Dear Editor:
Your recent issue, on Taipei's explosive growth and the issues of planning this presents for government, developers and folks living in the city and its surround, was fascinating. I found it even more so, in light of my just published book, Human Habitat, which I think may be the first philosophical work on cities since Aristotle.
China has an ancient history of city planning. Wheatley's Pivot of the Four Corners demonstrates this for Shang and Chou, and relates this fundamental Chinese experience to other ancient city-building models--e.g., those of ancient Mesopotamia (probably the most ancient city-building area). Chinese city planning models--Chang'an is a very good example of this, and a tremendously influential one--were strongly influenced by what today we would call ritual requirements. That is to say, as in so many other aspects of Chinese existence, li is even more central than it is in other-than-Chinese city-planning concepts. Ancient Ur has its ceremonial center and limits; so does Rome. Chang'an was entirely a center, in a sense.
It is interesting to note that the most perfect cities today retain the center-and-boundary character of ancient cities. San Francisco is as perfect as it is, in part, because its civic center really is one, and its boundary is very well defined by late-Modern standards.
One would hope that planners, looking at Taipei, would take into account the ease with which its boundaries can be defined (being in a bowl, surrounded by mountains, does that, even if it wreaks havoc with air purity). One would hope the "center" so carefully established in the Zhong Zheng Gong Yuan and its surround would be fostered. Keeping in mind border and center, and the need to relate everything to them seems to be a good first principle. Most especially, one would hope that essentially Chinese ways of seeing cities would be consciously influential.
Taiwan can take pride in the way in which the ROC government has fostered the transformation of Taipei and its surrounding communities. When I was last there, I saw the transition taking place-the second, or is it the third, since the ROC government was transferred to Taiwan. The investment is tremendous, and seems to be of lasting character. I think you can expect the result to be fairly good.
(Original letter in English)
Sincerely
Donald Jenner, USA
Joining the Fight Against Cancer
Dear Editor:
I have been reading Sinorama for nearly two years, and have profited a great deal from it. I feel that you are very dedicated and that your reports have great depth and detail. Thank you. I was especially interested in the story in June's issue entitled "In A Tug of War Against Cancer." The article provided a lot of information about the long-term fight against cancer and about the experiences of those who have been through it. These made valuable reading for myself and my friends and family. Lately an older member of my family has been diagnosed as having stomach cancer. Part of the cancer has been surgically removed. After reading your article, he too wanted to join the Anti-Cancer Association of the ROC. Could you pass this letter along, or provide the address of the Association so I may communicate with them directly?
(Original letter in Chinese)
Chia Mei-chih, Taoyuan
Editor's reply: Thank you for your kind comments. The address of the Anti-Cancer Association is: #25, Lane 38, Kangting Rd., Taipei City. Their telephone number is (02) 375-7085.
