The first half of the cemetery was unceremoniously buried in 2016, now the battle is on to rescue and preserve what remains.
The News Lens
Date: 2018/01/23
By: James X. Morris
In Xindian District, a coalition of academics, historians, and residents are attempting to
Photo by: James X. Morris
An example of the craftsmanship evident on the tombstones of Xindian First Public Cemetery.
bring awareness to the destruction of heritage sites that often occurs as city officials push for development.
Xindian First Public Cemetery (新店區第一公墓) sits in an enviable location, historically chosen for its good feng shui properties. The site is now slated for industrialization in the near future – half of the tombs have already been removed and destroyed.
At the crux of the issue is the loss of historical tombs, some dating back to the Taipei basin’s opening to Han settlement under the Qianlong Emperor (1735-1796). Local academics such as Professors David Blundell and Lin Ching-chih (林敬智), affiliated with nearby National Chengchi University, have spent the better part of the past three years working closely with local residents who are affiliated with the Xindian Historical Society, such as Mr. Gao Bao-tang (高寶堂) and Mr. Cat Shih Chi-yang (施其陽) in an effort to prevent the destruction of these imperial-era tombstones, and somehow possibly conserve them in-situ with the natural environment for study. [FULL STORY]