Liu Shao-tang (劉紹唐), founder and publisher of the monthly magazine Biographical Literature (傳記文學), was eulogized yesterday during a funeral service in Taipei. Liu died on Feb. 10 of lung cancer, aged 80.
Historians that came to the service said Liu's efforts in collecting first-hand historical records on Chinese history from 1911 to the present day helped fill the gaps in official accounts of the same period.
"Liu has been dubbed as the head of the `unofficial Academia Historica,' and his contribution to the study of modern Chinese history is of paramount importance," said Chang Yu-fa (張玉法), a research fellow at the Institute of Modern History at Academic Sinica.
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
Pouring rains and Chinese classical music greeted long lines of mourners who attended the service, held in the Chinghsing Hall at Taipei's First Funeral Parlor yesterday morning. Among those attending were officials, retired officials, scholars, and Huang's relatives and friends.
Two of Liu's old friends -- Liang Su-jung (梁肅戎), former Legislative Yuan speaker, and Pok Shau-fu (卜少夫), a veteran newsman -- gave their eulogies. Also invited to express his thoughts on Liu was Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
"I didn't see this occasion merely as an official engagement in which I as the Mayor of Taipei came to pay tribute to the founder of a monthly magazine published in Taipei. I am here to pay my respects to someone who has devoted his life to the development of culture," said Ma.
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
In addition to praising Liu's devotion to the monthly magazine for the past 38 years, Ma expressed his own personal fondness of the publication.
"During a time when extracurricular reading materials were relatively scarce here in Taiwan, the magazine gave me an opportunity to probe the life histories of important figures in modern Chinese history. It served as the best of learning materials for me," he added.
Liu gained fame long before founding the magazine in 1962. In 1951, he published a book titled Out of Red China (紅色中國的叛徒) in which he recounted his experiences as a reporter at the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) Xinhua News Agency, and his days in the CCP's People's Liberation Army (PLA).
Liu also described why it was he decided to leave the Communist Party after one year within the organization.
Since publication of the book, Liu was seen as a well-known anti-communist writer.
The US Information Service (USIS) later translated the book into more than ten languages as anti-communist propaganda, during a time when containment of communism was a mainstream doctrine in the West.
For historians, however, it is Liu's endeavor to found the magazine, focusing on biographic writing, that made him a key figure in preserving a record of modern Chinese history.
For this, Liu won a 1996 National Literary Award (國家文藝獎), conferred by the Council for Cultural Affairs.
Liu founded the magazine in Taiwan in June 1962, at the age of 40. It coincided with an era when publishing contemporary history could land an author in jail.
Until this year, the magazine has been published uninterruptedly for a total of 452 issues, relying on a single editor, no advertising revenue, and no subsidies. Cultural critics often described the magazine's longevity as "a miracle" in Taiwan's publishing industry.
Chang said Liu's decision to launch the magazine was influenced by Hu Shih (胡適), the great thinker. "Hu was an advocate of biographic writing. He believed that everybody should write their own stories to serve as eyewitnesses to their times. And Liu carried out Hu's dream," Chang said.
The majority of the articles released in the magazine were first-hand materials because many were accounts of personal experiences, chang said.
"These publications are very helpful to historians focusing on modern Chinese history," he said. "But for the existence of this magazine, I believe many of the precious historical accounts would have disappeared for good."
But historians also admit that the publication had its dark days -- Liu started the journal recording events and dissecting the actions of important figures, back during the time when Taiwan was still under martial law.
Chen San-ching (陳三井), a research fellow at the Institute of Modern History at Academic Sinica, gave a vivid example.
"When the magazine touched upon sensitive political issues, such as how many women Sun Yat-sen (孫中山), founder of the Republic of China, had in his life, the authorities were concerned, fingering Liu as a tool of the communists," Chen said.
But the magazine stands out as a pinnacle of achievement among those of its kind in Taiwan and China, Chen said. "In terms of content, quality and accuracy, the magazine is an unprecedented accomplishment."
On March 30, a panel discussion on the contribution of the magazine to the study of modern Chinese history will be held at the mayor's former residence, now a venue for cultural events.
According to the organizers of the event, a one-month exhibition on Liu's life will be held concurrently at the same venue.
Japan has deployed long-range missiles in a southwestern region near China, the Japanese defense minister said yesterday, at a time when ties with Beijing are at their lowest in recent years. The missiles were installed in Kumamoto in the southern region of Kyushu, as Japan is attempting to shore up its military capacity as China steps up naval activity in the East China Sea. “Standoff defense capabilities enable us to counter the threat of enemy forces attempting to invade our country ... while ensuring the safety of our personnel,” Japanese Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi said. “This is an extremely important initiative for
MORE POPULAR: Taiwan Pass sales increased by 59 percent during the first quarter compared with the same period last year, the Tourism Administration said The Tourism Administration yesterday said that it has streamlined the Taiwan Pass, with two versions available for purchase beginning today. The tourism agency has made the pass available to international tourists since 2024, allowing them to access the high-speed rail, Taiwan Railway Corp services, four MRT systems and four Taiwan Tourist Shuttles. Previously, five types of Taiwan Pass were available, but some tourists have said that the offerings were too complicated. The agency said only two types of Taiwan Pass would be available, starting from a three-day pass with the high-speed rail and a three-day pass with Taiwan Railway Corp. The former costs NT$2,800
POLLS CONCERNS: There are concerns within the KMT that a Cheng Li-wun-Xi Jinping meeting could trigger a voter backlash in elections in November Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) accepted an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to visit next month, her party and Chinese state media reported yesterday. Cheng, who took up her role in November last year, “gladly accepted” the invitation to lead a delegation to China, the KMT said in a statement, confirming a Xinhua news agency report. Cheng “looks forward to joint efforts by both parties to advance the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, promote cross-strait exchanges and cooperation, and work for peace in the Taiwan Strait and greater well-being for people on both sides,” the statement said. Chinese
SIGNIFICANT TO THE WORLD: The delegation’s visit aims to send a clear message that bipartisan support for Taiwan is consistent, US Senator Jeanne Shaheen said The US Senate’s bipartisan support for Taiwan remains strong and Taiwan-US ties would continue for decades to come, a US Senate delegation said in Taipei yesterday, while calling on the legislature to swiftly pass a special defense budget bill. A US delegation led by Democratic US Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican US Senator John Curtis — both members of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations — arrived in Taiwan yesterday for a two-day visit. The other senators of the delegation included Senate Taiwan Caucus cochair Thom Tillis and Senate Committee on Armed Services senior member Jacky Rosen. Shaheen told a news
RSS