In 1949, after its defeat in the Chinese civil war, the Republic of China government retreated to Taiwan where it exercised effective control over the region embodying the island of Taiwan, the nearby islets of the Pescadores chain (Penghu), two off-shore islands (Kinmen (Quemoy) and Matsu), and various islands in the South China Sea. Having inherited Chinese traditional culture, the Republic of China government and its people consolidated their hold on the country and strove hard against constant threats from the Chinese communist régime of the People's Republic of China. For the past half-century, the Republic of China has thrived calmly and peacably in the western Pacific.

　　This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Republic of China government’s retreat to Taiwan. Our feelings and memories may change with time, and have been gradually diversified. Even the historians hold different perspectives on and interpretations of this historic period. This discursive diversity can itself be seen as a form of progress. It was a crucial turning point for Taiwan and China, and had a profound impact on the course of the history of the East Asian region. Taiwan became a model for East Asia countries which attempted to integrate Confucian tradition and Western modernity. The nation developed new values and goals, integrated tradition and modernity, native and foreign, the elite and the general populace. To symbolize the wide-ranging and far-reaching achievements of this historic period, we solemnly name this exhibition, "the Birth of New Taiwan."

　　The National Museum of History was founded in 1956. When the government had retreated to Taiwan in 1949, it had brought national artifacts and educational staff with it. We believe that all who care about this museum cherish this fact. We are curating this exhibition with the Research Center for Humanities and Social Science of Tsing Hua University and the Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences of National Taiwan University. The exhibition will illustrate the significance of the Republic of China government’s retreat from many perspectives. All the objects on display are from private collections and consist mainly of documents. Whilst they are not exhaustive, they shed light on and provide insights into this particular period of history. It is our earnest hope that this exhibition will have an educational influence. We would like to thank all organizations and friends who have contributed to it.