Chiang Wei-shui
Encyclopedia
Chiang Wei-shui was a founder of the Taiwanese Cultural Association
and the Taiwanese People's Party
. He is seen as one of the most important figures in the colonial resistance movement.
He once wrote a short essay on Taiwan called Bedside Examination (臨床講義) about how the patient (Taiwan) suffered from severe culture malnutrition. Written in the form of a medical examination, it is his most famous work.
. At the age of 10 he began to study with Confucian scholar Chang Mao-tsai. In 1915 he graduated from the Taiwan
Medical College, now the National Taiwan University
College of Medicine.
He founded the Daan Hospital in Dadaocheng
, a district in Taipei
, and invited fellow intellectuals to the hospital to discuss contemporary affairs. In 1920 he began participating in the movement to found the Taiwan Assembly. In 1921 he helped found the Taiwan Cultural Association. He was imprisoned for four months in 1923 and again in 1925 for his opposition to the colonial
government. In total, he was imprisoned more than ten times.
In 1927, the Taiwan Cultural Association
split because of an internal ideological division between rightists and leftists. Chiang Weishui went on to help found the Taiwan People's Party
on a platform of unity. The Taiwan People's Party was the first legal party to be founded in Taiwan. Chiang Weishui was also involved with the Taiwanese Worker's League (台灣工友總聯盟) and the Taiwanese Farmer's Association (台灣農民協會). He came under criticism from rightists in the government. When Tsai Pei-huo (蔡培火), Yeh Jung-chung (葉榮鐘) and others prepared for the formation of the Taiwan Local Self-Government League (台灣地方自治聯盟), Chiang Weishui expelled them. The Taiwan People's Party contacted the League of Nations
several times to protest Japanese issuance of special permits for opium
sale as well as the Wushe Incident
.
The Taiwanese People's Party's political philosophy was the Three Principles of the People
, but Hsieh Chun-mu (謝春木) and others pushed for a revolutionary line. In 1931, the colonial administration forced the dissolution of the party. Chiang Weishui died of typhoid that same year, at the age of 40 (41 by traditional Chinese reckoning).
Writing in the 1970s in the context of the nativist and Tangwai movements, Democratic Progressive Party
legislator Huang Huang-hsiung described Chiang Wei-shui as Taiwan's Sun Yat-sen
.
His grave is located in Taipei Public Cemetery No. 6, on Chongde St., near Liuzhangli Station
.
(Snow Mountain) to link Taipei
with Ilan was opened in 2006. It marked the completion of Taiwan's latest freeway, which was subsequently named the Chiang Wei-shui Freeway in a move that pleased all sides of the political spectrum in Taiwan.
Currently, his likeness is featured on the 10 NT coin in Taiwan
.
Taiwanese Cultural Association
The Taiwanese Cultural Association , founded 1921-10-17, was an important organization during the Japanese rule of Taiwan. Founded by Chiang Wei-shui in Dadaocheng, Taipei....
and the Taiwanese People's Party
Taiwanese People's Party
The Taiwanese People's Party , founded 1927, was nominally Taiwan's first political party, preceding the founding of the Taiwanese Communist Party by nine months...
. He is seen as one of the most important figures in the colonial resistance movement.
He once wrote a short essay on Taiwan called Bedside Examination (臨床講義) about how the patient (Taiwan) suffered from severe culture malnutrition. Written in the form of a medical examination, it is his most famous work.
Biography
Chiang was born in YilanYilan City
Yilan City historically spelled Ilan or I-lan, is the capital of Yilan County, Taiwan. It is on the north side of Lanyang River. The first Han Chinese settled there in 1802....
. At the age of 10 he began to study with Confucian scholar Chang Mao-tsai. In 1915 he graduated from the Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
Medical College, now the National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
College of Medicine.
He founded the Daan Hospital in Dadaocheng
Dadaocheng
Dadaocheng , spelled Twatutia before Japanese rule, is an area in the Datong District, part of the Taipei Basin and a historic section of Taipei City. It was known as Daitotei by the Japanese and Tataocheng during the Kuomintang era...
