Pan-blue and pan-green politicians yesterday paid tribute to Taiwanese democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui (蔣渭水) to mark the 76th anniversary of his death.
A physician and literature lover, Chiang was the founder of the Taiwan Culture Association (台灣文化協會) and the Taiwan People's Party (台灣民眾黨), the country's first political party.
Born in 1891 in Ilan County, in 1921 Chiang launched the nation's first large-scale cultural enlightenment movement when he organized the Taiwan Culture Association.
PHOTO: CNA
Chiang said that he sought to "uproot Taiwanese intellectual malnutrition."
He also organized the New Taiwan Alliance and the Taiwanese Labor Alliance in a quest for a more liberal and independent state.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (
Ma said there was no need for the pan-blue and pan-green camps to wrangle over Chiang's stance on the issue of independence.
"He earned respect from [his] next generation for his contribution to Taiwanese politics, culture and society between 1921 and 1930," he said. "Therefore, we need not make excessive inferences and associations [about his political stance] because that would only cause unnecessary harm to his memory."
"Chiang was a great man not only because he resisted the colonialism of Japan, but also because he pushed cultural enlightenment and social reform," he said.
Accompanied by Chiang's nieces, Ma also read a poem written by poet Yang Tu (楊渡), who serves as commissioner of the KMT's Culture and Communication Committee.
"Take care of those who suffer; help those who hate each other become reconciled; offer friendship to those who are lonely. Let us have a promising future," the poem said.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) also paid tribute to Chiang at his tomb at Taipei's Liuzhangli (
DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun was joined by Chiang's son Chiang Sung-hui (
Yu received a set of memorial stamps of Chiang from the foundation, a gesture Yu said symbolized the inheritance of "Taiwanese spirit."
Meanwhile, the Taipei City Government yesterday publicized postcards and a guided tour map as part of the city's remembrance of the late democracy pioneer.
The tour map detailed 11 locations in Taipei City's Dadaocheng (
"We attach great importance to Chiang and the new culture movement [he advocated]," Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs Director Lee Yong-ping (
Additional reporting by staff writer
Also see story:
Editorial: Co-opting Chiang Wei-shui
People can take the Taipei MRT free of charge if they access it at Nanjing Sanmin Station or Taipei Arena Station on the Green Line between 12am and 6am on Jan. 1, the Taipei Department of Transportation said on Friday, outlining its plans to ease crowding during New Year’s events in the capital. More than 200,000 people are expected to attend New Year’s Eve events in Taipei, with singer A-mei (張惠妹) performing at the Taipei Dome and the city government’s New Year’s Eve party at Taipei City Hall Plaza, the department said. As people have tended to use the MRT’s Blue or
Civil society groups yesterday protested outside the Legislative Yuan, decrying Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) efforts to pass three major bills that they said would seriously harm Taiwan’s democracy, and called to oust KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁). It was the second night of the three-day “Bluebird wintertime action” protests in Taipei, with organizers announcing that 8,000 people attended. Organized by Taiwan Citizen Front, the Economic Democracy Union (EDU) and a coalition of civil groups, about 6,000 people began a demonstration in front of KMT party headquarters in Taipei on Wednesday, organizers said. For the third day, the organizers asked people to assemble
Taipei is participating in Osaka’s Festival of Lights this year, with a 3m-tall bubble tea light installation symbolizing Taiwan’s bubble tea culture. The installation is designed as a bubble tea cup and features illustrations of Taipei’s iconic landmarks, such as Taipei 101, the Red House and North Gate, as well as soup dumplings and the matchmaking deity the Old Man Under the Moon (月下老人), affectionately known as Yue Lao (月老). Taipei and Osaka have collaborated closely on tourism and culture since Taipei first participated in the festival in 2018, the Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism said. In February, Osaka represented
Taiwanese professional baseball should update sports stadiums and boost engagement to enhance fans’ experience, Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) commissioner Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) told the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) in an interview on Friday. The league has urged Farglory Group and the Taipei City Government to improve the Taipei Dome’s outdated equipment, including relatively rudimentary television and sound systems, and poor technology, he said. The Tokyo Dome has markedly better television and sound systems, despite being 30 years old, because its managers continually upgraded its equipment, Tsai said. In contrast, the Taipei Dome lacked even a room for referees
RSS