Chung Chao-cheng Literary and Cultural Park Introduction
The establishment of the Chung Chao-cheng Literary Life Park began in 2012. The historical buildings, including the Japanese dormitory group of Longtan Elementary School and the Longtan Wude Hall, underwent historical investigations, a base station project, and a planning design by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taoyuan City Government before being officially named "Chung Chao-cheng Literary Life Park" in 2015. The park's development revolves around the literary works of national treasure-level Hakka writer Chung Chao-cheng (referred to as "Chung Lao" hereafter), with a literary landscape serving as the foliage. Through contemporary ecological museum thinking, it aims to extend and reshape the close connection between Longtan and post-war Taiwanese literature. On April 20, 2019, the park opened in the presence of Chung Lao, accompanied by the surrounding business district and the scenic small town, which increased the demand for guided tours. Consequently, in 2021, the Hakka Affairs Bureau of the Taoyuan City Government and the Taoyuan Hakka Cultural Foundation jointly organized the "Follow the Footsteps of Literature: Longtan Literary Landscape Walk and Guided Tour Talent Training," hoping to attract aspiring individuals to engage in literary landscape guided tours and narrate the stories of the literary landscape in a multifaceted manner, thereby enhancing emotional connections with the land. The park's concept is "the entire Longtan is our Literary Life Park," aiming for a close connection with the local community. It not only promotes Longtan through literature and enhances its tourism value but also helps the public rediscover the joy of reading and seek the warmth of the land through the words of Taiwanese literature. The Mother of Taiwanese Literature: Chung Chao-cheng of Longtan In the 1950s, the literary scene was filled with anti-Communist literature due to the political atmosphere, and local writers faced severe repression. Chung Chao-cheng struggled through thorns, using his blood and flesh in writing about his homeland, Taiwan. With a cypress wood desk purchased by his beloved wife, he carved out his vast 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 of his life’s work in constructing "Taiwanese literature." In 1957, to unite local writers, he sent letters inviting fellow literary creators to initiate the publication "Literary Friends Newsletter," and held irregular gatherings to foster a sense of unity. In 1960, his work "Rubi Flower" was published in the supplement of United Daily News, marking Chung Chao-cheng's official ascent to the literary pinnacle after ten years of honing his craft, encouraging fellow writers to collectively seize this literary territory. Since then, Chung Chao-cheng served as a mother river, nurturing generations of literary successors. He set an example by writing major works such as "The Turbid Flow Trilogy," "The Taiwanese Trilogy," "The Mountain Suite," and "The Raging Waves," becoming the first to open the writing of Taiwan's large river novels, preserve Indigenous memories, and engage in multilingual creative work. Additionally, he supported the literary publication "Taiwan Literature" for many years and hosted the supplement of the People's Daily to provide a clean, free, and creative experimental space for new literary talents. Apart from his literary achievements, Chung Chao-cheng actively participated in the Hakka movement and democratic movement in his later years, making significant contributions to preserving Hakka culture. Chung Lao wrote nearly twenty million words throughout his life, becoming the most awarded writer in the country, and is revered as the "Mother of Taiwanese Literature." His former residence in the Japanese dormitory of Longtan Elementary School is even called "the birthplace of post-war Taiwanese literature," attracting a continuous stream of literary pilgrims. On May 16, 2020, Chung Chao-cheng peacefully passed away in his sleep at the age of 96, prompting countless literary friends at home and abroad to remember him fondly. On the 18th, during a memorial at Longtan Wude Hall, President Tsai Ing-wen praised him, stating, "Chung Chao-cheng is not only the revered figure of the literary world but also the revered figure of Taiwan." From the vast texts left by Chung Chao-cheng, we can understand the development of post-war Taiwanese literature and glimpse his unfinished imagination of "Taiwan Studies," all stemming from his deep love for the land of Taiwan. The giant has journeyed far, but his words and legacy will endure forever. (Source: Chung Chao-cheng Literary Life Park Official Website)
