Exclusive / Preview of the Four Treasures of Chi Mei Museum Before Its Grand Opening in January 2015

▲ The new building of Chi Mei Museum has entered its final stage and is expected to open to the public officially in January 2015. (Photo / Reporter Chen Rui-zhong, the same below)

Reported by Chen Rui-zhong / Tainan

After more than 30 years of preparation and collection, and an investment of over NT$2 billion, the Chi Mei Museum is set to officially open in January 2015. In addition to its rich collections of fine arts, animals, weapons, and musical instruments, the museum also houses treasures hailed as the “Four Treasures of the Museum.” Founder Robert Hsu expressed that his feelings were akin to witnessing his only son getting married.

▲ The European Hall in the museum features numerous Western paintings, including several large-scale works.

Established in 1992, Chi Mei Museum originally started as a small museum within the Chi Mei Corporation factory. The newly built facility spans 9.5 hectares, with exhibition space nearly six times larger than before. Since 2014, Chi Mei Museum has gradually moved its collections from the old site to the new one, allowing more people the opportunity to engage with art.

▲ In addition to paintings, the museum also boasts a rich collection of Western sculptures.

Chi Mei Museum consists of seven exhibition halls: the European Section, Musical Instruments Hall, Violin Exhibition Hall, Arms Hall, Animal Hall, and Rodin Hall, displaying over ten thousand pieces of collection. All were painstakingly gathered by Robert Hsu over the course of thirty years. In addition to each hall having its unique features and precious items, among themthe Charles IX Violin, Saint Martin and the Beggar, the Theseus Slaying the Centaur sculpture, and the polar bear specimen stand out due to their high value and significance, becoming the “Four Treasures of Chi Mei Museum.”.

▲ (From left) The Theseus Slaying the Centaur sculpture, the Charles IX Violin, Saint Martin and the Beggar, along with the polar bear specimen, are known as the Four Treasures of the Museum. (Photo / Provided by Chi Mei Museum)

The exterior of Chi Mei Museum uses a large amount of white stone, giving off a solemn and tranquil atmosphere. Upon entering the European Hall, visitors can see a variety of Western paintings, sculptures, and collections. The museum states that it currently holds the most comprehensive collection of Western artworks in Taiwan, ranging from Renaissance pieces to surrealist paintings, all of which allow the public to appreciate art in detail. In addition to seeing the treasure “Saint Martin and the Beggar,” there are also two identical paintings on display—visitors can try to guess which one is the original.

▲ Visitors can test their skills in identifying the real oil painting by examining brushstrokes, lighting, and color tones.

Additionally, the Animal Hall showcases over a thousand animal specimens through the concepts of animal migration, biological evolution, and world maps. The museum states that, compared to typical museums, Chi Mei Museum aims to provide a richer biological education experience through interactive and multimedia facilities, making the museum more engaging.

▲ The museum also houses an extensive collection of weapons. The founder hopes this will remind the public of the importance of peace.

For music enthusiasts, Chi Mei Museum currently holds the world’s largest collection of violins. The treasure, the Charles IX Violin, is the oldest surviving violin in the world. Additionally, there are over 1,600 ancient weapons from various countries on display, making it the most comprehensive weapons exhibition in Asia. All these offerings have generated great anticipation among art lovers and locals in Tainan.

See More of Chi Mei Museum’s Collections＜＜＜Click Here

The reason behind the establishment of Chi Mei Museum stems from founder Robert Hsu’s childhood experience of tranquility he felt in museums, leading him to vow to create a local museum in Tainan. Robert Hsu said that seeing the completion of Chi Mei Museum felt like watching his own son get married. The museum’s biggest highlight is the diversity of its exhibits. In addition to various fine art paintings and sculptures, there are also rare animal specimens that might be unattainable even with money. Regarding the display of weapons that determined the outcomes of wars, Hsu also expressed earnestly that the true purpose of showcasing these weapons is to promote world peace—hoping that weapons will only ever be seen in museums.

▲ Robert Hsu, Founder of Chi Mei Museum.

Liao Wan-ru, Deputy Director of Chi Mei Museum, also stated that currently only about half of the total collection is on display. In the future, special exhibitions will be organized to gradually showcase the entire collection. The museum operates on an appointment-only entry system. Online reservations will officially open on December 1, and the museum will open its doors in January 2015. Aside from students studying in Tainan and local residents, the full admission price is NT$200.

▲ The massive polar bear specimen is also one of the treasures of Chi Mei Museum.

Chi Mei Museum Information
Address: No. 66, Section 2, Wenhua Road, Renhe District, Tainan City
Phone: 06-6266-0800
Admission: General Admission NT$200, Concession NT$150. Free for Tainan residents, children under 6, people with disabilities and their accompanying persons, and out-of-town students studying in Tainan.
Opening Hours: 09:30–17:30, closed every Monday.