Department of Cultural Affairs

In 1927, a group of intellectuals including Wei-shui Chiang, Hsien-tang Lin, and Ying-chang Li founded Taiwan’s first political party, the Taiwan People’s Party. They were driven by their lofty dreams of three major freedoms—political, economic, and social—and they fought against the authoritarianism of colonial powers and advocated for economic fairness for farmers and workers, while also campaigning to eradicate social ills such as opium use.

At first, the Government-General of Taiwan allowed the party to be set up. But less than four years later, they reversed their decision, sending police to break up a party meeting and arrest the leadership. The ground on which you are standing is the very site where sixteen members of the Taiwan People’s Party were taken away by the police. Party leader Wei-shui Chiang died six months after being arrested, at the young age of 40.

Although the headquarters of the Taiwan People’s Party have been demolished, as you stand here you can reflect on Wei-shui Chiang’s famous saying: “The country must unite. Unity is truly powerful.”

 
No. 45, Tianshui Rd., Datong Dist., Taipei City