National Palace Museum Begins First Island-Wide Inventory Using AI for Transparency

The Palace Museum in Taipei will conduct its fourth comprehensive inventory of its collections this month. This will be the first time since the Republic of China government relocated to Taiwan in 1949 that such a large-scale, systematic examination has been carried out within the island. The initiative serves not only as a thorough assessment of the safety and preservation status of the holdings but also as a critical review of digital recording practices and long-term conservation strategies. The inventory is expected to cover tens of thousands of artifacts, ranging from paintings, ceramics, and jade to calligraphy, paintings, and vessels. The process will be supported by high-precision scanning and three-dimensional reconstruction, laying the foundation for future research and public exhibitions.

Since its relocation to Taiwan, the Palace Museum has previously conducted three large-scale inventories in 2003–2004, 2011–2012, and 2016–2017. Each of these exercises was accompanied by a reassessment of collection conditions, the tracking of missing items, and adjustments to preservation environments. These inventories have enhanced the scientific rigor of artifact preservation and provided the museum with more precise data, enabling decision-makers to formulate more forward-looking plans for restoration, exhibitions, and educational outreach. The current fourth inventory goes a step further by integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, aiming to build a high-quality database in a shorter timeframe.

During the inventory process, attention from the Education and Culture Committee of the Legislative Yuan has been particularly prominent. Legislative Yuan member Wu Si-yao of the Democratic Progressive Party suggested during a hearing that the inventory’s progress, findings, and decisions should be regularly published on online platforms to enhance transparency and public participation. Palace Museum Director Hsiao Tsung-huang stated that the museum would “consider implementing” this suggestion, emphasizing that appropriate disclosure of information, while ensuring the safety of the artifacts, helps foster societal trust in cultural asset management. This approach also aligns with the growing trend in the international museum community toward open data and public engagement.

The regular public disclosure of inventory results could yield multiple positive effects for cultural asset management in Taiwan and globally. First, transparent information flow can alleviate external concerns regarding the opacity of artifact management, thereby enhancing the credibility of the government and cultural institutions. Second, publicly available data and image resources can be utilized for academic research, educational materials, and virtual exhibitions, expanding the social value of the artifacts. Finally, real-time updates via online platforms will allow the public to gain a more intuitive understanding of the preservation status of the collections, further cultivating a sense of identity and awareness regarding the protection of traditional culture.

In summary, the Palace Museum’s fourth comprehensive inventory represents not only an upgrade in technology and management but also a reflection of Taiwan’s cultural policy and philosophy of public participation. By making the inventory results public and digitizing the collections, the Palace Museum will further consolidate its role as a national cultural treasure while providing future generations with a more complete and transparent resource of cultural heritage. (Source: Central News Agency)