials on both sides of the exhibition cabinet show the overseas Chinese's journey to the world.

The second part is overseas business

The imitated "Yada" house and Tin House on display reveal the difficult course of the overseas Chinese ancestors in the wilderness, land development, mining and road construction.

In the exhibition hall, there is also a copy of Nanyang old folk street, which is the epitome of Chinatowns all over the world. On the streets, there are rickshaw pullers and rickshaws of wax statues, which mainly show the hard journey of early Chinese and overseas Chinese to start their own businesses overseas. There are also old daily necessities presented by overseas Chinese. And many martyrs' photos and monuments show the Anti Japanese deeds of overseas Chinese during the Anti Japanese war.

The third part is to integrate the local culture

Overseas Chinese are envoys of cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. On the one hand, overseas Chinese keep themselves, run Chinese schools, open Chinese newspapers, keep the language of the motherland, traditional customs and ethics, so that Chinese culture can continue and develop in foreign countries; on the other hand, overseas Chinese learn and absorb the nutrients of local culture and Western culture, and they influence, infiltrate and supplement each other. Overseas Chinese are gradually integrated with local residents to create a better life.

The fourth part takes root

After World War II, overseas Chinese faced the choice of political identity. The vast majority of overseas Chinese joined the local nationality and were loyal to their respective countries. They no longer use three knives (scissors, razors and kitchen knives) to sell coolies and become hawkers as their main means of making a living. Instead, they improve their cultural level, run small and medium-sized or large enterprises, climb the peak of science and technology, and make achievements. It shows that the overseas Chinese of the Chinese nation, as a member of the national family of the host country, have a stable foothold and enterprising spirit.

The fifth part has a long history

Although overseas Chinese have chosen different nationalities and live in different countries, they are very concerned about their motherland. Their ancestors and fathers have made selfless contributions to China's revolution and construction, benefiting their hometown, promoting schools, building hospitals and running various public welfare undertakings. Show their enthusiasm for patriotism and hometown. There are many cultural relics and handicrafts from Southeast Asian countries sent by overseas Chinese in the window, such as Thai Buddha, Cambodian relief, Indonesian ancient musical instruments and so on, which are full of exotic flavor.

Exhibition Profile

Basic Display

Overseas Chinese cultural relics exhibition

Based on the cultural relics of overseas Chinese history and the new achievements of overseas Chinese history research, the exhibition, with the help of new display means, vividly and systematically reviews the footprints of overseas Chinese going abroad and into the world, reproduces their living conditions and outstanding performance in the country where they live, introduces the process of their transformation from overseas Chinese to citizen identity, and eulogizes the achievements they have made for the cause of human progress It shows the overseas Chinese's loyalty to the motherland and their good reputation for the national conditions. In May 2005, the exhibition won the best new technology and new material application award of the Sixth National Museum top ten exhibition selection, which was awarded by the State Administration of cultural relics, China Museum Society and China Heritage newspaper.

Exhibition of Tan Kah Kee's cultural relics

The exhibition shows some bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and paintings, etc. selected from the cultural relics collected by Mr. Tan Kah Kee in Beijing and other places when he was an octogenarian, so that the audience can understand the profound, long and splendid Chinese history and culture through appreciating bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and paintings, etc.

Nature Museum

The display has set up a simulated natural ecological environment. More than 150 natural specimens of birds and mammals are scattered in the environment suitable for their survival, vividly and vividly. The exhibition not only shows the diversity of animals and publicizes scientific knowledge to the audience, but also appeals to people to raise their awareness of protecting wildlife and environment.

A summary of cultural relics

As of March 2017, the museum has nearly 7000 pieces of cultural relics, including bronzes, ceramics, ancient coins, ancient calligraphy and paintings, ancient carving crafts, foreign ceramic glassware, as well as a number of precious overseas Chinese historical relics and specimens of birds, mammals, fish, minerals, among which there are many national first-class cultural relics.

Collection quality

Organization setup

office

The main responsibilities are to assist the hospital leaders to grasp the work situation of the hospital, deal with various internal and external administrative affairs, do a good job in the management of administrative logistics and property materials, be responsible for convening various meetings, comprehensive coordination, official document writing, daily affairs processing, file management, text printing and other service work, and ensure the smooth progress of the work of the hospital.

Exhibition and Education Department

The main responsibilities are to cooperate with relevant business departments to scientifically organize the collection of cultural relics, objects, historical materials, specimens, etc., to disseminate historical, scientific and cultural knowledge to the public through visualized display; to be responsible for the research, design, production and layout of basic display and special exhibition (including receiving exhibits, arranging exhibitions and withdrawing exhibitions); to be responsible for the introduction, exchange, planning and implementation of temporary exhibitions; Be responsible for organizing audience, exhibition and explanation, holding lectures, conducting audience survey and external publicity.

Research Department

The main responsibilities are to carry out relevant research work around the exhibition of our hospital, absorb and utilize new research achievements, track the new trends in the research field, write display scripts, do a good job in collecting data, mastering data, conducting targeted research, popularizing publicity, consulting in the hospital, organizing and implementing research projects, etc. He compiled and published academic journals, overseas Chinese literature collection and photo collection, participated in academic exchange activities and held academic lectures.

Cultural relics preservation Department

The main responsibilities are to collect, protect, manage and research the cultural relics in strict accordance with the working procedures of receiving, identifying, classifying, registering, cataloging, shelving, withdrawing, canceling, counting and filing, to establish the computer database and information management of the cultural relics, to carry out the research on the cultural relics and related business, and to do a good job in the restoration, identification and development of the cultural relics And utilization.

Security Department

The main responsibilities are to formulate duty system, fire prevention and anti-theft system, safeguard the safety of buildings, equipment, exhibits and all public property of the hospital, maintain the order of public places and the safety of personnel, and manage vehicles in and out according to the requirements of regulations such as "Regulations on museum security work" and "Regulations on Museum risk level and safety protection level". Implement safety responsibility system and manage temporary security personnel.

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