Interviewing C.G. Chiang

Time: December 10th, 2006

　

Q：

There are lots of stories and deeds about your grandfather in many books. Are they all true?

A：

　

 Some of them are true, some are not completely correct. Things can get distorted each time they are repeated. When doing historical research, therefore, it is important to verify things from all respects. I hope you all will do it for this topic research.

Q：

　

How many children did Chiang Wei-shui have? He died at only 41 years old. Did his spirit as a democratic fighter influence his next generation?

A： Chiang Wei-shui had four children, on whom his uncompromising spirit can be found. The eldest son is diligent in academic study. At the age more than 90 years old, he is still capable of using the most advanced electronic devices and computer software. He is described as a scholar who never stops learning. The second son pitifully died at “228 Incident”. The third son, graduated from an advanced college, was a great man who organized “Taiwan Youth’s Autonomy Association”. The fourth son was a battlefield reporter who missed in the Philippines . All children of Chiang Wei-shui inherited his spirit of strong national ideology.

　

Q：

What was Chiang Wei-shui’s appeal of his many social movements?

A： He hoped Taiwanese people could acquire fair and righteous rights, and keep their own history and tradition. Wishing his people will carry on from generation to generation, he appealed for the ever-lasting cultural heritage of Taiwanese.

Q：

　

Was Chiang Wei-shui persecuted by Japanese in the course of his national struggle and petitioning?

A： Yes, he was persecuted, and for many times. He was jailed often at North Police Station (now Taipei Ta-tung Police Sub-bureau), which is now, therefore, the preparatory place for Taiwan New Cultural Movement. Nearly each time when Chiang Wei-shui wanted to do something for the sake of Taiwanese, he would be threatened by Japanese.

Q：

Could you introduce the “diagnosis of Taiwan ” made by Chiang Wei-shui?

A： In order to make Taiwan have a more peaceful society, Chiang Wei-shui wrote an article “A Clinical Lecture” in a prescription style for the patient named Taiwan . He diagnosed the symptom of Taiwan as “intellectual malnutrition”. He thought Taiwanese lacked anti-colonial and anti-tyrannical sense of national ideology and democratic thought. He anticipated, therefore, for Taiwan as a nation with more power to maintain peace.

Q：

For Taiwan ’s development, what influence and impact did Chiang Wei-shui make? Why is he called “ Taiwan ’s Sun Yat-sen”?

A： To push for non-violent anti-colonial movements, he established “Taiwan Minbao”, “New People’s Newspaper”, etc. to inculcate Taiwanese with the sense of democratic autonomy. He even sent telegrams to the League of Nations accusing Japanese of their evildoing. What he did resulted in the gradual improvement of the tyrannical, oppressive rule by Japanese. With such a great contribution to Taiwanese and Taiwan ’s development, he is, therefore, called Taiwan ’s Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of China .

　

Q：

It is said that Chiang Wei-shui sent telegrams to the League of Nations accusing Japanese of their unreasonable policy of colonialism. Is it true?

A： He did sent telegrams to the League of Nations accusing the Governor’s Office of its improper colonialism, one time for the “gradual cut of opium” policy, and another time for “Wu-she Incident”.

Q：

 Do you recognize your grandfather’s trying to assassinate Yuan Shi-kai and Japanese Emperor? And why?

A：  I am half for it and half against it. I recognize his spirit and courage in trying to get rid of Japanese Emperor who ruled Taiwan and Yuan who declared himself emperor. It would be a great delight to people if successful. Such a bold action, however, could end up in a tragical consequence to everybody involved. I am, therefore against such a naivety.

Q：

What do you think that made your grandfather a successful revolutionist?

A： On the one hand, he studied hard to absorb new knowledge and implemented it. On the other, he was totally unselfish, devoting wholeheartedly his life and property to the cause of saving Taiwanese. He always stood in front to fight at activities but never competed for posts. Such a fighting spirit with sacrifice made him a successful revolutionist.

Q：

What did your grandfather do that impressed you most?

A：

I admire most that he was a foreseer of the trend of Taiwan culture. He was a trailblazer in much respect in Taiwan ’s history, represented most distinctively by establishing “Taiwan Cultural Association”. The Association was a big unity of all Taiwanese elites, making a sensational cultural movement in the great era of self-consciousness in 1920’ s.

　

In the then world trend of anti-imperialism with armed forces by many disadvantaged peoples, it was unique for Chiang Wei-shui to appeal to cultural level-up, which avoided sacrificing in vain and the assimilation by Japanese, setting up national dignity.

 

“Taiwan Cultural Association” influenced our culture deeply and far. Now, the Association’s establishing day, October 17th, has been officially designated as Taiwan Culture Day, in order to carry on the spirit of the Association.

　

Q：

Do you hope to be a man like him to save Taiwan ’s history and culture?

A：

In 1921, Chiang Wei-shui published “A Clinical Lecture”, diagnosing “intellectual malnutrition” suffered by Taiwanese people, who were under discriminating education of Japanese colonial rule. He proposed two remedies, culture and education, to reform and save Taiwanese.

 

Nowadays, Taiwan ’s society does not stress culture much, ignoring historical lessons. In May this year, Chiang’s family and other seniors with the same ideal established “Chiang Wei-shui’s Cultural Foundation” with the aim to inherit the spirit of “Taiwan Cultural Association”, in order that everybody may stress the history and culture of his homeland.

　

Q：

Could you describe your grandfather in a few simple words?

A： To me, he was a cultural pioneer, and also a national fighter.