The Seventy-Second Double Tenth Celebration

Chrissie Lu

November 1983

中文

Top left, Many people came from far away to celebrate the seventy-second national day of the Republic of China, and watched the ceremony from the large crowd of celebrants.

This year is the seventy-second anniversary of the Wu-ch'ang uprising of October 10, 1911, which led to the downfall of the Ching empire and the establishment of the Republic of China on January 1, 1912. Now October 10, or "Double Tenth," is celebrated every year as China's national day.

Each year the events are much the same, but people always look forward to the occasion of celebrating the Republic of China's birthday, and of seeing relatives return from far-off countries, to encourage one another to strive for the reunification of China under Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People.

The older generation especially is moved by each year's celebrations. Those who remember the bitterness of war and see the progress of today's Republic of China, proceeding peacefully year by year, are filled with joy.

Thus even those who are long familiar with the activities of the celebration, and know that it takes place in a veritable human sea crowded before the Presidential Palace, still come to see the new generation join in the display of national unity and progress. And the younger generation learns not to take the country's progress for granted, as they hear their elders speak of years past.

The celebration also gives the worldwide community of overseas Chinese a chance to see the vitality of the country's progress, and to join in encouraging their countrymen in a spirit of strength and unity.

This year, about 20,000 overseas Chinese participated in the national day activities in Taipei. A number of these came from Hong Kong, and they indicated that, even under the storm clouds of the 1997 question, the people of Hong Kong have already taken concrete steps to demonstrate their continued desire for democracy, rather than communist tyranny.

Representatives from several foreign countries also arrived, among them visitors from the United States, Canada, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, El Salvador, Paraguay, St. Christopher and Nevis, Ecuador, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Kiribati and other countries, totalling more than 1,000 visitors who travelled far to join the celebration. This showed that other countries continue to concur with the Republic of China's opposition to communism and that they admire the country's advances.

Throughout the country, the people had busied themselves with decorating and sprucing up in anticipation of the holiday. Trees were festooned with lights, and banners hung from buildings. Groups who would march in the Double Tenth parade also practiced diligently beforehand, since on the day of the performance, the three television networks would broadcast the spectacle throughout Taiwan. Before the national day there were also various displays and special exhibitions in all parts of the island.

The main ceremony began at 9:57 a.m. on October 10 with the president of the Legislative Yuan, Nieh Wen-ya, serving as master of ceremonies. Sun T'ien-ch'in, a former pilot in the Red Chinese Air Force, who flew to freedom in South Korea in July of this year, spoke at the ceremony.

"The lofty ideals taught by the ancient sages of our Chinese people have become commonplace reality here on Taiwan, the base for the Republic of China's national recovery. The electoral system in politics, the flourishing, evenly distributed wealth in the economy, the freedom and equality of opportunity in education, the peace and happiness in society, all people being able to say what they want and do what they want, being able to study and work for their own ambitions, are all things I dreamed of throughout the last thirty or so years, and they are what our countrymen on the mainland yearn for. Although I have only lived in the free fatherland for forty-eight days, I already deeply feel that only the Republic of China is the true fatherland of the one billion Chinese people, only the Republic of China government is their true government."

Thereafter, President Chiang Ching-kuo made a speech in which he urged the country to stand for right and to be confident of obtaining final victory. Then followed the spectacular Double Tenth parade, featuring military drill teams, student groups, representatives of various walks of life, and representatives of civic organizations.

In the evening, a "self-reliance party" was held in the China Auditorium. The event featured dance and acrobatic performances from around the world, and stunning displays of card stunts by members of the audience who worked with meticulous precision to form pictures or slogans by holding their colored cards. And the evening finished with the annual fireworks display over the Tan-shui River. All served to display the resolve to continue upholding the democratic ideals of the 1911 revolution.

