On my way from school to the parking lot today, my son surprised me with a question: “Mama, do you know what 228 is?” I was taken aback because I knew that the consecutive holidays for the 228 Incident were coming up next week, but I didn’t expect him to ask me about it! How should I answer? The truth is, I don’t know much about it myself (囧). So, being a quick-thinking mother, I asked him in return, “Can you tell me?”
My son began to explain earnestly, “It’s when someone didn’t sell cigarettes to someone else, and then I hit him, and other people got really angry when they saw it… And there are still some people who feel uneasy about it even now… It’s like it’s black and white and scary…” (He actually said more, but I kind of forgot it now…)
As a teacher with an international perspective, I might have been more focused on teaching about the Nazis than delving into Taiwan’s history. But the more important question is, as a Taiwanese person, how much do I really know about Taiwan?! It may sound like I’m trying to justify myself, but if I think about it, it’s actually a subconscious form of avoidance. It’s like the “timidity towards one’s hometown” that describes a wanderer who hasn’t returned home for a long time. Although they miss their hometown dearly, the closer they get to home, the more fear they feel… Perhaps it’s because I’m worried about changes in my homeland that I’m not aware of, or that something bad may have happened. When you can’t see something from a distance, but you know you’ll definitely see it when you return home, it can create feelings of worry, fear, and shyness.
For me, Taiwan’s history is a sense of “closeness to my homeland.” I’ve grown tired of the political bickering on TV, the spectacle of each election, the deliberately fostered racial animosity, and the endless party antagonism. So, subconsciously, I’ve avoided touching any issues related to Taiwanese politics… But my son’s question today made me seriously reflect on my attitude. In reality, I’ve had a change of heart. History is history, regardless of our personal stance. Every historical event has its background, environment, circumstances, catalysts, process, and outcome… Stepping out of myself, just as we study the history of Europe, recognizing and facing our own history is stating a fact. This is the attitude I should adopt—free from the influence of society, theories, or the media.
The influence of children on us not only inspires us to be better but also gives us the courage to confront the past with a positive attitude.
So when the child goes home, it’s time for the mother to do her homework. There is a lot of information on the Google 228 incident on the internet. Although history cannot be summarized in a few words, it can be described in a short paragraph:
Under Japanese rule, Taiwanese actually lived a stable and progressive life. However, their original expectations and hopes for recovery were undermined by the oppressive military discipline imposed by the authorities. The authorities deliberately emphasized the distinction between “Mandarin-speaking foreigners” and “Taiwanese who can only speak.” This created a divide between the Taiwanese and the Japanese. Under such oppression and pessimism, an incident involving auditors bullying a poor widow (who was selling cigarettes) occurred. Combined with the development of broadcasting technology, this incident became the catalyst for the 228 Incident. While it later evolved into a conflict between people from different provinces, in its early stages, it was fueled by the anger of the common people. Within a few days, the situation escalated, with Chiang Kai-shek dispatching two warships from the north and the south to forcefully suppress the civilians, specifically targeting intellectuals and local elites. The eventual outcome was the result of deep-seated societal divisions that had formed in Taiwan’s cultural landscape 70 years ago. The 228 Incident, which lasted for over two months, resulted in the deaths of nearly 20,000 Taiwanese, with some even executed publicly. To put it in context, approximately 1 out of 300 Taiwanese lost their lives during that time.
This kind of historical complexity cannot be captured in a single word…
This is the first time I have seriously contemplated the significance of the 228 anniversary. I consider myself fortunate not to have experienced the inter-province confrontations during that period. While I may have seen glimpses of the “happy times” from that year, I can only imagine them since they were not a strong part of my own lived experience. Perhaps I am fortunate…
Attached are videos made by #台灣場. You can search for more, but remember to maintain a correct attitude towards history!
