- Islanders' Gaze No.001
"Between the Gunshot and the Rising Smoke" – The Story of the 228 Incident in Penghu - Lecture Date: February 28, 2025 (Friday)
- Location: Penghu Booker
- Recorded by: Tīnn Sîng-liû (鄭承榆)
Speaker: Sheng I-Che
James (Sheng I-Che / 冼義哲), a native of Nan-Jia, Makung, Penghu, is the author of 《西瀛勝境》[note 1], a historical novel that revisits the 228 Incident of 1947.
While the official narrative claims that "Penghu played no part in the 228 Incident," James challenges this assertion, arguing that blood was indeed shed and that young revolutionaries had been secretly planning an uprising—one that was swiftly crushed before it could take shape.
His granduncle, Tiō Bûn-pang (趙文邦), was among those involved in the armed resistance. Drawing from extensive oral history interviews, James reconstructs this suppressed chapter of history through fiction. Published in 2020, 《西瀛勝境》 seeks to overturn the long-standing claim that Penghu remained untouched by the events of 228.
The cover of 《西瀛勝境》, credit: 郁離子.
[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.
Summary
The speaker James began by sharing his personal journey, describing himself as a restless youth. At the age of 23 (in 2015), he announced his candidacy for the Penghu County Legislative Council.
While campaigning, he visited Chima Village (赤馬) in Siyu Township. Hoping to establish a connection with the locals, he mentioned that his grandfather's surname was "Tiō (趙)" and that he was originally from Chima. To his surprise, this simple introduction led to an exceptionally warm welcome.
Later, someone casually remarked that his eldest granduncle, Tiō Bûn-pang, was considered a great hero. This revelation eventually led him to reconnect with his second granduncle, and in doing so, he stumbled upon a long-buried piece of history—an uprising in Penghu during the 228 Incident, a story known only to the island's elders and passed down through word of mouth.
James shared that during his field research and interviews, many elders were reluctant to speak openly about certain events, making it difficult to fully document the history in a conventional way.
As a result, he decided to present his findings in the form of a novel, believing that sometimes, fiction is the only way to reveal deeper truths.
Perspectives and Cases
- The speaker of this lecture takes a strictly local, Taiwan-centric perspective.
- The lecture highlights how early historical education often creates sharp discontinuities, as if Taiwan under Japanese rule before 1945 and Taiwan under the Republic of China afterward were two entirely separate political realities. This framing overlooks the continuity of human experience. When discussing the 228 Incident of 1947, it is impossible to ignore the thoughts and perspectives of those who lived under Japanese colonial rule before 1945.
- The speaker references Lin Heng-tao(林衡道): "It was a tragedy in which a culturally advanced people were ruled by a culturally backward one." If we fail to learn from the 1947 tragedy—when many naively placed their trust in the "Chinese"—then today, we may find ourselves facing another wave of even more ruthless "Chinese."
- The lecture also delves into how Penghu's military leader, Shi Wen-gui(史文桂), handled the political situation before and after the 1947 Penghu uprising. While Shi Wen-gui may not have been a virtuous figure, he at least prevented large-scale casualties in Penghu. He even defied orders and paid a political price for doing so. His case sheds light on the culture of "Chinese officialdom," which, in reality, had little understanding of the local Penghu gentry.
Q&A Session
Question 1:
Have you considered writing a dedicated book on the Penghu 228 Incident?
Speaker's Response 1:
I have collected some oral history accounts from elders and recorded interviews, but given the personal and social pressures involved—since it concerns people and events I have personal connections to—it's not easy to make these materials public.
Additionally, some of the individuals involved have already passed away, making it impossible to verify certain details. Given how much time has passed, there are inevitably gaps in these accounts, and more archival records need to be made available.
I also have another consideration: As a descendant of those involved, I may not be the most suitable person to conduct this type of research. And, I'll admit, there's also a bit of a selfish hope that one day, professional historians will take on the task and produce a more comprehensive study of this history.
Question 2:
If there are gaps in official records—for example, some tourist sites in Penghu claim that the spot "Decorated Archway of Penghu Paradise" (西瀛勝境) was a monument praising Penghu's peacefulness during the 228 Incident—why doesn't the government investigate and correct these mistakes? If they are aware of the inaccuracies, why don't they take the initiative to update the records? How can we trust government documents?
Speaker's Response 2:
I think it's important to approach official records with a critical perspective. Take something as sensitive as the 228 Incident, for example.
We have to consider that the texts written by local gentry at the time were likely influenced by political pressure—they had to align with the official stance of the era. Were those words their genuine thoughts? Probably not. But even so, we can still use official documents as references, as long as we place them within a broader historical context.
As for updating official records, that's a complicated process. In most cases, bureaucrats simply reuse old texts, and the people writing them are usually just public servants or contract employees—not historians. That, however, is a separate issue.
Group photo after the event
Most Memorable Response from the Event
One of the most striking moments came from Chao Shou-chung (趙守忠), the eldest son of Tiō Bûn-pang—one of the key figures in the Penghu 228 uprising. He also happens to be James's uncle. Before leaving, he shared his thoughts:
"I'm deeply grateful to James for taking the time to research and uncover these events—truly. Because before my father passed away, he never spoke to me about the 228 Incident. Not even once."
Speaker James and his Uncle
Conclusion
Why are we still talking about the 228 Incident after 78 years?
78 years ago, the people of Taiwan, cut off from the free flow of information, lined the streets in celebration, welcoming the arrival of the "Chinese".
What followed was the erasure of an entire generation of Taiwan's intellectual elite—silenced, imprisoned, or lost to history. For decades, many dared not speak a word. Some never did.
Now, nearly eight decades later, Taiwan is only beginning to break free from the shadows of that past.
As the truth slowly emerges from the fog of bloodshed and suppression, we must ask ourselves: Have we truly learned from history? Or are we, once again, standing at the gates, arms open, ready to welcome another wave of "Chinese" to take control of Taiwan?
Suggestions (by Recoder)
- It seems to me that the presentation slides contain a lot of text, making them feel more like an academic discussion. Over time, this might make it harder for the audience to stay engaged. Incorporating more visual elements—such as timelines, maps, or tables—could help make the content more intuitive and visually engaging.
- Since our original title, "The Story of Penghu in the 228 Incident", has remained unchanged, the presentation could provide a more complete overview of the event's background.
For example, adding details about what happened on March 2, 1947, and providing some context on Kí Siok (紀淑)—the woman who was shot in the thigh—would help first-time attendees better understand the story.
Additionally, explaining Kí Siok's father—Kí Siang-phāu (紀双抱)'s influence and clarifying the timeline of Tiō Bûn-pang's planned uprising, from his arrest to his release, would add important context. Including these details concisely would make the presentation more accessible to a broader audience. - The lecture currently focuses extensively on military leader Shi Wen-gui's political handling of the aftermath and the political consequences—how his actions were perceived by superiors and local gentry. While this perspective is valuable, balancing it with more background on the event itself could provide a more well-rounded narrative.
- Original Post：島語者 No.001「槍鳴之後，煙硝之前」講座紀錄
- See Also：島語者 No.001 February 28 incident in Penghu, Taiwan
#島語者
#IslandersGaze
