Taipei Palace Museum's "Emperor Tape" Becomes a Hit

When most people think of souvenirs they probably picture postcards, T-shirts and paperweights. But at the Taipei Palace Museum in Taiwan the story is very different. In early July, the museum’s latest product, rolls of adhesive tape, became a hit among visitors, all thanks to an ancient emperor.
Four simple characters encapsulating superiority in a somewhat whimsical way.

These rolls of tape are inscribed with the signature note: "Zhen zhi dao le" or "I, the emperor, know it" on the "memorial to the throne" of Emperor Kang Xi, the fourth ruler of the Qing Dynasty.

They have made a record sale here of more than 20,000 rolls in less than two months.

"The sales are crazy! We’re selling 100 rolls every five minutes," said the manager of the museum’s gift shop Wu Guei-fang. "When customers come and see the tape on sale, they very often cry out ’we’re so lucky!’"

The popular phrase actually comes from two phrases the emperor wrote: "I, the emperor, is well" and "I know it." By combining the two, the museum hopes to give it a modern touch.

"In the Qing Dynasty, the emperor would usually mark his memorandums with "I know it". And young people today find this fun and interesting. So when their friends or parents ask them to do something they might stick the tape with "I, the emperor, know it" on it. Just like the ancient emperor," curator Feng Ming-Chu said.

Another star of the museum, the Jade Cabbage, now has a new addition for visitors to carry home - the Jade Cabbage umbrella.

Among some 30,000 souvenirs on sale at Taipei Palace Museum, you can always find some history behind each piece.

"When designing souvenir, we have to relate it to life," Feng said. "The souvenirs here are also an important part of promoting public education. When you take the souvenir home, it will become part of your daily life so you won’t forget the history it bears."

Although these souvenirs don’t come cheap, visitors are still lining up to get them, because what they’re taking home is more than just a souvenir from a gift shop, but also a piece of history.