Did You Know That … ?
- As a poet, Lai Ho penned his thoughts on the defining differences of Taiwanese New Nativist Literature in 1926, noting that unlike past literary thought, this movement combined pen and tongue to create a vernacular style, and embraced instead of shunning illiterate people and ordinary citizens.
- As a physician, Lai often offered his services for free to aid the poor. Rumor goes that he even burned a stack of IOUs for unpaid medical consultations on one Chinese New Year's Eve. To commemorate his compassion, the Changhua City Government declared his birthday, May 25, as 'Lai Ho Day.'
- As an activist, Lai was detained in December 1941 without plausible cause and imprisoned for over fifty days. He kept a prison diary encapsulating the pain and anguish of the colonialized, and died a month later after his release.
Read more about the poet-doctor here or scroll down for pictures.
Lai, age 16 in 1909, prior to enrolling in the medical department of the Taihoku Imperial University, the predecessor of the National Taiwan University.
Lai (third left), pictured with his friends, during a trip to Xiamen in 1918.
Lai (left), pictured with Nara's famed deer, during a trip to Japan in 1941.
Lai pictured working at his clinic. The patient seat from the picture remains in the possession of the Lai Ho Memorial Hall.
A picture of Lai's first clinic situated in Alley 226 of Zhongzheng Road Section 1, Changhua City. It has since been converted to a memorial hall dedicated to the late poet-doctor's memory.