- Islanders' Gaze No.001
"Between the Gunshot and the Rising Smoke"－February 28 incident in Penghu, Taiwan 1947 - Lecture Date: February 28, 2025 (Friday)
- Location: Penghu Booker
- Written by: 冼義哲（James / Sheng, I-che）
- Translated by: ChatGPT & Boattoad Studio
I am grateful to be back at Penghu Booker to share my novel "西瀛勝境" [note 1] again. It has been two years since I last presented here, and in that time, Taiwan's domestic and international circumstances have changed profoundly—just as from 1945 to 1947, Taiwan and Penghu experienced a complete upheaval in every aspect of life.
[note 1] 西瀛勝境 is a tourist attraction in Magong City, Penghu. Its original name means "Decorated Archway of Penghu Paradise." Chiang Kai-shek established this archway as a gift to Penghu to maintain good order during the 228 Incident.
Sheng I-che's Novel and 228 Taiwanese Lily Pin
Historian Heng-tao Lin (林衡道) once commented on the 228 Incident, describing it as "A tragedy that occurs when a culturally advanced people are ruled by those culturally behind." （「那是已經文化進步的人們，被文化落後的人們統治所產生的悲劇。」）
Taiwan and Penghu, once considered to be culturally advanced by half a century, fell into tragedy under the rule of culturally regressive successors from China (Republic of China).
It took less than two years for the seeds of disaster, sown during the transfer of power, to grow into a full-scale armed suppression that set the land ablaze. Yes, such a short time was enough to bring about an indescribable catastrophe.
Since the publication of 《西瀛勝境》, I have always insisted that this is a "novel", not a "historical record." However, I also believe that as long as this story is documented, it will eventually lead more people to learn about it or be willing to explore it, ensuring that this memory is not forgotten.
In this book, every character in each story are real people who lived through World War II and the White Terror. For them, these were not just "historical terms"—they carried traumas beyond what we can imagine today.
To prevent further harm, I made adjustments to the narrative in the novel. In particular, some names of those involved cannot be disclosed, but they remain documented in the notes and audio recordings from my field research.
In this lecture, I talked about the dangers of blindly trusting official historical records. In fact, even today, several outstanding teachers and cultural researchers in Penghu frequently point out errors and inaccuracies in local government documents.
And these mistakes are merely due to "negligence" and "unprofessionalism." Now, think about it—if this is the state of things today, what about an era when the government relied on violence and deception to maintain its rule?
冼義哲（James / Sheng, I-che）
The 228 Incident should never be merely labeled as "riots" or "repression", and the martyrs should never be reduced to vengeful spirits. Otherwise, fear will continue to triumph over hope; and with the disappearance of the spirit of resistance will cause the subjectivity and value of "the people" to be consumed.
That's why we must never forget that the countless martyrs sacrificed their lives in the hope of securing a better future for the generations to come.
February 28 is a national day of mourning, and March should be a month of remembrance.
This day, February 28, must be a collective memory passed down through generations of Taiwanese people. However, the way the "228 Memorial Day" is currently being marginalized and stripped of its historical context is deeply concerning.
Calligraphy Red Couplet: Taiwan No.1 & Evergreen Island
We remember the 228 Incident not only to prevent the resurgence of authoritarianism but also to remind those of us who now live in democracy and freedom that under the rule of an authoritarian and dictatorial China, the consequences would be unimaginable.
One of the most important lessons Taiwan and Penghu must learn from the 1947 228 Incident is this - freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and a good life should never be placed in the hands of "the goodwill of foreign governments beyond our control."
78 years later (in 2025), we must reflect on the compromises and naivety of our predecessors. 78 years ago (in 1947), the Taiwanese-led committee chose to enter into a peace agreement with the regime from China (the Republic of China), only to be met with death and humiliation.
Today, while we should honor the courage of our ancestors, we must also remember how they failed and what mistakes they made.
As a descendant of a family involved in the Penghu 228 Incident, I have the responsibility to remind everyone—"It is extremely foolish to hope for the goodwill of an authoritarian China!"
James and his uncle, his father 趙文邦(23yrs) who involved in the Penghu 228 Incident in 1947.
If China (the People's Republic of China) were to truly annex Taiwan, the 228 Incident would inevitably repeat itself. The cruelty and brutality of the KMT/ROC party-state system in Taiwan's modern history would not only return but could become even more ruthless and barbaric.
This lecture is being held on February 28, 2025—Given the current situation in Taiwan and Penghu, how can we not feel as though we are standing between the gunshots and the rising smoke?
The 228 Incident— We never need to be reminded of it, because we will never forget.
Thanks for attending!
- Original Post: 島語者 No.001「槍鳴之後，煙硝之前－澎湖二二八」
- See Also：島語者 No.001 Lecture Notes
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#Islanders' Gaze
