National Museum of Taiwan History

Welcome, scholars, historians, and inquisitive travelers, to the National Museum of Taiwan History. Situated in the Annan District of Tainan—the oldest city on the island and the historical cradle of Taiwanese society—this…

Before we enter the permanent exhibition halls, we must pause at the exterior 'Water Stage', a vast, shallow reflecting pool that surrounds the museum's entrance. From a semiotic perspective, this water feature is essential to…

Ascending to the second floor, we enter the core permanent exhibition, 'Our Land, Our People'. The chronological narrative begins with the deep, pre-colonial past, honoring the Austronesian indigenous peoples who have inhabited…

Moving forward in time, the exhibition abruptly shifts aesthetic tone as we enter the 17th century—the era of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and the global Age of Discovery. The lighting becomes harsher, focusing on massive,…

The narrative flows into the lengthy era of Qing Dynasty rule (1683–1895). This massive gallery space is dominated by the theme of treacherous migration. …

The transition into the Japanese Colonial Period (1895–1945) is jarring, marked by a sudden aesthetic shift toward industrial modernity. The curving, organic lines of the Qing era are replaced by the rigid geometry of…

Our final historical destination is the post-war era, detailing the complex and often painful journey toward modern democracy. Following the retreat of the Nationalist (KMT) government to Taiwan in 1949, the island entered a…

As our comprehensive tour concludes and we return to the sunlit expanse of the Water Stage, the true achievement of the National Museum of Taiwan History becomes apparent. This is not a museum of antiquities for antiquities'…