Private museum in China showcases Cultural Revolution relics

Record ID: 103480

  • Title: Private museum in China showcases Cultural Revolution relics
  • Date: 14th May 2016
  • Summary: CHENGDU CITY, SICHUAN PROVINCE, CHINA (MAY 12, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF MUSEUM WHICH EXHIBITS RELICS FROM CHINA'S CULTURAL REVOLUTION STATUE OF CHINA'S FORMER CHAIRMAN MAO ZEDONG MUSEUM STAFF CHECKING TICKETS AS VISITORS ENTER PEOPLE VISITING MUSEUM VISITORS LOOKING AT EXHIBITION OF CULTURAL RELICS CULTURAL RELICS ON DISPLAY PORTRAIT OF MAO ON WALL WHILE VISITORS LOOK AT EXHIBITS MAO BADGES ON DISPLAY MORE MAO BADGES ON WALL MUSEUM OWNER FAN JIANCHUAN DIPPING CHINESE BRUSH INTO INK VARIOUS OF FAN WRITING CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) MUSEUM OWNER FAN JIANCHUAN SAYING: "I have been always following this concept saying 'We don't speak, let the cultural relics talk'. Our nation's culture and (cultural) treasures need to be inherited. However, besides the inheritance of these cultural treasures, it is more important to hand down the nation's experience and the lessons learnt. That's why I have been doing this over the past decades." VISITORS WALKING POSTER VARIOUS OF EXHIBITION OF CULTURAL RELICS VISITORS TAKING PHOTOS OF THE EXHIBITS WITH MOBILE PHONES (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) STUDENT OF SICHUAN MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTE, RAN YUEYI, SAYING: "The Culture Revolution (destroyed) a lot of valuable things from China's (history). Now we can only use our imagination to think about what they (relics) looked like rather than actually seeing (things like) poems, books and paintings. It is hard for us to perceive things directly through our understanding and experience (due to the destruction)." (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) STUDENT OF SICHUAN MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTE, LUO QINGSONG, SAYING: "In terms of such comments, I think maybe they are irrational. I think the current China is an open China that is integrated into the world. Such kind of wrong movement will never happen again. I believe our Party, our country and our leadership will not formulate such incorrect guidelines again." PHOTOS OF CHINESE LEADERS ON WALL PHOTO OF CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) MUSEUM OWNER FAN JIANCHUAN SAYING: "I think those ideas of overturning the conviction of the Cultural Revolution, or cherishing the Cultural Revolution are not right. We should continue walking along the path of (upholding the policy of) reform and opening up, which has been proved to be right over the past decades. As for the problems (during the implementation of reform and opening up policy), we can solve them step by step rather than learning lessons from the Cultural Revolution. Problems arising from (carrying out the policy of) reform and opening up should be solved by reforms. I think Chinese people will definitely be able to realise the 'Chinese Dream' proposed by President Xi Jinping of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as long as the country keeps walking forward and remembers its history, experience and lessons." VARIOUS OF MAO BUSTS
  • Embargoed: 29th May 2016 10:09
  • Keywords: Cultural Revolution Chairman Mao museum anniverary
  • Location: CHENGDU CITY, SICHUAN PROVINCE, BEIJING, CHINA
  • City: CHENGDU CITY, SICHUAN PROVINCE, BEIJING, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014HX1KQT
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:The Jianchian Museum Cluster is home to a huge number of relics from China's Cultural Revolution.
    It's the private collection of entrepreneur Fan Jianchuan, which opened to the public in Anren Town, a suburb of the Sichuan province's capital, Chengdu in 2005.
    The museum has everything from badges to buttons and plates to posters all depicting former Chairman Mao Zedong and illustrations of his vision.
    There are virtually no museums or memorials in China that explore the painful period in China's modern history, discreetly referred to as the "Red Era" at the museum, making Fan's establishment unique.
    During the 1958-1961 Great Leap Forward industrial campaign, millions starved to death. Five years later Mao declared a class war, or the Cultural Revolution, with the goal of preserving Communist ideology by ridding China of capitalist and traditionalist influence.
    The movement threw the country into chaos during which children turned on their parents and students on their teachers and caused violent struggles and abuse.
    Official records whitewash the details of both periods, but admit that Mao made major mistakes.
    "I have been always following this concept saying 'We don't speak, let the cultural relics talk'. Our nation's culture and (cultural) treasures need to be inherited. However, besides the inheritance of these cultural treasures, it is more important to hand down the nation's experience and the lessons learnt. That's why I have been doing this over the past decades," says Fan on why he opened the museum.
    The museum receives many visitors and young people say the exhibits fill in the gaps their history that textbooks don't cover.
    "The Culture Revolution (destroyed) a lot of valuable things from China's (history). Now we can only use our imagination to think about what they (relics) looked like rather than actually seeing (things like) poems, books and paintings," said Ran Yueyi, a student at Sichian Management Professional Institute.
    Recent years have seen increased public discussion of the Revolution. Some believe it should be re-examined and cherished but certain topics remain almost completely off limits.
    Luo Qingsong, another student, thought glorifying the Cultural Revolution was wrong.
    "In terms of such comments, I think maybe they are irrational. I think the current China is an open China that is integrated into the world. Such kind of wrong movement will never happen again. I believe our Party, our country and our leadership will not formulate such incorrect guidelines again," he said.
    "I think those ideas of overturning the conviction of the Cultural Revolution, or cherishing the Cultural Revolution are not right. We should continue walking along the path of (upholding the policy of) reform and opening up, which has been proved to be right over the past decades. As for the problems (during the implementation of reform and opening up policy), we can solve them step by step rather than learning lessons from the Cultural Revolution. Problems arise from (carrying out the policy of) reform and opening up should be solved by reforms. I think Chinese people will definitely be able to realise the 'Chinese Dream' proposed by President Xi Jinping of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as long as the country keeps walking forward and remembers its history, experience and lessons," said Fan.
    May 16 is the 50th anniversary of the start of the Cultural Revolution but, as in previous years, there are no official plans or events to commemorate it.
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