Zhong Zhao-Zheng Literary Life Park Introduction
The establishment history of the Chong Chao-Cheng Literary Life Park began in 2012. The historic buildings, including the Japanese dormitory complex of Longtan National Elementary School and the Longtan Martial Arts Pavilion, underwent a historical survey and research project initiated by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taoyuan County, followed by a planning and design project. In 2015, it was officially named the "Chong Chao-Cheng Literary Life Park," centering its development on the literary works of the national treasure-class Hakka writer Chong Chao-Cheng (reverently referred to as "Old Chong"). The literary landscape serves as branches and leaves, extending and reshaping the close connection between Longtan and post-war Taiwanese literature through contemporary ecological museum thinking. On April 20, 2019, the park was inaugurated in the presence of Old Chong, accompanying the surrounding business district and scenic small towns, leading to an increasing demand for guided tours. Therefore, in 2021, the Hakka Affairs Bureau of Taoyuan City Government and the Taoyuan Hakka Cultural Foundation jointly organized the “Follow the Footsteps of Literature to Explore Longtan – Longtan Literary Landscape Walk and Guided Tour Talent Training,” aiming to attract aspiring individuals to participate in literary landscape walking tours and narrate the stories of the literary landscape from multiple perspectives, enhancing emotional connections with the land. The park is conceptualized as “the whole Longtan is our literary life park,” hoping to connect closely with the local community, not only to promote Longtan through literature and enhance tourism value but, more importantly, to reignite the public's joy of reading and seek the warmth of the land within the lines of Taiwanese literature. The Mother of Taiwanese Literature: Chong Chao-Cheng of Longtan. In the 1950s, the literary scene was filled with anti-communist literature due to political climate, and local writers faced severe oppression. Chong Chao-Cheng struggled amid thorns, writing with the flesh and blood of his native land, Taiwan. Relying on the cypress desk purchased by his wife, he forged a literary creation that flowed like a great river. He once mentioned that as a literary writer, he had a natural responsibility to write about the historical sufferings of Taiwanese people, which became his lifelong goal in constructing "Taiwanese literature." In 1957, to unite local writers, he sent letters inviting aspiring literary creators to initiate the "Literary Friends Newsletter," and periodically held gatherings to strengthen their community. In 1960, his work "Lu Bing Hua" was published in the supplement of the United Daily News, marking his official ascent to the literary summit after a decade of honing his craft, encouraging his literary friends to jointly seize this literary territory. From then on, Chong Chao-Cheng became like a mother river, nurturing generations of literary successors and exemplifying through his major works, including the "Trilogy of Turbid Flow," "Trilogy of Taiwanese People," "Suite of High Mountains," and "Raging Waves," opening the path for grand novel writing in Taiwan, indigenous memory preservation, and multilingual creation. Additionally, he long supported the literary publication "Taiwan Literature" and hosted the supplement of "People's Daily," hoping to provide a clean, free, and expressive experimental space for budding writers. Beyond his literary achievements, at the age of sixty, he also became active in the Hakka movement and the democratic movement, making significant contributions to the preservation of Hakka culture. Old Chong wrote nearly twenty million words throughout his life, making him one of the most awarded writers in Taiwan, earning him the title "Mother of Taiwanese Literature." The old residence of Chong Chao-Cheng in the Japanese dormitory of Longtan National Elementary School is even referred to as the "cradle of post-war Taiwanese literature," attracting many literary figures to pay homage. On May 16, 2020, Chong Chao-Cheng peacefully passed away in his sleep at the age of 96, evoking countless remembrances from friends in Taiwan and abroad; on the 18th, during the memorial service at the Longtan Martial Arts Pavilion, President Tsai Ing-Wen praised him, stating, "Chong Chao-Cheng is not only Old Chong of the literary world but also Old Chong of Taiwan." From the vast body of writing left by Chong Chao-Cheng, we can understand the development of post-war Taiwanese literature and glimpse his unfinished vision of "Taiwanese Studies," all stemming from his deep love for the land of Taiwan. The giant has finally departed, but his words and ideals will endure. (Source: Official website of Chong Chao-Cheng Literary Life Park)
