Object Acquisition

I. Acquisition Scope

The acquisition scope primarily focuses on artifacts and materials related to the basin of the Grand Canal of China, which includes the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the Grand Canal of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and the Eastern Zhejiang Canal.

II. Objects to Be Acquired

(I) Artifacts that serve as witnesses to the history of the canal

1. Artifacts that reflect the development, utilization, and management of the Grand Canal;

2. Artifacts that offer insights into the social development, customs, residential architecture, religious beliefs, cultural practices, and artistic heritage along the Grand Canal;

3. Artifacts that reflect major historical events or revolutionary activities related to the Grand Canal or have relevant important commemorative or educational significance;

4. Important physical evidence that reflects regional exchanges between northern and southern China and between the eastern and western China;

5. Artifacts that reflect notable figures along the Grand Canal and include their manuscripts, letters, inscriptions, and seals (including imperial seals);

6. Artifacts that reflect water transportation throughout different historical periods;

7. Artifacts that showcase the court and royal life during the Ming and Qing Dynasties;

8. Artifacts that illustrate the evolution of the ecological landscape along the Grand Canal across various historical epochs and highlight the advancements in the modern development of the Grand Canal’s ecological civilization;

9. Artifacts that reflect other famous canals in the world and the cities along them.

(II) Artworks

1. Fine arts and crafts and representative works of intangible cultural heritage inheritors along the Grand Canal throughout different historical periods;

2. Tools and other physical materials that reflect craftsmanship along the Grand Canal throughout different historical periods.

(III) Archive materials

1. Physical materials that can be used to explore the history of the Grand Canal such as ancient books, stone inscriptions and rubbings of inscriptions, archival documents, currency notes and stamped artifacts;

2. Physical or digital materials that can be used to explore the history of the Grand Canal such as old photos, images, and audio and video recordings.

(IV) Other physical materials

1. Specimens of animals and plants that illustrate the natural ecology along the Grand Canal;

2. Scientifically valuable specimens and fossils found along the Grand Canal.