A quick intro to Taiwan 228 Peace Memorial Day
This article provides an overview introduction of Taiwan's Peace Memorial Day to those who are not familiar with it.
Background
The 228 incident has a complex historical context, making it difficult to fully comprehend. This page aims to provide an introduction to the significance of this Memorial Day in Taiwan.
The 228 Peace Memorial Day commemorates the massacre that occurred in 1947. It stemmed from the defected administration of the Republic of China (R.O.C.) government, which was new to Taiwan. Before that, Taiwan was colonized by Japan for 50 years, which ended after World War II.
The R.O.C. government was unfamiliar with Taiwanese culture and customs, which generated numerous complaints. Under the R.O.C. government, prices of daily commodities skyrocketed, unemployment rose, and discrimination against Taiwanese citizens (v.s. Chinese) was prevalent. On February 27th, 1947, a botched investigation by the Monopoly Bureau into a tobacco vendor led to severe injuries and death.
This incident sparked widespread dissatisfaction. The following day, strikes and protests erupted across multiple Taiwanese cities, quickly becoming a political incident. The government responded by killing thousands of people, both during and after the unrest, in an attempt to quell the demonstrations and reinforce the power.
The 228 Massacre is one of the most tragic events in Taiwanese history. In 1995, February 28th was designated a national memorial day in Taiwan to remind people of this incident and to value the peace currently enjoyed.
What do people do on this day and how you can get involved?
Public event
There has always been a political color of this day because the regime in power at that time is still one of the major political parties now. Nevertheless, in the past decades, it has gradually become a consensus among the whole country to acknowledge the truth of the incident. The president and leaders would give public speeches on this day.
👉🏼 **Watch: [President Tsai attends a 228 memorial event in Tainan, speaks about victims’ suffering](
Education
Teachers and parents are also encouraged to talk to their kids about history and educate them to cherish what we have today.
💡 Take some time to think about the peace we have today and try to acknowledge its vulnerability.
Memorial spaces
There are parks or monuments entitled after 228 in many cities in Taiwan. For example, Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Chiayi, etc. When visiting Taiwan next time, spare some time to visit these places!
Additional Resources
The Memorial Foundation of 228: You can find a more thorough introduction on the website of this official foundation established by the government. The purpose of this foundation is to research, educate, and compensate the victims of the 228 massacre.
White Terror in Taiwan - Cold War DOCUMENTARY: Besides the 228 incident, the White Terror was another period between 1950 to 1990, where tens of thousands of people were killed by the dictatorship government.
China v Taiwan: explained: It’s almost impossible to fully understand these incidents in Taiwan without learning about the historical context of China, Taiwan, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and the Republic of China (ROC).