When National Antique Meets Symbolic Economy：The Rhetoric Transformation of Taipei National Palace Museum

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-0232.2011.04.013

Abstract：The paper explores the meanings of ruling culture and the transformation process of Taipei National Palace Museum from postwar Taiwan to the first decade of 21 century.From the very beginning,the National Museum was established for national heritage preservation and identity education in the KMT government＇s identity discourse.Its Eclecticism building style and the abundant ornaments acted as the national character rhetoric.But the museum＇s role has been shifted due to the urban economy and identity struggle since the 1980s.The function of the National Museum has become not only a heritage presentation container but also a very important part of urban capital accumulation machine and cultural economy.The paper is divided into two parts.The first part focuses on the historical transformation of the museum from Qing Empire＇s private collection system to the KMT government＇s national cultural heritage,and further to the diverse rhetoric meanings in different historical context,from cold war,post cold war to cross national urban cultural competition period.The second part focuses on its interior renovation,exhibition mode reconstruction,and the BOT boutique restaurant project started from 2001.The new trend has already shifted the function of Taipei National Palace Museum from culture creativity asset to Taipei＇s facade for symbolic/economy accumulation.How has the symbolic meaning changed in the transformation process？ What is the modernity experience produced in the changing process？ These are the main questions that will be explored in the second parts of analysis.