Chen Xingju

Chen Xingju

Chen Xingju (1817-1885), named Yaotang, was born in Chen Village, taichen Town, Linying County, Henan Province. During the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, he led the Taiwan people to resist the French invaders and won the battle of defending Taipei. In 1871, he served as Taiwan's Tanshui Tongzhi. Five years later, he was transferred to the Tongzhi of taogang. In 1878, he was promoted to the magistrate of Taipei. According to historical records, he was resolute, eager for justice, compassionate for the people, inspirational and loving for the motherland. In the Sino French war, he bravely defended Taipei and made outstanding contributions to the people of the motherland. He was a national hero deeply loved by the people of Taiwan. In 1885, due to overwork, Chen Xingju died of illness. He was 69 years old when he was the magistrate of Taipei. People from all walks of life in Taipei jointly asked the Qing government to canonize him for the imperial funeral of sanpindaotai.

Life of Chen Xingju

In 1853, when the Nien army broke up in Henan Province, he led the township regiment to fight against the Nien army. After the rebellion, he was awarded the county magistrate for his meritorious service.

In 1871, he was appointed to Taiwan to serve as the Taiwan government's Tamsui Fumin Tongzhi, in charge of the administrative and military work in Northern Taiwan from Hsinchu to Keelung. Among them, there are many robbers in Sanjiao Chung and the inner mountain of daku in the jurisdiction. They are robbed and killed frequently. The former Tongzhi was impeached. Chen Xingju was arrested by offering a reward and went to the mountain area in person. Then he captured Wu Alai, the chief thief, and killed him. After that, he served twice as Tanshui Tongzhi. During his term of office, he worked as an agent for about five years and achieved good results.

In 1875, Emperor Guangxu officially approved the construction of Taipei, and he was an important official preparing for the construction of the city.

In 1878, Taipei officially established its government and laid off the Danshui Tongzhi government office. Then he was transferred to Fufan Tongzhi in Zhonglu. Not long after that, because of the sudden death of Lin Daquan, the Taipei magistrate who tried the office, he was promoted to the Taipei magistrate. Therefore, some people call him the first magistrate in Taipei. Its Taipei government is the local government of the whole of Northern Taiwan. Its jurisdiction area is about today's Ilan, Keelung, Taipei and Hsinchu counties and cities.

He served as the magistrate of Taipei for about seven years. He was also the real supervisor and builder of Taipei city. Later, after the Sino French war, he also made great achievements in the Anti Japanese War of Xizai in Taipei. In 1885, shortly after the Sino French war and peace negotiation, he died in the office of magistrate.

Characters and deeds

Chen Xingju was born in 1817 in an ordinary peasant family. He has been a scholar in succession. At the age of 47, he was appointed magistrate of Shunchang County in Fujian Province.

During his tenure as county magistrate, he was concerned about the country and the people, and was a conscientious official who was wholeheartedly supported by the people. After he was transferred to Fujian county magistrate, he was incorruptible and made great achievements, which won the unanimous praise of the government and the public. In the early years of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, Chen Xingju was transferred to Taiwan as the Tongzhi of Lukang and Danshui, and was soon promoted to the magistrate of Taipei.

At that time, it was a difficult autumn for China, and imperialists from Britain, the United States, France and Japan came in droves to visit the southeast coast of China. Taiwan is rich in products, which naturally became the target of the aggressors. When Chen Xingju took office, he called in migrant workers to build and strengthen Taipei city. After the outbreak of the Sino French war, he actively purchased weapons and expanded his army, ready to meet the invading enemy at any time. In August 1884, the French imperialists invaded Keelung. In September, Keelung was captured. The French army immediately divided into two groups, attacking Tanshui and Taipei, and blocking the traffic between Taiwan and the mainland. Chen Xingju, who has long put life and death aside, is determined to live and die with Taipei. He ordered his wife to lead the family of more than 10 people to sit around the well in the back garden of the government. Once the city fell, the whole family would die for the country and never be humiliated. Inspired by him, the army and the people of Taipei fought against the French army and won the battle of defending Taipei, and composed a resounding song of righteousness for the Chinese people.

Unfortunately, Chen Xingju got sick after working hard all night. He got gangrene on his back and died in 1885.

Chen Xingju was appointed magistrate of Shunchang County in the third year of Tongzhi. According to the records of Shunchang County annals, he made a lot of achievements in promoting advantages and eliminating disadvantages. When he was the magistrate of Min County, the foreigners wanted to build a fort in Haikou of Min County, which seriously threatened the security of China's coastal defense. Although Chen Xingju was a minor official, he dared to protest and fight for a stop. As a result, he offended the foreigners and was transferred to Xianyou by the Qing government. In the 10th year of Tongzhi reign, Chen Xingju was appointed as the magistrate of Gutian County. According to the records of Gutian County, he was "just at the beginning of his reign, he cleared up the grain shortage, and the accumulated disadvantages were clear. Try boy scouts, close guard, dare not commit adultery.

After Chen Xingju arrived in Taiwan, he went out for inspection and found that there was a bad rule of "burial tax" in Taiwan, that is, after death, people have to pay heavy tax before they can be buried, otherwise they will be fined and convicted. Many people can't afford to pay the "burial tax", so they have to keep their bodies at home for many years. Some poor families can't even bury a few bodies. After Chen Xingju found out, he ordered to abolish the "burial tax" and stipulated that all those who store bones at home should be transported out for burial within three days, and those who do not bury them after the expiration of the time limit will be fined more, and those who bury the dead after the expiration of the time limit will not be paid the "burial tax". This measure for the benefit of the people has won the support of the people of Taipei.

