Wuzhi Mountain Military Cemetery Explained

Wuzhi Mountain Military Cemetery
Native Name:五指山國軍示範公墓
Established:1982[1]
Closed:-->
Location:Xizhi, New Taipei, Taiwan
Coordinates:25.1341°N 121.6167°W
Type:Military cemetery
Size:225.7 ha (78 ha useable)
Graves:9,236
Findagraveid:2146477

The Wuzhi Mountain Military Cemetery (sometimes romanized as Wuchih) is Taiwan's most prominent military cemetery. The cemetery is located on Wuzhi Mountain at an elevation of in Xizhi, New Taipei City and borders Taipei City's Neihu District and Yangmingshan National Park. The cemetery has a wide open view ranging from the Taipei 101 over at Taipei's Xinyi District to the Keelung Harbor.[2]

History

General Chiang Wei-kuo, the adopted son of Chiang Kai-shek, conceived and designed the cemetery. Prior to the construction of the cemetery, the land was used as a golf course. Planning for the cemetery started in April 1980, with construction starting on March 20, 1981; the cemetery opened on March 29, 1982.

A four-story columbarium named the Memorial Palace was opened on January 20, 2002 after two years of construction. It has a total capacity of 19,537 niches[3] on the four named floors:[4]

Issues

Capacity

Although the cemetery has nearly 226 hectares total area, the terrain and building codes restrict interment to only 78 ha of the land.[5], the cemetery, which has 9,236 grave plots, is nearly full;[6] further deceased military officials will need to be cremated and their ashes stored in the columbarium.

Chiang family

In 2004, Chiang Fang-liang made a request to inter the bodies of Chiang Kai-shek and his son, Chiang Ching-kuo at Wuzhi. However, the plan did not receive universal support from the Chiang family, and despite the completion of their tombs at Wuzhi,[7] Chiang Kai-shek and his son remain at Cihu and Touliao, respectively.[8]

Notable interments

Most are senior generals who served under KMT from mainland China or dignitaries

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://afrc.mnd.gov.tw/Cemetery/unit.aspx . zh:緣起沿革 . Origin History . . 2016 . Armed Forces Reserve Command, Taiwan Ministry of National Defense . 2 September 2016 . zh.
  2. Web site: Origin & Revolution . . 2016 . Republic of China Military Cemetery . 2 September 2016.
  3. Web site: The Palace . . 2016 . Republic of China Military Cemetery . 2 September 2016.
  4. Web site: http://afrc.mnd.gov.tw/Cemetery/view-1.aspx. zh:忠靈殿 . Memorial Palace . . 2016 . Armed Forces Reserve Command, Taiwan Ministry of National Defense . 2 September 2016 . zh.
  5. Web site: http://afrc.mnd.gov.tw/Cemetery/view.aspx . zh:示範公墓 . National Military Model Public Cemetery Profile . . Armed Forces Reserve Command, Taiwan Ministry of National Defense . 2 September 2016 . zh.
  6. News: Generalissimo to be buried in Taiwan . Chang, Yun-ping . Chuang, Jimmy . July 9, 2004 . Taipei Times . November 24, 2014 .
  7. News: Hiking up to Plum Blossom Hill . Saunders, Richard . November 13, 2008 . The China Post . Taipei . November 24, 2014 .
  8. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=Ul89eeKHLGEC&pg=PA57 . Places of Memory in Modern China: History, Politics, and Identity . Matten, Marc Andre . Matten, Marc Andre . The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall in Taipei: A Contested Place of Memory . December 9, 2011 . 978-9004219014 . 56–57 . BRILL . November 24, 2014 .
  9. News: Chiang seeks help on mausoleums . Wang, Flora . December 10, 2007 . Taipei Times . November 24, 2014 .
  10. Web site: http://afrc.mnd.gov.tw/Cemetery/general-3.aspx . zh:二級上將 . Superior General Second Class (General)/Superior Admiral (Admiral) . 2016 . Armed Forces Reserve Command, Taiwan Ministry of National Defense . 2 September 2016 . zh.
  11. Web site: http://afrc.mnd.gov.tw/Cemetery/minister.aspx . zh:部長‧副部長 . Minister · Deputy Minister . 2016 . Armed Forces Reserve Command, Taiwan Ministry of National Defense . 2 September 2016 . zh.
  12. Web site: http://afrc.mnd.gov.tw/Cemetery/general-2.aspx . zh:一級上將 . Superior General First Class (General of the Army)/General Admiral (Admiral of the fleet) . 2016 . Armed Forces Reserve Command, Taiwan Ministry of National Defense . 2 September 2016 . zh.
  13. Web site: http://afrc.mnd.gov.tw/Cemetery/president.aspx . zh:總統 . President . 2016 . Armed Forces Reserve Command, Taiwan Ministry of National Defense . 2 September 2016 . zh.
  14. Web site: 丁德隆 . zh. Anxiera.