1949: The colossal evacuation of Chiang Kai-shek to Taiwan

When Chiang Kai-shek and his supporters evacuated to Taiwan in 1949, they transported with them one of the greatest treasures—both material and cultural. This historic moment remains one of the largest transfers of state assets in modern history.

Human Potential and Military Power

The evacuation operation involved over 600,000 remnants of the Kuomintang forces along with approximately two million civilians. Among them were not only soldiers and officials but also prominent scientists, academics, and intellectuals from the most prestigious institutions of the time—primarily from the Central Academy of Sciences.

The War Chest of Gold

The most significant material asset was over 4 million taels of gold—an enormous amount of precious metal that became the financial foundation for the new government on the island.

National Treasures of Art and Culture

The most valuable item evacuated was an unprecedented collection of cultural heritage. From the National Palace Museum, 3,200 boxes were transported, containing 3,409 cultural relics, 2,950 boxes of antiques, 18 boxes of rare books, 7 boxes of archival documents, as well as priceless works of painting and calligraphy by master artists of past centuries.

Additionally, 220 boxes of exhibits were moved from the Nanjing Museum, and 60 boxes of rare editions, mostly printed before the Ming Dynasty, were taken from the Central Library, including valuable editorial versions and manuscripts.

The Institute of History and Linguistics transferred 120 boxes of artifacts, among which the most exquisite are inscriptions on turtle shells and ancient stone epigraphs. Also, 60 boxes of state archives of international treaties from the late Qing Dynasty and Republican era were evacuated.

Prominent Personalities and Spiritual Leaders

Chiang Kai-shek took with him legendary figures whose names are inscribed in history. Among them are the last direct descendant of Confucius, Duke Kong Dechen, the 63rd Celestial Teacher from the Zhang Enpu lineage, and the eminent Buddhist lama Zhang Jia Hutukcu. Their evacuation symbolized the transfer not only of material assets but also of the spiritual and intellectual heritage of civilization.

Thus, 1949 became the year when Chiang Kai-shek successfully transported one of the largest volumes of national treasures and cultural heritage in world history.