Nantong Museum , the first public museum in China , was founded by Mr. Zhang Jian in 1905. We will celebrate her 100th anniversary this year.

We consider it a great honor and responsibility to work for Nantong Museum . Motivated by Mr. Zhang's patriotism, we have been striving to make it bigger and better, regardless of the diverse hardship.

We take it for granted that under the guidance of the Party and the government, with the support from various circles of the society, relying on the teamwork of all staff working here, Nantong Museum is to have a promising future, its practical working attitude carried forward forever.

Curator, Nantong Museum

Wang Dongyun

September, 2005

Lines on the Museum

by Zhang Jian

Green is the garden on the south of Haohe River and flourishing

Faster and prettier is everything here growing

Relics remnant prove modern times changing

Rich cultural heritage hosts China and treats the world

The museum now gathers all the natural paragons, displaying

To entertain the viewers in the animation

And to allure enthusiasts here onto exploration

With all these, the aging I will not remorse for the trouble collecting

Nantong Museum

Nantong Museum is seated on the bank of pretty Haohe River, founded by Zhang Jian, forerunner of Chinese modernism and Number One scholar of late Qing Dynasty in 1905. It is the earliest museum in China . The original area was 35 mu with a collection of various exhibits including four categories as natural products, history, fine art and education, displayed in southern and northern sections, and some big ones outdoors. There grew trees and grasses, birds and animals to parallel with the indoor exhibits.This garden style offered an exquisite, elegant and light atmosphere. The idea of museum in garden manifested an original notion of establishment of the founder. The Museum was claimed the National Major Protected Historical and Cultural Site by the State Council in 1988.

In March 1938, Nantong Museum was turned to be a stable by the Japanese invaders and greatly damaged. With only few remained, most of the exhibits were robbed or destroyed. It was not until the founding of new China the Museum came to life.

Central Hall

At its century anniversary, the Museum has been developed rapidly with an area of more than 70, 000 m 2 . Upon overall planning and construction, it has a new outlook. At the northern section, many parts have been restored to the original status. The southwestern section is a newly built house with fresh articles displaying and public shows. The planned eastern section will be a comprehensive cultural gallery and the southern section will be an ecological show region. Within the Museum, there is a harmonious air with buildings of old and new, an atmosphere of long culture and an environment of beautiful gardens. It manifests both history and contemporary color.

The collection of the Museum is more about historical relics and natural specimens with a large number of 50, 000.The historical relics witnessed the local times and people with a time span of from the Neolithic Age to date.The natural specimens tell the vast variety of flora and fauna of Nantong area. Some of them came from other parts of the country as well.

The Museum pays much attention to the educational and scientific researches as Zhang Jian put it “Museum established as school to educate, for students to see nature more”. It organizes diversified exhibit shows in communities and schools, liked by many people. It was appointed as Jiangsu Provincial moral education base, patriotic education base, science education base and national defense education base.It has become an ideal port to know Nantong, understand nature, accept cultural edification and have tourist trip.It is now a place as Zhang Jian wrote in his poem: “Green is the garden on the south of Haohe River and flourishing, Faster and prettier is everything here growing.”

Nantong Museum was an achievement of modern China showing itself to the world. Due to the hardships, unrest, the Chinese elites pursued ways of national salvation, among which was the foundation of this Museum by Zhang Jian.

In 1905,Zhang Jian, with his new ideas of promoting social civilization and supporting education, established this Museum to open the curtain of starting museums in China . He proposed to the Qing court to build museums in Beijing to spread to the whole country. He laid foundation on the initiation of Chinese Museum Studies by expounding the characteristics, tasks and management of museums. Even today, his words and practice on the establishment of museums are still alive and attract much attention.

Zhang Jian

Zhang Jian, styled Jizhi, was also known by his literary name Sean. As Number One Scholar in late Qing Dynasty, he once served in the Imperial Academy . After the downfall of Qing Dynasty, he had been the Minister of industry, the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce in the Republic government. To make China bigger and the people richer, Mr.Zhang carried out his plan in his hometown, Nantong . Since 1895, he had been engaged in various lines, ranging from business to education and philanthropy, which were well-known both at home and abroad. The foundation of Nantong Museum is one of his patriotic ideas and practices.

Zhang Jian

Originality of the Museum and Garden

Zhang Jian combined Chinese traditional culture with the western ideas on the construction of the Museum, setting up a museum mixed with gardens. Thus the Chinese museums carry the national style. To date, people still adore the prediction of Zhang Jian 抯 theory on museums.

The connection of exhibition houses with gardens, indoor display with outdoor show, quiet articles with living things, embodies the link of science and culture. The original scenes and buildings offer an elegant place for study and tourism.

It is the idea of the founder to edify mens nature and promote mens world.

Collection of Diversified

Exhibits are the soul of museums. During the first days of the Museum, Zhang Jian not only donated his own private collection, but also bought and encouraged people to offer their precious articles as well. To solve the problem of lack of fund, Zhang Jian made dexterous decisions on the gathering of the articles.

The Museum accumulates more and more precious articles with the help of people from all walks of life and the efforts of several generations of the Museum during the 100 years. With the exception of the early natural and historical and fine art ones, it successfully obtained a great number of modern historical and local relics. The articles ensure the researching e programs and promote the social status of the Museum.

Prosperity of Fame

The Museum is acclaimed a sparkling star with its adequate cultural heritage, pretty environment and excellent management. It is inviting local students and people from both at home and abroad.

In recent years, it is protected well and promoted greatly. Its cultural characteristics and value find easier and easier access to the public. The working staff here are making great efforts to tend the attention of the society with their creative spirit and practical working attitude influenced by Zhang Jian.