Video games and ‘cutie emperors’: Palace Museum director retires and not everyone is sad to see him go
- Shan Jixiang, who admits he is no expert on art, brought commercial success to World Heritage Site that fired the public’s interest in history but drew scorn from his colleagues
The driving force behind the Palace Museum’s leap into the internet age retired last week after seven years of online hits that thrilled fans of Chinese history around the world and rubbed industry professionals the wrong way.
Shan Jixiang did not shy away from shaking things up at Beijing’s ancient imperial palace and he frequently appeared in the media to discuss his plans.
The museum achieved significant commercial success, unprecedented popularity, and earned director Shan widespread public acclaim as his spotlight fell on topics such as the work of conservators, Chinese-style lipsticks and, this year, the Lantern Festival light show.
Unlike his predecessors, Shan, now 65, became a household name on the mainland after taking the top job at the museum in 2012.
That and his enthusiastic efforts to engage the public drew criticism from museum staff and others involved in the industry. His urge to make history “come alive” led to accusations of pandering to the public and a lack of knowledge of China’s traditions and cultural relics.
It was criticism he shook off, even in the last month of his career, with the conviction of a man who knew he was right. “To make the relics in the Palace Museum come alive, we should continue expanding the open areas,” Shan told a forum in Hebei province in March.