Precious historical documents on display as the Palace Museum holds lectures analyzing our diplomatic history

By Li Xinyi, compiled and reported

The Palace Museum, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has presented the “A Century of Legacy, Forging a Path — Special Exhibition of Diplomatic Historical Materials of the Republic of China” from now until February 6, 2012, at the Palace Museum, displaying vital and treasured historical documents related to the evolution of our country's diplomacy and international relations, including the Boxer Protocol, the Treaty of Nanking, and the Treaty of Shimonoseki. As part of the exhibition’s promotion, a series of special lectures has been launched. The first lecture, led by Vice Director Feng Mingzhu, will take place at 2:30 pm on August 18 in the B1 Multimedia Theater on the first basement level of the main building of the Palace Museum. This lecture series vividly explores how the Republic of China overcame the challenges of a weakened nation in the late Qing Dynasty, constantly menaced by the partitioning ambitions of foreign powers, and traces the hard work of diplomats who forged the path to today’s proactive diplomatic engagement.

The seven special lectures organized by the Palace Museum include: on August 18, Vice Director of the Palace Museum Feng Mingzhu introducing the “A Century of Legacy, Forging a Path — Special Exhibition of Diplomatic Historical Materials of the Republic of China”; on September 1, Wang Zanyu, head of the Archives and Information Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking on the struggle of ROC diplomats; also on September 1, Chen Weixin, assistant researcher at the Palace Museum, presenting “Selected Archival Introductions on the Partitioning of China by Foreign Powers in the Late Qing Period”; on September 13, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Shen Lyu-shun discussing the significance of the special exhibition; then on November 3, former ROC representative to the U.S. Chen Shih-fan speaking on “Taiwan’s Legal Status as Seen Through a Century of Treaties”; and on November 24, former ROC representative to Israel Deng Shensheng sharing “From the Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty — A Veteran Diplomat’s Memories.”

In addition, the Palace Museum welcomes parents and teachers to bring children to view these vivid historical treaties. The exhibition hall also features specially designed “study sheets” for children aged 7–12. Parents and teachers can use these study sheets to embark on a summer “diplomatic educational journey” with their kids, or download the study sheets directly online.

Palace Museum website: www.npm.gov.tw