民族学博物馆,早已是民族文化界和民族学界议论的热门话题。一个拥有11亿人口、56个民族的大国,至今未能创建成一座全国性的民族学博物馆,实在令人遗憾。兴建中国民族学博物馆的前景如何?尽管目前存在种种困难,但我们相信,一个富有中国特色的、一飨各民族心愿的民族学博物馆终究会建立起来。理由是:第一,各民族历史悠久,有丰富的文化积淀。某种意义上说,一个多民族国家本身就是一个丰富多彩的民族博物馆,客观上具备创建这种博物馆的雄厚的物质基础。第二,长期以来,特别是新中国成立后,随着人们物质生活的改善,文化需求也不断增长,创建民族学博物馆早已具有深刻的思想基础和 Ethnology Museum, has long been a hot topic in the discussion of national culture and ethnology. It is regrettable that a large nation of 1.1 billion people and 56 ethnic groups has so far failed to create a nationwide ethnographic museum. What are the prospects for the construction of the Museum of Ethnology in China? Despite all the current difficulties, we believe that an ethnographic museum full of Chinese characteristics and with aspirations of all ethnic groups will eventually be established. The reasons are: First, all ethnic groups have a long history and rich cultural heritage. In a sense, a multi-ethnic country itself is a colorful ethnic museum that objectively possesses a solid material foundation for the creation of such a museum. Second, since the founding of New China, especially after the founding of new China, as people’s material life has improved and their cultural needs have also continued to grow, the Museum of Ethnology has long had a profound ideological foundation and