At that time, the Qing government was corrupt and incompetent, and imperialists such as Britain, France, Russia and Japan invaded China one after another. Chen Xingju was very worried and indignant when he saw that foreigners were arrogant and advancing step by step. The Qing government was servile and humiliated. So he simplified the government affairs and concentrated on building and strengthening Taibei city. After the outbreak of the Sino French war, he did his best to raise money, purchase weapons and ammunition, recruit young people, expand the army, and prepare to stick to Taipei once the war extended to Taiwan. After the defeat in the battle of Liangshan, the French aggressors became angry and sent more navies to attack Fujian and Taiwan. In August of the 10th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, the French Navy attacked Jilong for the first time. In September, the French army attacked Keelung for the second time. On October 1, Keelung was defeated. They attacked Taipei and Tanshui in two separate ways. The maritime traffic between Taiwan and the mainland was cut off, and the situation was very dangerous. At this time, 68 year old Chen Xingju was indignant, fearless and determined to live and die with Taipei. He let his wife and children sit beside the well in the back garden, preparing for the destruction of the city, that is, the whole family threw themselves into the well to die for the country. He himself stayed at the front line of coastal defense day and night, inspiring morale, supervising the command, and bravely fighting against the French invaders. After several battles of life and death, he finally beat back the frenzied attack of the French army, held Taipei, fought for the glory of the motherland, and expressed his anger for the people. However, after the great victory of zhennanguan, the Qing government signed the Sino French treaty, which made him very angry. At the same time, due to overwork, he suffered from back carbuncle and died of anger. He was 69 years old. People from all walks of life in Taipei admire Chen Xingju very much. They built a "Chen Gong Temple" in Taipei to commemorate him every year. At the same time, they also invited the Qing government to honor and promote him. The Qing government granted him the title of sanpindaotai, which is "the example of imperial funeral". His body was transported by sea to Xihua Xiaoyao town and by land to xiaotai village, the hometown of Linying County, where today's Chen Xingju memorial is located.

Chen Xingju has been an official for more than 20 years. He shows great care for the people in his hometown. According to Linying county annals, "in the third year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, when the road was in famine, the stars gathered together to donate a thousand stones to the valley, and to relieve hundreds of stones in the township.". Therefore, people in Linying's hometown affectionately called him "Chen Guan", and the good name of "Chen Guan" is still popular among the people. Because he was an official in Taipei, he was also granted the title of "Daotai". In memory of him, Chen Village, his hometown, was changed to "taichen", where taichen town is now located.

The tomb of Chen Xingju is still here, and the Linying county government has allocated funds to repair and protect it. Today, the descendants of Chen Xingju in Taiwan still maintain close ties with his hometown and are concerned about the development and changes of his hometown.

Inauguration ceremony of the memorial

James Soong, chairman of the people first party, and others visited taichen town in Linying County yesterday to attend the inauguration ceremony of Chen Xingju memorial hall, a national hero and Taipei governor of the Qing Dynasty. James Soong, who calls himself "the descendant of Heluo", expresses his deep love to "fellow villagers" -- I, James Soong, whose ancestral home is in Henan. The gongs and drums resound in the sky, and the spring rain is silent. Yingchuan earth was dressed up for the Festival yesterday - the opening ceremony of the national hero Chen Xingju memorial hall, which has attracted much attention from both sides of the Taiwan Strait! In taichen village, taichen Town, Linying County, Luohe City, the hometown of Chen Xingju, the villagers sang and danced to welcome the distinguished Taiwan guest, James Soong, chairman of the people first party, and his party.

At 10:20 a.m., accompanied by Wang Fuqing, vice chairman of ARATS, Wang Quanshu, chairman of CPPCC, Chu Yaping, deputy director of the Standing Committee of the provincial people's Congress, and song xuantao, vice governor of the provincial people's Congress, James Soong and his wife Chen Wanshui, vice chairman Zhang Zhaoxiong and his wife Li Fanghui, came to the Chen Xingju Memorial Hall. At 10:30, the inauguration ceremony begins.

James Soong: "my ancestral home is in Henan"

"Mr. Chen Xingju deserves to be a model of patriotism. He made many contributions during his tenure as governor of Taipei in the Qing Dynasty. We often miss his hometown in Henan." In his impromptu speech, James Soong affectionately expressed his admiration for this Henan native.

James Soong said that when Chen Xingju was the governor of Taipei, he led the Taiwanese to defend their country and made many significant contributions. Henan and Taiwan have deep ties. More than 80% of the compatriots in Taiwan came from Heluo.

”My personal information clearly shows that I, James Soong, whose ancestral home is Henan, was born in Hunan and now works in Taiwan. Like many laborers working outside, Chu Yu never forgot his hometown! "James Soong's emotional words aroused strong emotional resonance among the villagers in the rain, and the applause rang out warmly.

James Soong said with deep feeling that when he came to Henan this time, he felt that Henan is full of history and that Henan is writing a new history. Henan is not only a national city

Chinese PinYin : Chen Xing Ju