To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passing of the founding father Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of China (Taiwan), held a series of events titled “Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Passing” in March.
The Memorial Hall announced that the activities included the concert “Radiance of Happiness – Hello Dr. Sun Yat-sen,” the special exhibition “Dr. Sun Yat-sen and Taiwan: Revolutionary Ideals and Contemporary Resonance,” paying respects to the statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, academic seminar “New Exploration of Sun Studies: Sun Yat-sen’s Thoughts and Contemporary National Development” and the publication of the commemorative special issue of “Sun Studies Research,” book donations, tree planting activities, aiming to commemorate his revolutionary spirit, promote his ideological teachings, and advance cultural equality and accessibility.
At 8:40 am today (12th), Director Wang Liansheng and all staff of the Memorial Hall paid their respects to the statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Starting from 9 am at the “Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park” within the Hall, various groups and the public were invited to pay their respects to the statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen to express their remembrance and respect for the founding father. The atmosphere of the event was solemn, warm, and touching.
Additionally, the Memorial Hall organized the “Create a Green Living Environment” tree planting event in the temporary office courtyard, offering gardenia, azalea, hibiscus, and other plant seedlings for the people waiting in line to take home and beautify their living environment with greenery. The “Embrace the Love of Books” book donation event was held near the motorcycle parking area, providing the public with Sun Studies publications released by the Hall over the years and exquisite art collections from artists.
The Memorial Hall mentioned that the book donations included works by contemporary ink wash artist Chu Ge, renowned calligrapher Yu Youren, and acclaimed artist Shi Cuifeng, as well as books on Western painting, ink wash painting, calligraphy, printmaking, photography, sculpture, DVDs featuring Wang Dahong and stories about the Memorial Hall, and postcards simulating temporary presidential elections, with a total donation of over 1,100 volumes. The public actively participated in various activities on site with enthusiasm.
The academic seminar “New Exploration of Sun Studies: Sun Yat-sen’s Thoughts and Contemporary National Development” was co-organized by the Memorial Hall, the Sun Yat-sen Academic and Cultural Foundation of the Republic of China, and National Chengchi University. The opening ceremony was held in the International Conference Hall on the 5th floor of the General Building of Chengchi University at 9:30 am, featuring a special lecture by Huang Zijin, a researcher from the Academia Sinica Institute of Modern History.
The Memorial Hall stated that Huang Zijin’s lecture was on “Theoretical Construction of Sun Yat-sen’s ‘Livelihoodism’: Western Academic Theories and Concrete Practices in Asian Societies.” The seminar explored topics such as the historical spirit of Sun Yat-sen’s ideology and its significance and insights in contemporary national development, with presentations on Sun Yat-sen’s ideology in history and its impact on national development. The academic seminar brought together over a hundred scholars, experts, and graduate students, creating a warm and enthusiastic atmosphere focused on the implications and significance of Sun Yat-sen’s ideology of the past century for the contemporary development of the nation.
The special exhibition “Dr. Sun Yat-sen and Taiwan: Revolutionary Ideals and Contemporary Resonance” co-organized with National Chengchi University and the Kuomintang Party History Museum highlighted the deep-rooted connection between Dr. Sun Yat-sen and Taiwan, reflecting on the resonance between the revolutionary past and modern society. The opening ceremony was held at 1:00 pm at the Main Library of Chengchi University, where Director Wang Liansheng of the Memorial Hall, President Li Tsai-yan of Chengchi University, and representatives from the Kuomintang Party History Museum delivered speeches.
The Memorial Hall explained that the exhibition utilized static document displays and digital video presentations to showcase how Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s revolutionary spirit resonates in contemporary Taiwanese society. The exhibition was divided into three main themes: “The Revolutionary Transformation of Dr. Sun Yat-sen,” “Revolutionary Figures and Taiwan,” and “From History to Daily Life,” guiding viewers through Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s youth and how he ignited the flames of revolution. Through documents, images, artwork, and more, the exhibition aimed to explore and present his influence on Taiwan.
Furthermore, the Memorial Hall stated that to enrich the exhibition items, they collaborated with the Kuomintang Party History Museum to reproduce and display historical artifacts such as “Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Autobiography” and “Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Academic Records at the Hong Kong College of Medicine,” exhibited from March 7th to 25th.
The Memorial Hall emphasized that in commemorating the centennial legacy of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, they aimed to inherit and promote the spirit of Sun Yat-sen. Dr. Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925) advocated for revolutionary ideals and practices through his selfless dedication, putting an end to over two thousand years of imperial reign and initiating the modernization process of the nation. He presented the Three Principles of the People – nationalism, democracy, and livelihood – integrating traditional Confucian principles with Western democracy to establish the first republic in Asia and set a blueprint for the country.
The Memorial Hall highlighted that Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s greatness lies in his transcendent vision beyond his time, advocating for the ideal of “common welfare for all,” emphasizing sovereignty by the people and social equality, promoting industrial projects for modern infrastructure like railways and ports, prioritizing livelihood and education through policies like “equal land rights” to address social injustices. His thoughts influenced not only modern historical developments but also served as an enlightening paradigm for the democratic movements in modern East Asia.