General Sun Li-jen's Former Residence Introduction
On July 1, 2002, the residence of General Sun Li-ren was registered as a historical building. The Taichung City Cultural Bureau began restoration efforts in 2009. The family and former subordinates actively worked to establish the "Sun Li-ren Memorial Hall," collecting and organizing General Sun's literary works, photographs, artifacts, and more to showcase his life's achievements as well as materials related to modern Chinese history, providing resources for academic research and public commemoration. The "Sun Li-ren Memorial Hall" officially opened on November 21, 2010. Visitors to General Sun's residence must make reservations in advance, and it is only open for guided tours on selected weekends. Entering the residence, one finds a traditional Japanese garden-style house, as if stepping back in time. It is recommended to take a slow stroll inside while listening to the stories of General Sun and his home, and to experience the stories within the Japanese-style family architecture. Sitting on the floor and gazing out at the courtyard through the large windows, one can enjoy a unique moment away from the hustle of the city. General Sun Li-ren (December 8, 1900 – November 19, 1990), with the courtesy name Fu-min and the pseudonym Zhong-neng, was born in Jinniu Town, Lujiang County, Anhui Province during the late Qing Dynasty. His father, Sun Xi-ze, was a Jinshi from the 20th year of the Guangxu era, serving as an official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as the governor of Dengzhou in Shandong Province and head of the Shandong Provincial Court. After the establishment of the Republic of China, he served as the president of Zhōnghuá University in Beiping and later as a consultant in the Presidential Office. His uncle, Sun Hong-ze, was a Jinshi from the 3rd year of Guangxu, serving as the prefect of He County in Guangxi and supervisor of the Huwei Customs in Taiwan. Sun Li-ren began studying at a private school at the age of seven under the tutelage of Song Zhi-zhong, laying the foundation for his Chinese and English studies, and later learned German during his time in Shandong. It is said that General Sun was inspired to pursue a military career after witnessing the bullying of Chinese by Germans in the Shandong concession at the age of nine. The residence of General Sun Li-ren is a Japanese-style bungalow with a garden, where he was confined for 33 years due to political reasons. After his passing in November 1990, his family and former subordinates actively worked to establish the "Sun Li-ren Memorial Hall," planning to collect and organize his literary works, photographs, artifacts, and more to showcase his life's achievements and some resources related to modern Chinese history, providing material for academic research and public commemoration. The "Sun Li-ren Memorial Hall" was inaugurated on November 21, 2010.