Museums Struggle to Engage Visitors with Cryptic Explanations
Beijing, China– The recent surge in museum visits across China has brought to light a critical issue: the lack of accessible and informative explanations for visitors, particularly for those unfamiliar with ancient Chinese characters and artifacts. While museums strive to showcase their collections, the useof obscure characters without pinyin (romanization) and overly concise descriptions leave many visitors bewildered and frustrated.
The issue is particularly acute for families with children.Parents often find themselves struggling to decipher the meaning of ancient characters, leaving them unable to answer their children’s questions. This can lead to a frustrating and unfulfilling museum experience for both adults and children.
At the China Geological Museum, renowned for its collection of fossils, minerals, and gemstones, parents are frequently seen struggling with unfamiliar characters on display labels. Words like 羟砷锌石 (hydroxystilpnomelane) and 鲕粒灰岩 (oolitic limestone) pose a challenge even for educated adults.
One parent, faced with the label 黑云闪长玢岩 (black cloud hornblende diorite), was unsure of the pronunciation of the character 玢 (bīn or fēn). The lack of pinyin left them unable to confidently explain the term to their child.
Another example occurred at the Beijing Stone Carving Art Museum, where the intricate carvings on the 六拏具 (six-na-ju) of the Wuta Temple’s Diamond Seat Pagoda baffled many visitors. The character 拏(ná), meaning to grasp, proved challenging for those unfamiliar with its pronunciation. Similarly, the inscription 釐延千梵 (lí yán qiān fàn) on a painting label left visitors scratching their heads, as the character 釐 (lí, xǐ, or xī) has multiplepronunciations.
Beyond the issue of unfamiliar characters, many museums struggle with providing sufficient context for their artifacts. At the Capital Museum, visitors were left to guess the purpose of three pottery pieces: a 陶盘 (táo pán), a 陶盨 (táo zhuó), and a陶匜 (táo yǐ). While the labels mentioned the date and origin of these artifacts, they offered no explanation of their function.
The lack of detailed descriptions also left visitors puzzled about a 錾花金什件 (zhàn huā jīn shí jiàn),a set of ten gold objects. While the label mentioned the objects were decorated with engraved flowers, it failed to identify the specific items included in the set.
This lack of clarity can lead to a frustrating experience for visitors, who are left to speculate about the purpose and significance of the artifacts.
The challengefor museums is to strike a balance between showcasing their collections and making them accessible to a wider audience. While the use of ancient characters adds a layer of authenticity and historical context, it is crucial to provide clear explanations that are accessible to all visitors.
Museums could consider incorporating pinyin alongside ancient characters, providing moredetailed descriptions of artifacts, and offering interactive displays or audio guides to enhance the visitor experience. By making their collections more accessible, museums can ensure that everyone can appreciate the beauty and significance of their treasures.
【source】http://www.chinanews.com/sh/2024/08-27/10275122.shtml
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