Chiangs’ Diaries Submitted as National Treasures; National Taiwan Museum: Implementing System for Classifying Antiquities

The National Museum of Taiwan, Republic of China (ROC), stated that after the “Diaries of the Two Chiangs” returned to the museum in September 2023, they were severely damaged and needed additional funding for early restoration. The application to designate the diaries as national treasures under the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act is the normal administrative procedure.

In a press release on the 14th, the National Museum of Taiwan ROC clarified that recently, a well-known scholar on Facebook sarcastically linked the Two Chiangs’ diaries with the accountability for the 228 Massacre, implying that the museum was neglecting transitional justice. It is important to note that cultural relics are neutral, and the term “national treasure” is a cultural identity and legal term. To prevent confusion, the reasons and process are explained below.

Firstly, “national treasure” is a specific term under the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act, belonging to the category of “antiques.” The act, which has been in place since 1982, systematically manages cultural heritage preservation by categorizing cultural assets into 14 classes, including tangible and intangible assets. Among the tangible categories, “antiques” are further classified as “national treasures,” “important antiques,” and “general antiques” based on their value and rarity.

According to the law, “national treasure” is a category within the “antiques” class, representing a cultural identity and legal term that must go through the cultural heritage review process and be officially announced by the Ministry of Culture. The designation of a national treasure must meet various criteria in accordance with the “Regulations on the Classification, Designation, and Abolition Review of Antiques.”

These criteria include items that reflect traditional, ethnic, or regional customs, memories, legends, beliefs, skills, or cultural characteristics; represent famous figures throughout history or major national events; reflect historical changes or characteristics in politics, economy, society, humanities, arts, or sciences; possess unique artistic or scientific achievements; are one-of-a-kind or irreplaceable; and have special significance for the development of knowledge, technology, or genres.

Furthermore, according to the amended Cultural Heritage Preservation Act in 2016, central government agencies and their affiliated institutions are required to temporarily classify and report the cultural relics they manage for review by the competent authority.

The National Museum of Taiwan ROC had previously submitted eight items for temporary classification as national treasures in 2015 and then 28 items in 2017. The process involved the review and designation of these items as national treasures or important antiques, with the official announcements made in 2016 and 2019 by the Ministry of Culture.

As the managing institution for presidential and vice-presidential artifacts, the National Museum of Taiwan ROC initiated the temporary classification process for the Two Chiangs’ diaries in accordance with the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Cultural Relics Management Regulations. After extensive research and evaluation, it was proposed that the diaries be temporarily classified as national treasures due to their historical significance and value.

To ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the cultural heritage value, the National Museum of Taiwan ROC convened an expert review meeting in April 2024 to discuss the diaries’ classification. Subsequently, the Ministry of Culture held an on-site examination and evaluation meeting in November 2024 to further assess the diaries’ status before reaching a final decision.

In summary, the process of submitting the Two Chiangs’ diaries for temporary classification as national treasures is in line with the duties of a cultural heritage institution and the obligations conferred by law. However, due to some uncertainties regarding the condition of the original diaries and the urgent need for restoration, the museum hopes to secure funding for their repair after the classification is approved, to fulfill its mission of preserving and promoting these valuable cultural artifacts.