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Coordinates: 25°2′4″N 121°31′18″E / 25.03444°N 121.52167°E / 25.03444; 121.52167
The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
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 Liberty Square. 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.
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.
The main vault of the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall contains a statue of President Chiang Kai-shek.
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 (traditional Chinese: 大中至正; simplified 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 name Liberty Square for the plaza dates from 2007.
The Memorial Hall
A pond near the main building, which is visible through the trees.
Memorial Hall 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 President Chen Shui-bian proclaimed 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] with Liberty Square as the name of the plaza. 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 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]
The original plaque for the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall was reinstated without public discussion in July 2009.[9] The name Liberty Square for the plaza was retained.
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