Authors, researchers and descendants of the founders of the Taiwan Culture Association (
Founded on Oct. 17, 1921 by a group of intellectuals where the auditorium of the Blessed Imelda's School (
Its aim was to awaken a Tai-wanese consciousness in its fellow citizens through cultural enlightenment.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
As convener of yesterday's forum, Lung Ying-tai (
"Through the personal narrations offered by the descents of the association's founders, we'd like the younger generation to learn more about the history of Taiwan's cultural and democratic movements," Lung said.
"In addition, we'd like politicians to start pondering what path they feel is the most beneficial for Taiwan," she added.
In addition to the forum, a collection of 44 black-and-white pictures chronicling the development of the association is on display at the school auditorium until Oct. 21 and at the 228 Memorial Museum from Oct. 24 through Nov. 6.
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
"Although the association lasted only 10 years, it affected and continues to affect Taiwan not only culturally but also politically, economically and socially," Ma said.
Chiang Sung-hui (
"What he did was heroic because he not only galvanized nationalism in Taiwan but also trumpeted an idea few people dared to touch during the Japanese colonial era -- anti-imperialism," he said.
The younger Chiang was only 18 when his father died of typhoid in 1931, at the age of 40, after devoting himself to social movements for 10 years.
Three years before his death, the elder Chiang formed the country's first political party, the Taiwan People's Party (
Lin Po-cheng (
"As the largest cultural group of its time, the association pioneered efforts to stage peaceful resistance campaigns against the Japanese regime. Contemporary politicians might learn something from this," he said.
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