The Institute of Yilan County History on Thursday unveiled a memorial dedicated to Taiwanese democracy pioneer and nationalist Chiang Wei-shui (蔣渭水) at the site of the activist’s former Yilan City residence.
Born in Yilan in 1891, Chiang was an anti-colonialist who contested Japanese rule and was also the founder of the Taiwan Minpao newspaper, the Taiwanese People’s Party, a labor union and other pro-democracy groups.
The ceremony was presided over by Yilan County Commissioner Lin Tsung Hsien (林聰賢), Yilan Mayor Chiang Tsung-yuan (江聰淵), and Chiang Wei-shui Cultural Foundation executive director Chiang Chao-ken (蔣朝根), who is also Chiang Wei-shui’s grandson.
Photo: Chien Hui-ju, Taipei Times
The memorial consists of a plaque and a colonial-style wooden door, behind which historical information about Chiang Wei-shui is displayed over a photocopy of an issue of Taiwan Minpao.
Chiang Wei-shui’s house no longer exists, but the institute tracked down its former location and erected the memorial on a wall near the intersection of Jhongshan (中山) and Mincyuan (民權) roads, event organizer You Yuan-kiang (游源鏗) said.
The door symbolizes the opening of a vista through which visitors can learn about Taiwan and Chiang Wei-shui’s history, You said, adding that Taiwan Minpao was chosen to represent Chiang Wei-shui’s many achievements.
Lin said that Chiang Wei-shui was a “pioneer of Taiwanese social activism” and a “political reformer” who showed “relentless” determination in striving for “the good of the people living at the bottom of society.”
“A man with the conviction to stand up for the people in those times is a worthy example,” Lin said, adding that he hopes the memorial can pass the torch of Chiang Wei-shui’s spirit to the next generation.
Chiang Chao-ken said that many people recognize Chiang Wei-shui’s name, but cannot recall his contributions to Taiwan, adding that he hopes the memorial can address that by keeping the memory of his grandfather alive.
The memorial’s unveiling is part of a series of commemorative events to mark the reinterring of his ashes from Taipei to Yilan County’s Wei-shui Hill (渭水之丘) in the Cherry Blossom Cemetery (櫻花陵園), which is scheduled to take place today.
Concerts honoring Chiang Wei-shui are to be held today and tomorrow in Yilan City.
A preclearance service to facilitate entry for people traveling to select airports in Japan would be available from Thursday next week to Feb. 25 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC) said on Tuesday. The service was first made available to Taiwanese travelers throughout the winter vacation of 2024 and during the Lunar New Year holiday. In addition to flights to the Japanese cities of Hakodate, Asahikawa, Akita, Sendai, Niigata, Okayama, Takamatsu, Kumamoto and Kagoshima, the service would be available to travelers to Kobe and Oita. The service can be accessed by passengers of 15 flight routes operated by
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said a magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck off the coast of eastern Taiwan yesterday was an independent event and part of a stress-adjustment process. The earthquake occurred at 4:47pm, with its epicenter at sea about 45.4km south of Yilan County Hall at a depth of 5.9km, the CWA said. The quake's intensity, which gauges the actual effects of a temblor, was highest in several townships in Yilan and neighboring Hualien County, where it measured 4 on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the CWA said. Lin Po-yu (林柏佑), a division chief at the CWA's Seismological Center, told a news conference
RSS