Southern Science Park Archaeological Museum Special Exhibition Opens, Featuring Precious Original Manuscripts from Japanese Scholar Torii Ryūzō

(CNA, Tainan, July 1) The Southern Science Park Archaeological Museum, a branch of the National Museum of Prehistory, today opened its special exhibition "Discontinuity and Continuity: A Dialogue Between Torii Ryūzō and Contemporary Taiwanese Indigenous Peoples." The exhibition marks the first time in Taiwan that precious original manuscripts from the Japanese scholar Torii Ryūzō, who conducted anthropological fieldwork in Taiwan five times, will be displayed.

During the opening ceremony, Hsu Yi-chun, Deputy Minister of Culture, stated that through workshops, the museum research teams from Taiwan and Japan have successfully mobilized the strength of local elders and originating communities, deeply practicing profound dialogue with contemporary indigenous peoples. The interpretation of historical data should not be a one-way transmission but rather a collaborative effort involving contemporary indigenous peoples and museums from Taiwan and Japan to imbue history with new life.

Hsu Yi-chun expressed hope that the National Museum of Prehistory will continue to cultivate its role as a key platform connecting international research and local communities, allowing the rich cultural energy of indigenous peoples to be fully embodied in exhibitions.

Migishi Togawa, Director of the Torii Ryūzō Memorial Museum in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, noted that interpreting Torii Ryūzō's fieldwork notes from 130 years ago was challenging. He expressed gratitude to the National Museum of Prehistory and the originating communities of indigenous peoples for their collaboration, which has enabled a passionate dialogue across time and space. The Torii Ryūzō special exhibition is scheduled to tour Japan next year, where it will allow the Japanese public to witness the vibrant life force of Taiwanese indigenous cultures.

Information provided by the Southern Science Park Archaeological Museum indicates that the special exhibition, using records left by Torii Ryūzō during his five anthropological fieldwork expeditions in Taiwan between 1896 and 1911 as its perspective, guides the public to re-explore the lifestyle and cultural content of Taiwanese indigenous peoples a century ago, with five major themes planned.

The core of the exhibition showcases the crystallization of long-term collaboration between research teams from Taiwan and Japan and the originating communities of indigenous peoples. This includes images from on-site investigations in old indigenous settlements, the indigenous languages and writing systems used by contemporary indigenous peoples, and precious old photographs that have been re-examined.

Highlights of the exhibition, according to the Southern Science Park Archaeological Museum, include three original Torii Ryūzō manuscripts air-freighted from the Torii Ryūzō Memorial Museum in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. The University Museum, University of Tokyo, provided stone artifacts collected by Torii Ryūzō in old indigenous settlements at the time, with collection locations written in ink on the artifacts.

Furthermore, the special exhibition integrates the cultural energy of indigenous originating communities and tribes, displaying traditional clothing created by the Lihli tribe, objects and cultural and creative products created by the Lanyu local association and tribal members combining traditional totems, and a model of a turtle shell house treasured by the Shizi Township Cultural Hall, presenting the inheritance and innovation of Taiwanese indigenous cultures. (Editor: Li Shu-hua) 1150701

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