, a district in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, and invited fellow intellectuals to the hospital to discuss contemporary affairs. In 1920 he began participating in the movement to found the Taiwan Assembly. In 1921 he helped found the Taiwan Cultural Association. He was imprisoned for four months in 1923 and again in 1925 for his opposition to the colonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
government. In total, he was imprisoned more than ten times.
In 1927, the Taiwan Cultural Association
Taiwanese Cultural Association
The Taiwanese Cultural Association , founded 1921-10-17, was an important organization during the Japanese rule of Taiwan. Founded by Chiang Wei-shui in Dadaocheng, Taipei....
split because of an internal ideological division between rightists and leftists. Chiang Weishui went on to help found the Taiwan People's Party
Taiwanese People's Party
The Taiwanese People's Party , founded 1927, was nominally Taiwan's first political party, preceding the founding of the Taiwanese Communist Party by nine months...
on a platform of unity. The Taiwan People's Party was the first legal party to be founded in Taiwan. Chiang Weishui was also involved with the Taiwanese Worker's League (台灣工友總聯盟) and the Taiwanese Farmer's Association (台灣農民協會). He came under criticism from rightists in the government. When Tsai Pei-huo (蔡培火), Yeh Jung-chung (葉榮鐘) and others prepared for the formation of the Taiwan Local Self-Government League (台灣地方自治聯盟), Chiang Weishui expelled them. The Taiwan People's Party contacted the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
several times to protest Japanese issuance of special permits for opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
sale as well as the Wushe Incident
Wushe Incident
The Wushe Incident or Wushe Event or Wushe Revolution / Rebellion / Uprising / Insurrection of 1930 was the last major uprising against colonial Japanese forces in Taiwan...
.
The Taiwanese People's Party's political philosophy was the Three Principles of the People
Three Principles of the People
The Three Principles of the People, also translated as Three People's Principles, or collectively San-min Doctrine, is a political philosophy developed by Sun Yat-sen as part of a philosophy to make China a free, prosperous, and powerful nation...
, but Hsieh Chun-mu (謝春木) and others pushed for a revolutionary line. In 1931, the colonial administration forced the dissolution of the party. Chiang Weishui died of typhoid that same year, at the age of 40 (41 by traditional Chinese reckoning).
Writing in the 1970s in the context of the nativist and Tangwai movements, Democratic Progressive Party
Democratic Progressive Party
The Democratic Progressive Party is a political party in Taiwan, and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition. Founded in 1986, DPP is the first meaningful opposition party in Taiwan. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights and a distinct Taiwanese identity,...
legislator Huang Huang-hsiung described Chiang Wei-shui as Taiwan's Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the "Father of the Nation" , a view agreed upon by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...
.
His grave is located in Taipei Public Cemetery No. 6, on Chongde St., near Liuzhangli Station
Liuzhangli Station
Liuzhangli Station is a station on the Wenshan Line of the Taipei Rapid Transit System, located on the border of Daan and Xinyi districts, Taipei, Taiwan.-Station overview:...
.
Legacy
A 12.9 km freeway tunnel passing under HsuehshanHsuehshan
Xueshan or Hsuehshan or Snow Mountain is the second highest mountain in Taiwan and in East Asia. At above sea level.It is located in the Shei-Pa National Park and it is visible in good weather from Taiwan's capital -Taipei- nearby hills....
(Snow Mountain) to link Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
with Ilan was opened in 2006. It marked the completion of Taiwan's latest freeway, which was subsequently named the Chiang Wei-shui Freeway in a move that pleased all sides of the political spectrum in Taiwan.
Currently, his likeness is featured on the 10 NT coin in Taiwan
.
External links
- Taiwan Panorama Magazine:Nationalist Pioneer Chiang Wei-shui
- Taiwan Yearbook: Land Transportation , Chiang Wei-shui Freeway
- Theatre Production: The Impossible Times: Chiang Wei-shui