National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall

 Address:Geographical location : No.21, Zhongshan S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City Longitude : 121.517699137187, Latitude : 25.0367036294547
 Subject:AssetClassification : Historic Monument, AssetsLevel : National Historic Monument, Asset Type : Other

【Audio】


【Introduction】

National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall includes the ceremonial gateway at the entrance, Liberty Square, Democracy Avenue, and Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. Yang Cho-cheng, the architect, explains that the design concept guiding the construction of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is Chiang’s philosophical interest in a renaissance of Chinese culture. The square shape sitting in the middle position is an allusion to the idea of “central and upright”(referring to the name of Chiang Kai-shek). On the two sides stand, respectively, the National Theater and the Concert Hall built in the shape of a cross. Their shape symbolizes double ten, as the word “ten” in Chinese is written like a cross. Double Tenth Day is the national day of the Republic of China (ROC), which commemorates the Wuchang Uprising of October 10, 1911 (10-10 or double ten). This design is a nod to the tenet of ancient Chinese philosophy espoused by Chiang Kai-Shek that "nature and mankind are united as one." The phrase asserts that the various social and political belief systems of humanity are a reflection of the natural order of the world. The ceremonial gateway (paifan) at the entrance is 30 meters high and 80 meters wide. It is a five-bay arch with six pillars and eleven roofs and is modelled after those in the imperial times. When viewed from the central archway, one cannot help but be awe-stricken by the majesty of the Memorial Hall. Connecting the entrance and the steps of the Memorial Hall is the 380-meter-long Democracy Avenue. Red flowers planted on both sides of the avenue are arranged in traditional ruyi (scepter) patterns.

 

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