French Museum Cancels Genghis Khan Show After Chinese Censorship Demands
The Château des ducs de Bretagne in Nantes has postponed an important exhibition about Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire for three years, responding to pressure from Chinese officials. Originally scheduled for October 2020, the exhibit was developed with the Museum of Inner Mongolia in Hohhot, which planned to provide 225 artifacts, such as gold pieces and imperial seals from the 13th and 14th centuries. Chinese authorities demanded the removal of terms like 'Genghis Khan' and 'Mongol' from marketing materials. Bertrand Guillet, the museum's director, claimed this was an attempt by the Chinese Bureau of Cultural Heritage to reshape Mongol culture to fit their narrative. He stressed that the decision was made to maintain 'human, scientific, and ethical values,' especially amid rising discrimination against ethnic Mongolians.
Key facts
- The exhibition was postponed for three years
- Chinese authorities demanded removal of 'Genghis Khan', 'Empire', and 'Mongol' from exhibition materials
- 225 artifacts were planned for loan from the Museum of Inner Mongolia
- The exhibition was originally scheduled for October 2020
- Bertrand Guillet accused Chinese authorities of 'biased rewriting of Mongol culture'
- Chinese authorities sought control over exhibition brochures, legends, and maps
- The exhibition was previously shown at the Netherlands Military Museum in 2017
- The decision was made citing 'human, scientific and ethical values'
Entities
Institutions
- Château des ducs de Bretagne history museum
- Museum of Inner Mongolia
- Chinese Bureau of Cultural Heritage
- Netherlands Military Museum
- Le Monde
Locations
- Nantes
- France
- Hohhot
- China
- Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
- Soesterberg
- Netherlands