“What does Lo Fu Shek Teng mean to you?” a voice echoes. Lo Fu Shek Teng is not just a geographical point. It is a place imbued with stories of resistance and identity. We are standing before Lo Fu Shek Teng.
Lo Fu Shek Teng is linked to a man named Lo Fu-hsing. He was a revolutionary figure in early 20th-century Taiwan.
Lo Fu-hsing was arrested in Tamsui on December 18, 1913. He faced his Japanese captors with defiance. A prison guard questioned him about his actions. Lo Fu-hsing responded that he was exercising his rights to freedom and equality. He did not believe it constituted criminal activity.
The guard argued that the Japanese government provided Taiwanese with a good life. Lo Fu-hsing’s claims suggested otherwise. The guard asked him to admit his crimes. Lo Fu-hsing accepted the verdict. He stated that if he wasn’t put to death, he wouldn’t be able to face his comrades who had already been executed. He repeated that he did not think he had committed any crime.
Lo Fu-hsing was born in Jakarta. His father was a Chinese businessman. His mother was a local woman with partial Dutch ancestry. In 1903, at the age of 18, he followed his grandfather to Taiwan and settled in Miaoli.
Initially, Lo Fu-hsing ran away from the suffering of Taiwanese people under Japanese rule. Later, he returned to China in 1906 and joined the Tongmenghui. This was a secret society dedicated to overthrowing the Qing Dynasty. He recruited troops and participated in the Second Guangzhou Uprising in 1911.
After the Qing Dynasty fell, he and his comrades brought the revolution to Taiwan. They established a Tongmenghui branch in Taipei. By April 1913, Lo Fu-hsing had recruited 500 men.
Japanese authorities suppressed his first three attempts at uprisings. In September 1913, rebels raided a police station in Miaoli. They stole weapons. The police captured eight rebels who leaked information under torture.
Lo Fu-hsing fled to Tamsui. He awaited a chance to sail to China. Authorities caught him with a notebook listing comrades. This led to mass arrests.
Lo Fu-hsing’s legacy has been controversial due to his ties to China. Chiang Kai-shek commended him. He was considered a national hero taught in schools. Ma Ying-jeou paid respects on the 100th anniversary of his execution. He noted the close ties between Taiwan and the Republic of China.
Critics argue that the Chinese Nationalist Party built up Lo Fu-hsing’s heroic image. This was to further their ideology. This ideological struggle has obscured Lo Fu-hsing’s full story.
Lo Fu-hsing identified with the Republic of China. He sought to recover Taiwan for China. He wanted to liberate his fellow Han Chinese from foreign rule. In his confession, he cited the injustices inflicted on the Taiwanese.
He stated the Japanese were stripping away at Taiwan’s skin. He predicted they would move on to the flesh and bones. Eventually, they would suck on the marrow. His concerns materialized with Japanization policies in the 1930s. These policies sought to eradicate Taiwanese culture.
Regardless of his political ideology, Lo Fu-hsing cared for the people of Taiwan. He told the governors of Taiwan that there was no need for a trial. He guaranteed they wouldn’t enjoy one day of peace.
So, as we stand here at Lo Fu Shek Teng, remember Lo Fu-hsing. Remember his defiance, his dedication, and his complex legacy. This place reminds us that history is not always simple. It is filled with individuals who fought for what they believed in. Their stories continue to resonate today.