The gift of Tsochen Mam: private donations to national museums in Taiwan

Abstract

During the last century, the museumscape in Taiwan shifted from a Japanese- colonial via a sino-centric perspective to a Taiwanese one, the latter in combination with the rapid development of community-oriented local museums. By dealing with the rise and development of four of the most important public museums, this article defends the stance that private donations play a crucial role in the existence of public museums in Taiwan. The analysis focuses on the contemporary growth of the collections through donations. The theoretical perspective is informed by Krszysztof Pomian’s distinction of museum origins, Stuart Plattner’s analysis of private collectors’ motivations, and Susan Pearce’s idea about the transition of collectibles from the profane to the sacred realm.