Early-childhood education expert Shen Ming-hsien has spent over six decades gathering thousands of historical artifacts, turning them into unique educational tools for students at his kindergarten in Tainan.
Before becoming an educator, Shen studied mechanical engineering and earned a doctorate in the United States. He later returned to Taiwan, working at his family’s electrical appliance business while teaching university classes part-time.
In 1980, with the support of fellow educators, Shen transformed one of his family’s unused factories in eastern Tainan into the Muchun Kindergarten. The kindergarten became a living museum, enriched with his vast collection of historical artifacts.
Shen, now 78, credits his passion for preserving history to his parents, who meticulously kept items from his childhood, including his umbilical cord, report cards, awards, and graduation certificates.
Inspired by this careful preservation, Shen developed a deep love for collecting. Over the years, he gathered a diverse array of artifacts—from traditional farm tools and everyday utensils to embroidered clothing and antique furniture.
His passion intensified after meeting other collectors such as Liu Wen-san, Pan Yuan-shih, and Chen Ming-liang through Junior Chamber International Taiwan in 1973. These relationships encouraged Shen to expand his collection further, acquiring unique historical pieces like iron-wheeled ox carts, ornate wooden canopy beds, brick stoves, and a cypress wood bathtub.
One notable rescue effort occurred around 30 years ago, when Shen, alongside fellow collector Pan, saved baroque-style carvings depicting pregnant women from a Japanese colonial-era obstetric clinic that was being renovated.
Many of these treasured items, including intricately carved wooden doors and windows, now enhance the architecture and daily life at Muchun Kindergarten, offering young students an immersive historical experience.
Shen carefully categorizes his artifacts according to themes: food, clothing, housing, transportation, education, and entertainment. The collection ranges from traditional dishes, phoenix robes, and embroidered garments, to antique motorcycles, bicycles, toys, coins, and international souvenirs from more than 80 countries he has visited.
Looking to the future, Shen plans to gradually donate parts of his expansive collection to museums and institutions that can preserve them for public display and educational use.
“Shared enjoyment is far more meaningful than solitary appreciation,” Shen said. “These objects can inspire future generations.”
