250px Chiang Kai-shek was entombed in his former residence.Tzuhu (慈湖 pinyin: Cíhú, literally "benevolent lake"), is an eight-acre lake located in Taoyuan County, Taiwan near the temporary resting place of Chiang Kai-shek. The lake is divied into two smaller lakes, 5 acres and 3 acres each with a canal connecting them together. It was called formerly Green Water Lake (碧水湖澤) until Chiang Kai-shek renamed it as Tzuhu in 1962 because the scenery reminded him of his benevolent mother and his home town, Fenghua. Chiang loved the lake so much that he had an official residence built nearby to architecturally resemble the houses in Fenghua. He also named his favorite residence Tzuhu (慈湖), which was converted to his mausoleum upon his death in 1975. Chiang's body lies in the main hall of the residence.
When Chiang Kai-shek died in 1975, he was never buried in the traditional Chinese fashion but entombed in a black marble sarcophagus since he expressed the wish to be eventually buried in his native Fenghua once the Kuomintang recovered mainland China from the Communists. When his son died in 1988 he was also entombed in nearby Dashi.
Tzuhu, now offically named the Tzuhu Mausoleum (慈湖陵寢), is perennially open daily for visitation from 8 AM to 4PM. Visitors, who include high ranking KMT and ROC officials, arrive where Chiang's body lies in the main hall to bow or salute. The complex is also a military base.
In 2004, Chiang Fang-liang, the widow of Chiang Ching-kuo, asked that both father and son be buried at Wuchih Mountain Military Cemetery in Sijhih, Taipei County. The state funeral ceremony is planned for Spring 2005. Chiang Fang-liang and Soong May-lingSoong May-ling or Soong Mei-ling ( pinyin: Song Meiling) ( March 5, 1898 1 October 23, 2003), one of the three Soong sisters and described as "the one who loved power". As the wife of President Chiang Kai-shek, she was also known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek had agreed in 1997 that the former leaders be first buried but still be moved to mainland China in the event of reunification. There is public debate if another national funeral should be held again for their burial in Wuchih Mountain Military Cemetery. Strong opposition came from the families of 228 incident victimsThe 228 Incident or 228 Massacre was an uprising in Taiwan that began on February 28, 1947. This event is now commemorated as Peace Memorial Day . Taiwan had been handed over to the Republic of China from Japan two years earlier and tensions between the l. However, incumbent president Chen Shui-bianChen Shui-bian ( ch. pinyin: Chen Shubin, Wade-Giles: Ch'en Shui-pien; Taiwanese Church Romanization: Tan Chui-pi) (born 9th Month, 1950), Taiwanese politician, has been the President of the Republic of China since May 20, 2000. He is also Chairman of the inclined to hold another national funeral but one lasting only one day.
1 See also
- History of the Republic of ChinaThe Republic of China succeeded the Qing Dynasty in China and ruled mainland China from 1912 to 1949 and has ruled Taiwan (along with several islands of Fujian) since 1945. Flag of the ROC (1912-1928) Flag of the ROC (1928-present) Revolution of 1911 Main
- Chiang Kai-shek Memorial SongThe Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Song was written to commemorate the late President Chiang Kai-shek of the Republic of China. The song was written by Huang Yu-ti in 1975, who later also wrote Chiang Ching-kuo Memorial Song in 1988. With the lifting of martial
- List of Memorials
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