Cihu Sculpture Park: 150 statues in exile in Taiwan
Where should statues be moved when the legacy of a historical figure is controversial? Taiwan found part of the answer in the form of a strange park.
You will find here and at the bottom of the article the first episode of my cycling adventures in Taiwan, including a visit to the Cihu Sculpture Park.
The name "Cihu" means "women's pond" in Chinese, in reference to the rice paddies that once surrounded this village southwest of Taiwan's capital Taipei. Today, the highlight of the lush 8-acre park is not the women or the rice paddies, but no fewer than 152 statues (at last count) of the former leader of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Chiang Kai-shek.
A controversial legacy
I talk in more detail about the KMT's exile to Taiwan in this video (in French).
Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) was an important leader of China. From 1925, he led the Kuomintang (KMT), the Chinese Nationalist Party founded in 1912 with the aim of ending the Qing dynasty and establishing a republic in China. In this capacity, he later fought against Mao Zedong's communists in the civil war.
Following the Communists' victory in 1949, the KMT went into exile in Taiwan, where Chiang established an authoritarian regime. His reign, which lasted until his death in 1975, was marked by martial law - which lasted several decades - and the consolidation of the KMT in Taiwan. His regime was accused of human rights violations, including summary executions, political imprisonment and torture of those considered to be opponents of the regime.
As Taiwan has evolved into a democracy distinct from mainland China, Chiang Kai-shek's legacy has become a subject of debate on Taiwanese national identity. For some, it represents a repressive period to be forgotten, while for others it symbolizes resistance against communism and the preservation of traditional Chinese identity.
Moving the statues
Instead of destroying the thousands of smiling statues of the leader installed across the country, relocations were proposed. Cihu was chosen, as the leader's tomb already stood there. History, instead of being erased, was moved in part to a place of reflection on the past. Since its official opening in February 2000, it has become the world's only memorial park dedicated to statues of a single person.
Today, the park features 152 statues of the former president, including full statues, busts and even equestrian works, each with its own unique artistic value. Most have been donated by schools and government agencies, including the largest, which was donated by the city of Kaohsiung. The sculptures are linked by a network of paths through the park. A landscaped courtyard, small bridge and stream add to the park's elegant charm.
For a second time, the former leader of the Republic of China was exiled, this time inside his adopted land.
I produced several videos - on bike tourism, the bike industry and many things unique to Taiwan - during my recent month-and-a-half visit to the Asian island. Visit my YouTube channel to watch them all. English and French subtitles are available.
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