Shanghai Civil Affairs Museum

Shanghai Civil Affairs Museum

The Shanghai Civil Affairs Museum is the first comprehensive museum in China dedicated to the civil affairs sector. It is located at No. 105 Puyu West Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai. The museum has a total floor area of 1,200 square meters, with an exhibition space of 800 square meters. It consists of six major sections: the Introductory Hall, Historical Culture, Thematic Business Displays, District and County Civil Affairs, Civil Affairs Role Models, and Civil Affairs Information. The exhibition employs a variety of display methods, including light boxes, sculptures, models, paintings, simulated scenes, and multimedia presentations.

The museum displays marriage certificates, residence permits, and temporary residence permits issued during different eras, including the Republican era, the early years of the People’s Republic of China, the Reform and Opening-Up period, and the modern era.

The exhibition celebrates the “public servant ox” spirit of civil affairs, honors individuals and groups from all walks of life in Shanghai who have shown care for and made significant contributions to the development of Shanghai’s civil affairs, and promotes the remarkable achievements made by Shanghai civil affairs over the past 60-plus years.

Among the more than 1,300 exhibits are a “Land Use Certificate” from the 32nd year of the Qianlong reign (1767), a “Preference Coupon” from the Eyuwan region in 1932, the first edition of China’s Marriage Law published on April 13, 1950, and the original “Appointment Notice” personally signed by Mayor Chen Yi in 1953. These items are extremely valuable and offer a refreshing glimpse into history.

Based on historical artifacts, the Civil Affairs Museum highlights the theme of “people’s livelihood,” aiming to “help the general public understand, appreciate, and support civil affairs.” It is said that as early as the Tang Dynasty in China, there was a concept of “governing for the stability of the people.” The term “civil affairs” began to be used in the Song Dynasty. In 1949, the Civil Affairs Bureau of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government was established, later becoming the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau.

A marriage certificate from the 37th year of the Republic of China (1948), with a pink background and bright red borders, is prominently displayed. In addition to the names of the bride and groom, the names of the officiant, matchmaker, and parents of both parties are also listed, each followed by their personal seal. At the top left of the certificate, two revenue stamps with official seals are affixed. Next to this certificate is a “women’s version of the marriage contract” from the Republican era, indicating that the groom had presented betrothal gifts and that the engagement was formally agreed upon. Today, only the couple themselves appear on the marriage certificate, and the “women’s version of the marriage contract” has become a relic of the past.

The evolution of a single marriage certificate reflects the transformation of China’s marriage system. As arranged marriages dictated by parents and matchmakers gave way to unions based on love between economically and personally independent individuals, the “marriage certificate” naturally became more “streamlined.” The marriage certificates on display in the museum vividly illustrate the journey from complexity to simplicity in marital traditions.