Guangxi Anthropological Museums and the Representation of Zhuang Culture

This article analyzes the history and modern state of anthropological museums in the Guangxi-Zhuang Autonomous Region (PRC) and researches the issue of how Zhuang culture is presented in exhibitions. The Zhuang are by far the most populous minority in China. In spite of their population and importance, foreign scholars do not usually pay much attention to them. The first anthropological museums appeared in China in the 1930s and since then have been developing through the periods of decay and prosperity along with the country itself. At present, the PRC’s anthropological museums are moving along with all the world trends of modernization of working processes and digitalization of practices and techniques. There is a network of ethnic ecomuseums in Guangxi. They were established to preserve local cultures in their own environment. This article shows that the results of the project are not as successful as planned. There are problems of ignorance among the local dwellers to their own culture, lack of funding and lack of interest in ecomuseums from both locals and managing personnel appointed by the government.