Cihhu

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 once the Kuomintang recovered mainland China from the Communists.

Related Topics:
President - Chiang Kai-shek - Taoyuan County - Taiwan Province - Republic of China - Buried - Kuomintang - Mainland China - Communists

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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.

Related Topics:
Pinyin - Fenghua - 1975

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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.

Related Topics:
Republic of China Ministry of National Defense - Republic of China Military Police

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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.

Related Topics:
April 5 - Kuomintang - Taiwan independence - Chen Shui-bian - Chinese reunification

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When his President Chiang Ching-kuo died in 1988 he was also entombed in a similar fashion in nearby 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 2005. 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. There is public debate if another national funeral should be held again for their 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 but one lasting only one day.

Related Topics:
Chiang Ching-kuo - 1988 - Dasi - Chiang Fang-liang - Wuchih Mountain Military Cemetery - Soong May-ling - Taiwan independence - Chen Shui-bian

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