Zhong Jiao-Zheng Literature Life Park Introduction
The Zhong Zhaozheng Literary Life Park was established in 2012. The historical buildings of Longtan Elementary School's Japanese dormitory complex and Longtan Budokan underwent historical research, site residency projects, and planning and design schemes initiated by the Taoyuan City Government's Cultural Affairs Bureau, and were officially named the "Zhong Zhaozheng Literary Life Park" in 2015. The park's development centers around the literary works of national treasure-level Hakka writer Zhong Zhaozheng (reverently referred to as Mr. Zhong), with literary landscapes as branches that extend and reshape the close relationship between Longtan and post-war Taiwanese literature through contemporary ecological museum concepts. On April 20, 2019, the Zhong Zhaozheng Literary Life Park opened in the presence of Mr. Zhong, leading to increased tour guide demand alongside the surrounding commercial district and scenic small-town slow travel. Therefore, in 2021, the Taoyuan City Government's Hakka Affairs Bureau and the Taoyuan Hakka Culture Foundation jointly organized the event "Travel Through Literary Footsteps in Longtan: Literary Landscape Walking Tours and Guide Training" with the hope of attracting aspiring individuals to engage in literary landscape walking tours, telling the stories of literary landscapes in various ways, and enhancing emotional connections with the land. The park is conceptualized as "The entire Longtan is our literary life park," aiming to closely connect with the local community, not only to promote Longtan through literature and enhance tourism value but also to allow the public to regain the joy of reading and seek the warmth of the land through the words of Taiwanese literature. Zhong Zhaozheng, the Mother of Taiwanese Literature: In the 1950s, the literary scene was filled with anti-communist literature due to the political atmosphere, and local authors faced severe repression, forcing Zhong Zhaozheng to struggle through thorns and write with the flesh and blood of his native land, Taiwan. With a cypress desk purchased by his beloved wife, he forged a magnificent literary creation. He once mentioned that as a literary writer, he naturally had the responsibility to write about the historical sufferings of the Taiwanese people, which became the core goal he devoted his life to constructing "Taiwanese literature." In 1957, he invited local writers and literary creators to collaborate on the publication of "Literary Friends Newsletter" and organized gatherings to foster unity. In 1960, the short story "Lü Binghua" was published in the supplement of the United Daily News, marking Zhong Zhaozheng's official rise to literary prominence after a decade of refinement, encouraging literary friends to unite and seize this literary territory. From then on, Zhong Zhaozheng, like a mother river, nurtured generations of literary successors and led by example in writing major works like the "Turbulent Flow Trilogy," "Taiwanese Trilogy," "Mountain Suite," and "Raging Waves," becoming the pioneer of large river novel writing in Taiwan, as well as preserving indigenous memories and promoting multilingual creativity. Moreover, he persisted for many years in publishing the literary magazine "Taiwan Literary Art" and hosted the supplement of "The People’s Daily" to provide a clean and free experimental space for emerging literary figures. In addition to his literary achievements, Zhong Zhaozheng involved himself in the Hakka movement and democratic movement in his later years, making significant contributions to the preservation of Hakka culture. Throughout his life, he wrote nearly 20 million words, making him one of the most awarded writers in Taiwan, and was honored as the "Mother of Taiwanese Literature." The old residence of Zhong Zhaozheng at Longtan Elementary School's Japanese dormitory is even referred to as the "cradle of post-war Taiwanese literature," attracting numerous literary figures to pay homage. On May 16, 2020, Zhong Zhaozheng peacefully passed away in his sleep at the age of 96, prompting countless literary friends to reminisce about him. On the 18th, President Tsai Ing-wen attended the memorial service at Longtan Budokan, praising him, saying, "Zhong Zhaozheng is not only the elder of the literary scene but also the elder of Taiwan." From the vast writings left by Zhong Zhaozheng, we can not only understand the development trajectory of post-war Taiwanese literature but also catch glimpses of his unfinished imagination of "Taiwan Studies," all stemming from his profound love for his homeland of Taiwan. The giant has departed, but his words and ideals will endure forever. (Source: Official Website of Zhong Zhaozheng Literary Life Park)
