National Palace Museum National Treasures Step Out of Display Cases and Transform into Collectible Cards – Three Longzangjing Protective Sutra Plate Designs Unveiled at Cultural Expo, Sparking Collector Buzz

National treasures are no longer limited to being admired from behind glass—they can now be taken home and treasured personally. Coinciding with the 2026 Taiwan Cultural Expo, the National Palace Museum has once again joined forces with Qidian Marketing to unveil the new Longzangjing Protective Sutra Plate Card series. This initiative transforms rare imperial artifacts into lightweight, portable collectibles, launching first with three designs: Shakyamuni Buddha, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, and the Precious Garuda, bringing Palace Museum art out of display cases and into everyday life.

National Treasures Step Beyond Glass Cases: Protective Plates Become Palm-Sized Collectibles

Inspired by the Palace Museum’s Longzangjing Special Exhibition, this collaboration draws imagery and cultural elements from the classic bookbinding art of protective sutra plates, reinterpreting them as culturally meaningful items with both artistic and collectible value.

Originally essential components for protecting sacred texts, sutra plates serve not only practical functions but also showcase exquisite artwork reflecting Qing Dynasty court aesthetics, Buddhist beliefs, and craftsmanship. Through card design, the public can now closely appreciate intricate details typically reserved for museum viewing, deepening their understanding of the historical narratives behind these artifacts through personal collection.

Developed jointly by the National Palace Museum and Qidian Marketing, the Longzangjing Protective Sutra Plate Cards transform invaluable cultural relics into accessible art and collectible products. (Image provided by Qidian Marketing)

The National Palace Museum and Qidian Marketing have collaborated to launch the Longzangjing Protective Sutra Plate Cards, converting precious artifacts into culturally enriching goods with both artistic appreciation and collection value.

Three Iconic Images Revealed: Religious Art Encapsulated in Compact Form

The three card designs feature Shakyamuni Buddha, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, and the Precious Garuda—each carrying distinct religious symbolism and artistic characteristics, while collectively embodying the majestic and ornate visual style of the Longzangjing sutra covers.

Qidian Marketing emphasized that cultural product development goes beyond merely copying artifact images onto merchandise. Instead, it requires starting from the cultural essence itself, using contemporary design to lower the barrier to art appreciation so audiences remain connected to culture even after leaving the exhibition space.

Hao Bo-Han, CEO of Qidian Marketing, stated, “Starting from the Longzangjing protective plates, we aim to transform art previously viewable only within museums into portable, collectible, and shareable cultural vessels. Our goal is not only for national treasures to be seen, but also to enter daily life in diverse forms.”

The Longzangjing Protective Sutra Plate Cards launch with three designs—Shakyamuni Buddha, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, and the Precious Garuda—faithfully recreating the solemn and detailed religious artistry of the original plates.

Cross-Industry Collaboration Continues: From Ukiyo-e to Longzangjing

Having previously collaborated on a ukiyo-e themed product line, the Palace Museum and Qidian Marketing continue exploring new possibilities in cultural content translation and文创 (cultural creative) product development with this Longzangjing-themed release.

Qidian Marketing noted that cultural products are more than just exhibition extensions—they serve as vital mediums enabling audiences to sustain interaction with art beyond the museum visit. Through design, creativity, and product innovation, exhibition content can be transformed into relatable, contemporary experiences, allowing precious artifacts to reach broader age groups and communities.

Exclusive Preview at Cultural Expo: Special Exhibition Preserves Cultural Memory

The Longzangjing Protective Sutra Plate Cards will make their debut at the 2026 Taiwan Cultural Expo. The second phase of the Palace Museum’s Longzangjing Special Exhibition will run from August 8 to November 8. During the exhibition period, all three card designs will be continuously available at the Palace Museum Shop.

Visitors who admire the grand craftsmanship of the Longzangjing at the exhibition can take home a piece of that memory through the protective plate cards. As national treasures step out from silent display cases, culture can now meet more people across time through a single card.