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Memorial park to late
justice minister Chen Ding-nan opens in Yilan County
SYMBOLIC STRUCTURES: Architect Huang Chien-hsing
said the new buildings were square to symbolize Chen’s rigid morals, but they
also have arcs to show his soft side
By Yang Yi-min / Staff Reporter
Chang Chao-yi, widow of the late
minister of justice Chen Ding-nan, speaks at the official opening of the Chen
Ding-nan Memorial Park in Yilan County on Saturday. The opening coincided with
the fifth anniversary of Chen’s death.
Photo: Yang Yi-min, Taipei Times
A memorial park in honor of late minister
of justice Chen Ding-nan (陳定南) opened in Yilan County on Saturday, coinciding
with the fifth anniversary of his passing.
Chen, of the Democratic Progressive Party, died of lung cancer in November 2006.
He was known as “Mr Clean” because of his dedication to fighting corruption
during his political career, which began with his election as Yilan County
commissioner in 1981.
The park’s opening ceremony was attended by former Academia Sinica president Lee
Yuan-tseh (李遠哲) and Taiwan Solidarity Union Chairman Huang Kun-huei (黃昆輝).
When Chen passed away, the Chen Ding-nan Educational Foundation was established
and donations were solicited for Chen Ding-nan Memorial Park to be built near
his former residence in Sansing Township (三星), Yilan County, the foundation
said.
The park has not only preserved the historic house in which Chen was born, it
added new structures in an L-shaped layout, the foundation said.
Architect Huang Chien-hsing (黃建興) said the new buildings consist of primarily
square structures in a bid to portray Chen’s just and upstanding life.
However, Huang Chien-hsing added that the buildings also incorporate arcs, to
symbolizes that Chen, despite his rigid and inflexible morals, could still be
soft and lenient in private.
The park’s landscaping was designed by Toshiya Ishimura to remind the visitor of
Chen’s achievements during his stints as Yilan County commissioner and the
minister of justice, the foundation said.
On display at the park’s exhibition hall are Chen’s briefcase as well as his
shoes, and the watch given to Chen by his father when he was admitted into
college.
There are also various written accounts of memorable events and small stories
when Chen was the county commissioner and minister of justice.
Inside the memorial hall, many large pictures of Chen taken at various moments
in his life are on display, allowing visitors to see Chen everywhere within the
hall.
There is also artwork on display, such as a portrait of Chen made from 1,000
pencil heads in a matrix formation by artist Wang Chun-lung (王俊隆).
The park is open from 9am to 12am and 1:30pm to 5pm everyday except Mondays and
admission is free.
Translated by Jake Chung, Staff Writer
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