Chiang Kai-shek statues
Chiang Kai-shek statues (Chinese: 蔣公銅像; pinyin: Jiǎng Gōng Tóngxiàng; literally: "President Chiang Bronze Statue") are statues of the late Republic of China (ROC) President Chiang Kai-shek. They are found almost everywhere in Taiwan, from parks to schools to military bases, and are usually made of a bronze alloy, although it varies from location to location. Some statues have been removed starting in 1999, with greater publicity surrounding removals starting in 2007 under pro-Taiwan independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government initiatives, which in turn led to protests and opposition on the grounds of culture and history.
President Chiang Kai-shek led the Republic of China and the Kuomintang (KMT) in the Mainland. After the end of World War II, during the subsequent resumption of the Chinese Civil War he lost Mainland China to the Chinese Communists. He retreated to Taiwan with the ROC government and vowed to one day re-take the Mainland (At that time, the ROC had occupied Taiwan before the post-war treaties were in effect, becoming the government in exile. During the following years of rule, the KMT-led ROC government erected monuments commemorating Nationalist leaders, including statues of Chiang Kai-shek.
In 2000, it was estimated there were nearly 43,000 Chiang statues in various locations throughout Taiwan.Daxi District, home to the mausoleums of Chiang Kai-shek and his son, Chiang Ching-kuo, has accepted approximately 200 removed Chiang Kai-shek statues, beginning in 2000 as per the then-current mayor (Tzeng Rung-chien)'s policy. The statues were later displayed at the Cihu Memorial Sculpture Garden (慈湖紀念雕塑公園), located at 24°50′29″N 121°17′38″E / 24.8415°N 121.2940°E adjacent to the Cihu Mausoleum. It is also known among expat residents as the 'Garden of the Generalissimos'. The garden is especially popular with visitors from the People's Republic of China.
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