Cihhu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chiang Kai-shek's remains lie in a black marble sarcophagus in his former residence.

The Tzuhu Presidential Burial Place (慈湖陵寢), also spelled Cihu or Cihhu, is the temporary resting place of President Chiang Kai-shek. It is located Taoyuan County, Republic of China (commonly known as Taiwan). 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.

Tzuhu (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 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.

The entrance to the former Chiang residence is flanked by guards from the ROC Army.

The Tzuhu 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.

Tzuhu 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 Tzuhu 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 whom they viewed as one who imposed authoritarian rule on Taiwan and promoted Chinese reunification.

The lake, Tzuhu, 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, Daxi. 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 Hsichih, Taipei County. The state funeral ceremony was planned for late 2006, but no ceremony was held or materialized. 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 Upstate New York. Chiang Fang-liang died in 2004 and her cremated remains, currently 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.