[Picture Caption]

Top left, Many people came from far away to celebrate the seventy-second national day of the Republic of China, and watched the ceremony from the large crowd of celebrants. Lower left, On Double Tenth itself, 250,000 soldiers and civilians gathered in the square in front of the Presidential Palace, to participate in the celebration. Right, President Chiang Ching-kuo returned the greeting of the crowd with a wave.

1. Students bore a huge flag in the midst of the crowd. 2.3. The bands and drill teams of the three armed services played music and paraded in colorful uniforms. 4. Light aircraft from the air force flew over the assembly, releasing colored smoke, to open the ceremonies. 5. The military police motorcycle team slowly and in an orderly manner led the parade. 6.7. After the assembly, the Double Tenth parade took place. Picture 6 shows cadets from the Air Force Academy; picture 7, those from the Military Academy, marching smartly, and in high spirit.

1. Young students formed a group to carry flags in the parade. 2. Guests from foreign countries were moved by the size and fervor of the celebration, and took pictures to remember it. 3. Cub scouts joined in the parade; in the midst of their seriousness you could still see signs of youthful playfulness. 4. Co-eds from Ming Chuan College wore uniforms they designed to join in the parade. 5. Coeds in the Hua Mu-lan (name of an ancient military heroine) troupe from the Political Warfare College marched double time in perfect order, attracting much notice. 6. Miss Chinese-American national winner (on far right) Yang Pi-lian, and Miss Houston Chinatown Chang Wan-li (second from left) specially came to join the celebrations.

1.2.3. Student band and drill groups in the parade full were of liveliness. 4. The Presidential Palace reflected in a tuba. 5.7.9. Folk culture performers trippingly dancing adorned the national day with color and life. Picture 5 shows aborigines performing a harvest dance; 7 shows Tao Chiang Vocational High School students performing modern dance; 9 shows a junior-high student performing the dance "Treasure Island's Eternal Spring." 6. Representatives of the Chinese Folk Art Center performed on unicycles in the parade, and passed the reviewing stand. 8. The celebrations attracted a lot of spectators; this girl was absorbed in watching.

1.2.3. Folk art groups performed with tops, lion dances, and dragon dances. 4.5. Little children carried flags and went with their parents to the celebrations. 6. Fireworks adorned Taipei's night on the evening of the Double Tenth. 7. To celebrate the national day, the Presidential Palace was decorated with colored lights.

Lower left, On Double Tenth itself, 250,000 soldiers and civilians gathered in the square in front of the Presidential Palace, to participate in the celebration.

g Ching-kuo returned the greeting of the crowd with a wave.

1. Students bore a huge flag in the midst of the crowd.

2.3. The bands and drill teams of the three armed services played music and paraded in colorful uniforms.

5. The military police motorcycle team slowly and in an orderly manner led the parade.

4. Light aircraft from the air force flew over the assembly, releasing colored smoke, to open the ceremonies.

6 shows cadets from the Air Force Academy; picture 7, those from the Military Academy, marching smartly, and in high spirit.

6.7. After the assembly, the Double Tenth parade took place.

1. Young students formed a group to carry flags in the parade.

2. Guests from foreign countries were moved by the size and fervor of the celebration, and took pictures to remember it.

3. Cub scouts joined in the parade; in the midst of their seriousness you could still see signs of youthful playfulness.

4. Co-eds from Ming Chuan College wore uniforms they designed to join in the parade.

5. Coeds in the Hua Mu-lan （name of an ancient military heroine） troupe from the Political Warfare College marched double time in perfect order, attracting much notice.

6. Miss Chinese-American national winner （on far right） Yang Pi-lian, and Miss Houston Chinatown Chang Wan-li （second from left） specially came to join the celebrations.

1.2.3. Student band and drill groups in the parade full were of liveliness.

4. The Presidential Palace reflected in a tuba.

5.7.9. Folk culture performers trippingly dancing adorned the national day with color and life. Picture 5 shows aborigines performing a harvest dance;.