Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
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ChiangKai-shek_MemorialHall_ViewFromSideBuilding.jpg
The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (Chinese: 國立中正紀念堂; pinyin: Guólì Zhōngzhèng Jìniàntáng) is a memorial located in Taipei, Republic of China for the late President Chiang Kai-shek. It shares the grounds of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park with the National Concert Hall and National Theater and is one the city's defining landmarks.
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Development
After Chiang Kai-shek's death on April 5, 1975, the Executive Yuan established a Funeral Committee to build a Memorial Hall to commemorate him. The design of architect Yang Cho-Cheng was chosen in a competition and groundbreaking took place on October 31, 1976, the 90th anniversary of Chiang's birth. The CKS Memorial was officially opened on April 5, 1980, the fifth anniversary of Chiang Kai-shek's death.
The Memorial Park
The memorial is situated in a park covering 24 hectares in Zhongzheng District. Its main gateway, the Gate of Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness, borders Chung Shan South Road to the west. To the north is the Gate of Great Loyalty bordering Hsin Yi Road and to the south is the Gate of Great Piety bordering Ai Kuo East Road.
The Chiang Kai-shek Square is flanked by both sides with the National Concert Hall and the National Theater. During festivities, these buildings are used as backdrops to the stages. It is very common to see schools and/or military groups practicing routines in front of these buildings. Annually, there are more than 800 performances utilising these buildings. They are designed acoustically to minimise outside sound and maximise the propagation of sound from their stages to the audience within. The Boulevard of Homage is bordered by manicured bushes connects the Square with the Memorial Hall.
There are several ponds and parks throughout the memorial, with well-maintained ponds, lawns, trees, and walking pathways. The ponds are filled with the colourful fish that also found in many sacred places and temples throughout Taiwan.
The Memorial Hall
The main building is white with four sides. Its roof, rising 70 meters above the ground, is octagonal with blue glazed glass tiles. The blue and white colors of the building and the red color of the flowerbeds provide the symbolism found in the flag of the Republic of China.
Two sets of white stairs, with a total of 89 steps representing Chiang's age of death, lead up to double doors, 16 meters high and weighing 75 tons. At the top of the stairs is a large vault containing a bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek. Behind him are inscribed the words "Ethics, Democracy, Science" and Chiang's accompanying writings. On the side walls are inscribed "The Purpose of Life is to further improve the general life of Mankind" and "The Meaning of Life is to create and sustain subsequent lives in the universe." The vault is under guard during opening hours (9 A.M. to 4 P.M.) by an honor guard drawn from a branch of the ROC military and rotated periodically among the branches.
The ground-level of the memorial has a library and museum that displays photos and mementos of Chiang Kai-shek's life.
See also
External links
- Official site (English) (http://www.cksmh.gov.tw/english/index.htm)
- A site describing the memorial. (http://www.taiwan.com.au/Envtra/Taipei/report08.html)zh:中正紀念堂