Coordinates: 25°2′4″N 121°31′18″E / 25.03444°N 121.52167°E
| National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall | |||||||
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| Traditional Chinese: | 國立中正紀念堂 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese: | 国立中正纪念堂 | ||||||
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The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (traditional Chinese: 國立中正紀念堂; simplified Chinese: 国立中正纪念堂) is a famous monument erected in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China. It is located in Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
The monument, surrounded by a park, stands at the east end of the Gate of Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness. The structure is framed on the north and south by the National Theater and National Concert Hall. The entire plaza is located within sight of the Presidential Office Building.
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Development
After President Chiang Kai-shek died on 5 April 1975, the Executive branch of the government established a Funeral Committee to build a memorial. The design, by architect Yang Cho-cheng, was chosen in a competition. Yang's design incorporated many elements of traditional Chinese architecture recalling the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, China. (The Kuomintang (KMT) revered Dr. Sun as founder of the party and government Chiang had led.) Groundbreaking for the memorial took place on 31 October 1976, the 90th anniversary of Chiang's birth. The hall officially opened on 5 April 1980, the fifth anniversary of the leader's death.
Yang's design placed the main building at the east end of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park (traditional Chinese: 中正公園; simplified Chinese: 中正公园), covering over 240,000 square metres in Zhongzheng District. A main gate, the Gate of Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness (Chinese: 大中至正) was placed at the west end on Chung Shan South Road, with a Gate of Great Loyalty (traditional Chinese: 大忠門; simplified Chinese: 大忠门) standing at the north side on Hsin Yi (Xinyi) Road and a Gate of Great Piety (traditional Chinese: 大孝門; simplified Chinese: 大孝门) standing at the south side on Ai Kuo (Aiguo) East Road. A Boulevard of Homage, bordered by manicured bushes, connected the main hall with the square.
The Memorial Hall
The main building is white with four sides. The octagonal roof rises 70 meters above the ground and is covered with blue glazed tiles. The blue and white colors of the building and the red colour of the flowerbeds echo the colours in the flag of the Republic of China. The octagonal shape picks up the symbolism of the number 8, a number traditionally associated in Asia with abundance and good fortune.
Two sets of white stairs, each with 89 steps to represent Chiang's age at the time of his death, lead to the main entrance. The main entrance features a pair of double doors, each standing 16 meters high and weighing 75 tons, that open into the main hall. A large bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek dominates the main hall. The figure is shown smiling, seated and wearing traditional Chinese dress. Inscribed on the wall above and behind the seated figure are the Chinese characters for Ethics, Democracy, and Science. Inscriptions on the side walls read The purpose of life is to improve the general life of humanity and The meaning of life is to create and sustain subsequent lives in the universe. An elaborate caisson is set into the ceiling, decorated with the emblem of the Kuomintang (KMT). Representatives of the armed forces guard the main hall during its open hours. (The branch of service represented changes periodically according to a rotating schedule.) The changing of the guards take place every hour, attracting many visitors.
The ground level of the memorial houses a library and museum documenting Chiang Kai-shek's life and career and exhibits related to Taiwan's history and development.
Renaming controversy
On 19 May 2007 a new name for the structure, "National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall" (traditional Chinese: 國立臺灣民主紀念館; simplified Chinese: 国立台湾民主纪念馆),[1] was announced by then President Chen Shui-bian. The Executive Yuan set up organic regulations intending to administratively effect the name change. However, the Kuomintang-controlled Legislative Yuan subsequently blocked an attempt to amend the legislation governing the regulations. As a result, there were disputes as to whether the name change had been legally effective.[2] In subsequent legal wrangling,[3] the legislature repealed the organic regulations supporting the new name in a partisan vote.[4]
KMT candidate Ma Ying-jeou was elected the 12th President of the Republic of China on March 22, 2008.[5] Ma had earlier pledged to restore the name of CKS Memorial Hall, the original hall contents (flags and guards), and the inscription on both the central gate and door.[6] President Ma took office on May 20.
The Executive Yuan on August 21, 2008, under the new Ma Administration, officially restored the name "National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall" to the hall.[7] As to when or whether to restore original signs throughout the memorial, the president said that public opinion would be consulted before any final decision was made.[8] As on November 2008, the inscription designating the plaza Liberty Square remains in place.
According to the news from China Times on January 22, 2009.[9], the original plaque for the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall will be reinstated in July this year since the Legislative Yuan has already made the decision. Hall director Tseng Kun-Ti said that there would be no legal problem if the original plaque for CKS Memorial Hall reinstates.
See also
- Chiang Kai-shek
- Cihu Presidential Burial Place
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
- Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum
- National Theater and Concert Hall
- Presidential Office Building (Taipei)
- Kuomintang
Notes
- ^ 民主紀念館揭牌 總統：大中至正改自由廣場, Central News Agency, 2007/05/19
- ^ Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall Breaks the Budget Act, National Policy Foundation
- ^ Name fight set for CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei Times
- ^ “台灣民主紀念館”廢了 中正紀念堂復名 ("Taiwan Democracy Hall" abolished; Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall restored"), Singtao Net
- ^ Latest News
- ^ Isolated clashes as hour nears for plaque removal Taipei Times 2007-12-06
- ^ 政院恢復法源 中正紀念堂將復名
- ^ 改回「中正紀念堂」？政院：聽取民意後決定 (Change back to "CKS Memorial Hall"? Executive Yuan: will consult public opinion before deciding), China Times 2008-08-21
- ^ 「中正紀念堂」牌匾 7月底掛回
References
External links
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