TAIPEI, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) — For Pen Chao-mi, a professor at Tunghai University in Taiwan, Oct. 25 is a day at all times evoking joyful childhood recollections, when the air was stuffed with the uplifting melody of the memorial tune of Taiwan’s restoration.
The cheerful scenes had been simply as depicted within the tune, which Pen can nonetheless sing in its entirety right now. “Lanterns and decorations bring delight, victory songs everyone sings, echoing through cities and villages. Taiwan’s restoration cannot be forgotten, cannot be forgotten…”
The tune recalled a painful historical past and a hard-won victory. Eighty years in the past, after 14 years of unyielding wrestle, the Chinese individuals defeated Japanese invaders. For the primary time in fashionable historical past, the Chinese nation achieved an entire victory within the wrestle for nationwide liberation, which additionally caused Taiwan’s restoration to the embrace of the motherland.
On Oct. 25, 1945, the Chinese authorities introduced that it was resuming the train of sovereignty over Taiwan. The ceremony to simply accept Japan’s give up within the Taiwan Province of the China battle theater of the Allied powers was held at right now’s Taipei Zhongshan Hall.
Japanese basic Ando Rikichi, the ultimate Japanese “governor-general” of the island, signed the instrument of give up, marking the whole finish of Japan’s 50-year colonial rule over Taiwan. That rule started in 1895, when the Qing authorities was compelled to cede Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan after its defeat within the first Sino-Japanese War.
“On that day, all 6 million Taiwan compatriots were ecstatic,” stated Chi Chia-lin, a Taiwan historian. He elaborated that in Taipei alone, 300,000 residents adorned their properties, exchanged joyful greetings, and the sounds of firecrackers and drums echoed via the sky. Couplets celebrating Taiwan’s restoration to the motherland adorned each doorway, making a festive ambiance akin to the Chinese New Year.
Taiwan’s restoration to the motherland was extensively celebrated throughout the island, and the day grew to become a public vacation in 1946.
To commemorate this necessary second, two Taiwan musicians wrote the lyrics and composed the music for the tune, which was later included in Taiwan’s major faculty music textbooks, with its revised lyrics additionally included into elementary language textbooks.
The 153-character, 30-measure memorial tune, with its vigorous and celebratory melody, captured the enjoyment of the Taiwan individuals in rejoining the large household of China. It not solely celebrated the historic victory but in addition paid tribute to the sacrifices made throughout the battle of resistance towards Japanese aggression and underscored the enduring spirit of the nation. Spreading swiftly throughout cities and villages, the tune left an indelible imprint on generations.
The tune is historically carried out yearly at Taiwan’s restoration day celebrations at Taipei’s Zhongshan Hall, a key venue for cultural occasions and public gatherings.
According to Wang Yifu, president of the National Society of Taiwan Studies, there are additionally another people songs commemorating the restoration of Taiwan which are nonetheless sung to at the present time.
However, beneath the authorities led by Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian, the vacation was abolished, and “Taiwan’s restoration day” was changed with “war ending commemoration day,” intentionally downplaying the historic significance of Taiwan’s restoration.
After Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has actively pursued a secessionist agenda, regained energy in 2016, associated celebrations had been canceled, and the memorial tune of Taiwan’s restoration progressively disappeared from school rooms.
“This song is part of our childhood memories. But our younger generations no longer have such recollections,” stated Taiwan scholar Wang Kun-yi. “This is the result of the DPP’s consistent attempts to diminish the island’s Chinese cultural roots.”
Despite the decline in observances organized by authorities, many voters proceed to carry commemorative occasions on Oct. 25, honoring the martyrs of the War of Resistance and echoing the tune’s enduring name that Taiwan’s restoration “cannot be forgotten.”
Earlier this yr, Taiwan’s legislature handed a invoice, proposed by the Chinese Kuomintang, to reinstate Oct. 25 as a public vacation, returning Taiwan’s restoration day to the official calendar.
“It is crucial to revive this historical memory among the younger generation, so that they understand Taiwan is part of China, not an unclaimed land,” Wang stated, calling on compatriots throughout the Taiwan Strait to work collectively to revive the shared historic reminiscence on the island.