Chuang Yung-ming (莊永明) , one of the most informative Taiwanese historians and a prolific writer, passed away at the age 78 on Aug. 7. Minister of Culture (MOC) Lee Yung-te stated that the local historian had dedicated himself in his lifetime to discovering, documenting, and promoting local history, and his death is a great loss for the nation. The Ministry of Culture will apply for a posthumous presidential citation in recognition of Chuang's lifelong achievements, the minister said.
Born in 1942, Chuang grew up in Dadaocheng (大稻埕), Taipei's oldest district replete with cultural richness. After college graduation, he worked in a private company as an accountant for 26 years before retirement. With an aspiration to familiarize himself with local history and culture, Chuang devoted himself to historical studies and became active in Taiwanese literature in his late 20s. Chuang won recognition through his articles appearing on newspapers and magazines since the 1970s. He became a columnist for a top newspaper in 1982 and wrote systematic reviews of Taiwanese culture and history.
A local historian with little training aside from passion, Chuang said once in a press interview: "As a child I would listen to my parents telling stories about the area and its history, and, later I realized these stories weren't anywhere in the textbooks, so I felt that it fell upon me to record them, to make sure they weren’t forgotten."
He further authored a number of books about Taiwan's past and present, including "Taiwan No. 1," "Taiwan Journal," "Taipei Old Street," "Aerial View of Taiwan," "Medical History of Taiwan," and "The City's Past: 130-Year-Old Taipei" as well as his memoir "Life Should be Like This."
In addition to being a prolific writer, Chuang was also a big fan of Taiwan's traditional folk songs and a connoisseur of cultural relics and artifacts.
Based on his broad knowledge and experience, Chuang volunteered to serve as a local guide of walking tours in Dadaocheng for many years.
According to the ministry, Chuang had a large and rich collection of Taiwan's historical materials. Devoting himself to the research and preservation of the memories of the land and people's lifestyle, Chuang spared no efforts in the promotion of the island's history and culture by curating exhibitions, holding lectures, and giving guided tours of Taipei's old quarters.
The historian once remarked that everyone, whether prominent or humble, would have experienced social transition and political changes. People and incidents one had encountered in lifetime were immense and the personal witnessing was part of history, he maintained. Chuang's aspiration to be a witness of history is inspiring and it is regarded a good model for future generations.