Goodbye 886 - Taiwan Military Dependents' Village Cultural Park Introduction
Since 1945, military families from various regions of mainland China have gradually settled in different parts of Taiwan. Over time, the unique cultural atmosphere of the military dependents' villages has become a nostalgic reminder of home for many. According to statistics from the Ministry of National Defense in 2005, there are 886 officially recognized military dependents' villages across the country. After the merger of Kaohsiung City and County, it now possesses military housing for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, preserving nearly 90 hectares of military dependents' village cultural landscape, the largest preservation area in the country. To restore history and connect with the local community, the original Kaohsiung Military Dependents' Cultural Hall, located in the old city of Zuoying, has been relocated to Mingde New Village No. 2, 3, 4, 10, and 11 in Zuoying, and has transformed into the "Goodbye 886 - Taiwan Military Dependents' Cultural Park," allowing visitors to understand the uniqueness and beauty of Taiwan's military dependents' culture. The distinctive value of Kaohsiung's military dependents' villages lies in their inclusion of all three military branches, with the Navy primarily located in Zuoying, the Air Force in Gangshan, and the Army in Fengshan. Zuoying, with the Navy as its base, is home to the largest naval dependents' village in Taiwan. Among them, Mingde New Village is known as the "Village of Generals" because it has housed many senior officers. In 1996, the "Old Military Dependents' Village Reconstruction Act" was passed, accelerating the disappearance of military dependents' settlements. During her tenure as mayor of Kaohsiung, Secretary-General Chen Chu actively advocated for the preservation of these villages with the Ministry of National Defense. In 2014, the Kaohsiung City Government's Cultural Bureau launched the "Reside for Protection" initiative to break through the preservation dilemma. In 2016, they received support from the Ministry of Culture for the "Kaohsiung Fengshan Huangpu New Village Building Renovation and Exhibition Promotion Project" and the "Kaohsiung Zuoying Naval Dependents' Village Cultural Landscape Revitalization and Reuse Project." Since 2017, they have expanded and launched upgraded plans such as "Reside for Protection: Talent Base," "Reside for Protection: Public Housing Repair," "Reside for Protection: Old House Labor Camp," and "Reside for Protection: Military Dependents' Homestay," successfully restoring 133 households and matching 91 households with housing and Huangpu New Village, aiming to continue the rich life patterns and living functions of the military dependents' villages. "Goodbye 886 - Taiwan Military Dependents' Cultural Park" is themed "Farewell," paying tribute to the bygone days of the military dependents' villages while joyfully welcoming the new life of these communities. The entire area is mainly composed of four main buildings: the "Military Dependents' Era Museum," which tells the story of the tumultuous years of transition with exhibits such as medals, old suitcases from times of escape, and ammunition box rice tanks; the "Military Dependents' Club," which presents the artistic and entertainment space atmosphere in the military region after arriving in Taiwan, featuring items such as military supply certificates, memorial plaques, and the "Genesis Poetry Magazine," showcasing the cultural ambiance of clubs, cinemas, and the Genesis Poetry Society; "Military Dependents' Tide," which introduces the impacts and changes faced by military dependents' villages post-reconstruction, incorporating AR technology to present old versus new contrasts; and the "Military Dependents' Coexistence Base," which aims to create a platform for creators who love military dependents' culture to share their creations in the base space, with the park also periodically hosting creative workshops and performance events. In the future, the entire park will consist of 52 houses from the renovated Mingde New Village, building the largest cultural preservation park for military dependents' villages in Taiwan, shaping a unique cultural field dedicated to Taiwanese history, invoking public resonance and attention to issues such as the preservation of military dependents' and local cultural assets. This aims to ensure that "military dependents' villages" are not merely a metaphor frozen in time, but contribute to the cultural preservation and utilization of Taiwan's historical process, further understanding the diverse historical context of Taiwanese culture. For more information, you can search for "Goodbye 886 - Taiwan Military Dependents' Cultural Park" on Facebook, or call 07-5812886 for inquiries. Military Dependents' Era Museum (originally Mingde No. 2, 3) After World War II, the Zuoying Military District was received by the Republic of China Navy and designated as the Third Naval District; in the 38th year of the Republic (1949), the Republic of China government retreated from mainland China, transforming the Zuoying Military District into the First Military District, bringing many naval officers and their families into a state of "drifting." Reflecting on this period, it encompasses historical events such as the defeat in the Chinese Civil War, the outbreak of the Korean War, and America's renewed support for Taiwan due to its strategic location. Within a few years, the environment changed dramatically, forcing the Navy and military dependents to drift and adapt. The building, which once housed former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, is themed "Time Rewind: 1949," guiding visitors back to the scene of arriving in Taiwan with suitcases to live in the military dependents' village, showcasing home scenes such as living rooms, dining areas, and kitchens, with objects like shell-case ashtrays, medals, old suitcases, documents, and sweaters worn during retreats in the living room; the kitchen features rice tanks made from ammunition boxes (early daily life often reused military items), coal stoves (which were commonly used for cooking and boiling water), and earthen jars used for pickling during escapes. Various items from military dependents reflect their collective life, bearing different memories and life traces that illustrate the migratory history of a significant era. Military Dependents' Club (originally Mingde No. 4) Many military dependents' villages in Zuoying were planned within the military district, categorized as controlled areas where residents needed to show residence permits to enter and exit, creating two worlds within and outside the village. However, life and entertainment inside the dependents' village were not monotonous compared to life outside. An important social space within the village, its cultural differences and characteristics vary by military branch, evidenced by cultural spots like "Four Seas One Family," "Zhongshan Hall," and "Zhongzheng Hall" in the Zuoying Naval District. This building, themed "Zuo Ying's Stories," displays the arts and lifestyle after arriving in Taiwan, filled with memories and honors from various families and life stages. The entrance is designed to resemble a checkpoint where residents must show their permits or wait for military family visitors. Upon entering, visitors will see the essential item of military dependents' lives—a Zuoying military dependents' supply certificate (a ticket for monthly rations). Passing through the checkpoint, you will enter an important social venue in the naval life realm. Furthermore, during the era of military dependents, military literature shone brightly in Taiwan’s literary scene, highlighting prominent poets of the "Genesis Poetry Magazine" - Lo Fu, A Xian, and Zhang Mo, showcasing the American-style club culture brought to Taiwan by the U.S. military advisory group, and the unique military literary atmosphere encompassing military films and arts. Military Dependents' Tide (originally Mingde No. 11) This building presents a contrast between mainland China and Taiwan under the same historical era, showcasing the aftermath of the Chinese Civil War, where Taiwan rallied around a common anti-Communist stance, chanting slogans like "Oppose Communism and Resist Russia," promoting the goal of retaking the mainland and advancing cultural revival movements in opposition to the other "liberated Taiwan" and the Cultural Revolution.
