Cihhu
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Chiang Kai-shek's remains lie in a black marble sarcophagus in his former residence. |
The
Cihhu Presidential Burial Place (慈湖陵寢) is the temporary resting place of
President Chiang Kai-shek. It is located
Taoyuan County,
Taiwan Province,
Republic of China. 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 in
Zhejiang province once the
Kuomintang recovered
mainland China from the
Communists.
Cihhu (慈湖
pinyin: Cíhú, literally "benevolent lake"), refers to the eight acre (32,000 m²) lake located near the tomb-site. The lake is divided into two smaller lakes, 5 acres (20,000 m²) and 3 acres (12,000 m²) 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 (Cihhu) 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.
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The entrance to the former Chiang residence is flanked by guards from the ROC Army. |
The Cihhu Presidential Burial Place is under the jurisdiction of the
Republic of China Ministry of National Defense and guarded by the
Republic of China Military Police. Two ceremonial guards from the armed forces stand at attention at the entrance to the former Chiang residence.
Cihhu is perennially open daily for visitation from 8 AM to 4PM. Prior to the late 1990s, visitors would line up hours for the chance to pay their respects to Chiang Kai-shek (either by bowing three times or saluting before the sarcophagus). Schoolchildren were often bussed in to do the same. At the anniversary of his death on
April 5, high-ranking
Kuomintang officials would pay homage to the late President in lavish ceremonies. Since democratization, the visitors to Cihhu have dwindled in their numbers and KMT officials, now in the opposition, have visited with less pomp and ceremony. Supporters of
Taiwan independence (and pro-independence leaders such as
Chen Shui-bian) do not visit the site due to their dislike for Chiang Kai-shek—a leader who imposed authoritarian rule on Taiwan and promoted
Chinese reunification.
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The lake, Cihhu, remains well preserved. |
When Chiang Kai-shek's son, President
Chiang Ching-kuo, died in
1988 he was also entombed in a similar fashion in nearby
Touliao,
Dasi. 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 late 2006. Chiang Fang-liang and
Soong May-ling had agreed in 1997 that the former leaders be first buried but still be moved to mainland China in the event of reunification. Soong May-ling died in 2003 and was entombed at
Ferncliff Cemetery in
New York. Chiang Fang-liang died in 2004 and her cremated remains were placed at her husband's mausoleum will join him in burial at Wuchih Mountain.
There is public debate if another national funeral should be held again for the burial in Wuchih Mountain Military Cemetery with more fervent supporters of
Taiwan independence against granting honors to whom they view as a dictator. However, incumbent president
Chen Shui-bian inclined to hold another national funeral (the first to invoke the state funeral law) but one lasting only one day.
*
History of the Republic of China*
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Song*
List of memorials*
Cihhu Presidential Burial Place (Cultural Affairs Bureau, Taoyuan County Government)*
Official Tzuhu and Dashi Cemetery Administration, MOFA
