Goodbye 886 - Taiwan Military Dependents' Village Cultural Park Introduction
Since 1945, military families from various regions of Mainland China have gradually settled in different areas of Taiwan. As time passes, the unique cultural atmosphere of these military dependents’ villages evokes a sense of nostalgia for many people. According to statistics from the Ministry of National Defense in 2005, there were a total of 886 recognized military dependents’ villages across the country. After the merger of Kaohsiung City and County, it became home to military housing from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, preserving nearly 90 hectares of the cultural landscape of these villages, the largest in the country. To restore history and connect with local narratives, the original "Kaohsiung City Military Dependents' Village Cultural Center" was relocated to Mingde New Village No. 2, 3, 4, 10, and 11 in Zuoying, Kaohsiung, and was transformed and reopened under the name "Goodbye 886 - Taiwan Military Dependents’ Village Cultural Park," leading visitors to understand the uniqueness and beauty of Taiwan's military dependents’ village culture. The distinctive value of Kaohsiung's military dependents’ villages encompasses the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with Navy dependents' villages mainly distributed in Zuoying, Air Force in Gangshan, and Army in Fengshan. Zuoying, a base for the Navy, houses the largest Navy dependents' village in Taiwan, and Mingde New Village is known as "General Village" since many high-ranking officers once resided there. In 1996, the "Old Military Dependents’ Village Reconstruction Act" was passed, accelerating the disappearance of military villages in Taiwan. Chen Chu, the Secretary-General of the Presidential Office during her term as the Mayor of Kaohsiung, actively advocated for preservation with the Ministry of National Defense. In 2014, the Kaohsiung City Government's Cultural Bureau launched the "Housing for Preservation" program to overcome preservation challenges. In 2016, it received support from the Ministry of Culture's "New Star Program for the Preservation of Military Dependents’ Village Cultural Heritage" for "Building Restoration and Exhibition Promotion Plan for Huangpu New Village in Fengshan" and "Cultural Landscape Activation and Reuse Plan for Zuoying Navy Dependents’ Village," and starting from 2017, several upgraded initiatives were launched, including "Housing for Preservation Talent Base," "Housing for Preservation and Community Repair," "Housing for Preservation Old House Labor Camps," and "Housing for Preservation Military Dependents’ Homestays," resulting in the restoration of 133 houses and linking 91 units to the housing industry and Huangpu New Village. The aim is to preserve the rich intricacies and living functions of the military dependents’ villages. "Goodbye 886 - Taiwan Military Dependents’ Village Cultural Park" titled "Goodbye" pays tribute to the bygone era of military villages while expressing joy for their rebirth. The park mainly consists of four large buildings: the "Military Dependents' Village Era Museum," narrating the tumultuous days of conflict and settlement, showcasing items like medals, old suitcases used during evacuation, and shell boxes for rice storage; the "Military Dependents' Recreation Club," presenting the artistic and recreational atmosphere of military regions after arriving in Taiwan, displaying items like military ration cards, memorial plaques, and publications from the Genesis Poetry Society; "Military Dependents' Tide," introducing the impacts and transformations faced by military villages post-reconstruction, featuring AR interactive experiences contrasting the old and the new; and the "Military Dependents’ Coexistence Base," aiming to create a platform for creators who love military dependents’ culture to share their work. The park will also host workshops and events periodically. In the future, the entire park will consist of 52 houses from the reconstructed Mingde New Village, establishing the largest military dependents’ village cultural preservation area in Taiwan, shaping a unique cultural field reflective of Taiwan's history, resonating public interest in military dependents’ culture and enhancing discussions on preservation of cultural assets related to military dependents’ villages, hoping to ensure that "military dependents' villages" are not merely a symbol frozen in time, but contribute to the cultural preservation and utilization of Taiwan's historical progress, leading to a deeper understanding of Taiwan's diverse historical context. For more information, you can search for "Goodbye 886 - Taiwan Military Dependents’ Village Cultural Park" on Facebook or call 07-5812886 for inquiries. Military Dependents' Village Era Museum (originally Mingde No. 2 and No. 3) After World War II, the Zuoying military region was taken over by the Republic of China Navy and classified as part of the Navy's Third Military District. In 1949, after the Republic of China government retreated from Mainland China, the Zuoying military region became the First Military District, bringing along many Navy officers and their families, a phenomenon known as "drifting." Reflecting on these years, significant historical events such as the loss in the civil war, the outbreak of the Korean War, and the support from the United States due to Taiwan's strategic position unfolded. The drastic changes in the environment within just a few years forced the Navy and their families to adapt and drift. This building once housed former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone and is themed "Time Rewind ‧ 1949," guiding visitors back to the scene of arriving in Taiwan with suitcases and settling into military dependents’ villages, showcasing domestic scenes like living rooms, dining areas, and kitchens. The living room features repurposed shell casings as ashtrays, medals, old suitcases, identification cards, and sweaters worn during their retreat. The kitchen includes a rice container made from a shell box (which was often reused in early life), a coal stove (commonly used by military dependents for cooking), and a jar for pickling vegetables during evacuation. Various items from military families reflect their united life, carrying different memories and traces of life that mirror the migratory experiences of a significant era. Military Dependents' Recreation Club (originally Mingde No. 4) There are many military dependents' villages planned within the military district in Zuoying, which is a controlled area; entry requires showing a residence certificate, making life inside the village feel like a different world from the outside. Despite the confines, entertainment within the villages was not monotonous. Important social spaces unique to different military branches, such as the Four Seas Family, Zhongshan Hall, and Zhongzheng Hall in the Zuoying Navy district, became alternative landscapes full of community vibe. This building showcases "Zuo Ying's Two or Three Things," reflecting the cultural and lifestyle aspects after arriving in Taiwan, filled with memories and honors from various families and life stages. The entrance simulates a checkpoint where residence certificates need to be checked or where military dependents await visitors, showcasing essential items for life in the village, such as the Zuoying military ration card (a ticket for obtaining monthly military supplies). Passing through the checkpoint leads into an important social venue of Navy life; during the era of military dependents’ villages, military literature significantly illuminated Taiwan's literary scene, featuring three key poets of the Genesis Poetry Society - Luo Fu, Ah Xian, and Zhang Mo, presenting the American club culture, military film arts, and the unique literary atmosphere within the military. Military Dependents’ Tide (originally Mingde No. 11) This building displays "Two Skies," contrasting Mainland China and Taiwan during the same era. After the Chinese Civil War, Taiwan rallied to foster a united front against communism, chanting the slogan "Anti-Communism, Anti-Russian," promoting the goal of retaking the mainland while advancing a cultural renaissance movement to counter the slogan of "Liberate Taiwan" and the Cultural Revolution occurring under a different sky.
