"My name is Chen. I am from Shantung. I have three children all grown up with their own families. I like to go hiking . . ." This is the self-introduction of a healthy-looking elderly gentleman in a smart suit who is actively pursuing a "second spring."

In the "Great Harmony" chapter of The Book of No Rites the ideal Chinese society is one where everyone is cared for. This kind of image seems to have changed already from one of everybody wanting to be looked after to everybody pursuing the life they want to lead.

As soon as Taipei's Bureau of Social Affairs announced that they were holding "Second Spring" activities this April, they were flooded with names within days, leading them to hold another in September. Moreover, the names rose from 80 to 120, and as usual more than 70 were left on the waiting list.

A visit to the Hsi Hsiang Feng Friendship Society, the bustling matchmaking center that organized the Second Spring, reveals more than 150 single elderly men and women gathered together--some dressed simply and some made up for the occasion. Although they are from a variety of backgrounds, they all want one thing--a second spring in their life. And they are only a small portion of the friendship society's 30,000 members.

Falling in Love--No Monopoly of the Young: Not more than three years ago the situation was very different. At that time Taipei's Bureau of Social Affairs announced a Second Spring and encouraged ladies over 55 and gentlemen over 60 who had been divorced or widowed, to come forward. The result was a mere three men. After pursuing every possible channel the workers press ganged some men into eventually making up 35 reluctant couples. Although the Hsi Hsiang Feng Friendship Society started its "second spring" service eight years ago, and it is highly confidential, it has only in recent years become really "profitable."

With society daily becoming more open the elderly have jumped from their traditional views of faithfulness to the end, and love being a monopoly of the young, and entered the modern age.

According to a Bureau of Social Affairs survey on who took part in this years' Second Spring activities, 73 percent felt they were under no social pressure and "quite good" about the whole thing. Of their children, 68 percent were either in favor or did not express an opinion. Chang Mei-chi, a worker in the southern district of the Bureau of Social Affairs, says: "There is already much less pressure on elderly people seeking a second spring than before. More than a few of them even come along with their children to put forward their names!"

Old Age Without a Partner Is Unhealthy: Apart from there being less social pressure, people live longer these days, the rate of divorce is going up and the nature of families is changing. After the children have started their own families and left home, parents are on their own with time on their hands, which has led to the growing popularity of second springs. The Hsi Hsiang Feng Friendship Society's general director, Fang Chiuyun, points out that the eldest among her members is 83 years of age. Most are in their fifties and sixties--around 6,000 of them. She points out that "at fifty or sixty, their children have grown up and their health is quite good. Most of the members also have economic means and after retirement they are lonely, so it is very easy for them to think of remarriage."

Three years ago, 83-year-old Wu Hsien lost his partner. In an instant he was plunged into the most lonely patch of his life. "Growing flowers, raising birds, doing Tai-ch'i . . . I tried everything. But with nobody next to me to talk to it was really hard."

Such gradual awareness among the single elderly and their relatives that it is not healthy to be without a partner has been the second factor leading to the flourishing of second springs.

According to Department of Health statistics, suicides among the elderly over sixty-five are more than five times those among young people aged between 20 and 24. Cases among the single and widowed outnumber those among the married by two to three times.

Height and Weight Not Important: Everyone seeks a partner for marriage, but people say that the needs and desires of the elderly are not the same as those of the young.

"A simple home, healthy and with economic means." Such are the conditions emphasized by most people seeking a second spring. As for height, weight and academic record . . . these things that are so relevant to the young are "basically not a problem" so far as the old are concerned.

Yang Hsiu-chu, whose children are grown up and independent, explains: "We are all people who have been through a lot. When we reach this age there is no need to look for more hardships. If your partner's family has complications, then you have to worry about their children; if they do not have money, then you have to worry about living. There is no need to go and suffer."

One special characteristic about elderly people seeking a partner is their directness. Fang Chiuyun points out that "whatever problems they might have they can ask about directly. Often after meeting just once or twice they can talk about children, a home. . ." How very different from young people, who are still not clear about their partner's background after being in love for six months.

The Hsi Hsiang Feng Friendship Society, which has matched nearly 1,000couples for re-marriage within eight years, points out that many people get married after knowing each other for six months. There are even those who take the plunge within one month.

Wu Hsien does not think that this is "instant marriage." "We are all experienced people," he says. This April he got to know Hsu Nien-hua during the Second Spring outing organized by the Bureau of Social Affairs. On June 28 the couple were married in court and set out on their second spring as man and wife.

But not everyone is as fortunate as Wu Hsien and Hsu Nien-hua, finding the person of their desires after taking part in one activity. Some people really try, but without success; others, for a variety of reasons, "want to take part, but do not want to get married."

Tsou Hsiang, a retired secretary who previously worked at the National Normal University, has taken part in two Second Spring activities and met a number of partners who were not bad. However, due to the possibility of problems over property after marriage, his movements of the heart did not turn into action. Although his children encouraged him, after considering that all he had was a house, he worried that once he had passed away his wife of only a few years would lay claim to the inheritance, which would not be fair to his son. "Now I just come here to get to know some friends. It is just something to put my mind to."

Beautiful Sunset and Golden Dusk: So as to avoid disputes over inheritance, some elderly people choose to live together. Although their relatives might find this hard to accept, finding a good partner who can fill in life's gaps is in fact all that the elderly want from a second spring. As far as marriage being just a formality is concerned, for them there cannot really be much more to it than that anyway.

No matter whether it is wanting to get married, or not wanting to change name, it is only necessary to seek to be good partners. When deciding whether or not to accept or refuse, most are very crisp and certain; when the elderly seek a second spring, their attitude is sincere and prudent. Wu Hsien says, "We are old and this is our last opportunity." A sixty-year-old woman also adds, "When you are old, you cannot afford any more frustration, so you have to worry more about choosing the right partner than when you were young."

"Beautiful sunset and golden dusk illuminate the peach garden trees" was the message Tsou Hsiang gave to Mr. and Mrs. Wu Hsien on their marriage. Hopefully all elderly and single people can be like them and find their own second spring--silver threads among the gold.

[Picture Caption]

The Second Spring activity held by the Bureau of Social Affairs made WuHsien and Hsu Nien-hua decide to get married in June. (photo by Pu Huachih)