Former residence of Chiang Kai-shek demolished An ongoing demolition of the residence of the former Kuomintang (KMT) leader Chiang Kai-she...

Former residence of Chiang Kai-shek demolished

An ongoing demolition of the residence of the former Kuomintang (KMT) leader Chiang Kai-shek in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on February 15. Source: Xinhua.

An on-going demolition of the residence of the former Kuomintang (KMT) leader Chiang Kai-shek in Yüzhong District, Chongqing, was recently exposed to the public.

The spokesman for Yüzhong District's Culture, Radio, Television, Press and Publication Bureau, told the Global Times that the idea of a "protective demolition," or demolition for safety purposes and a reconstruction according to original designs, was conceived during the Spring Festival in 2011.

The plan received official approval in November and demolition began in December 2011.

Luo Yu, author of the bestseller, The Lost Shangqing Temple (Shizong De Shangqingsi), a book about the preservation of cultural relics and history of Chongqing, is worried about the reconstruction.

"When relics are demolished and later rebuilt, the soul of history also disappears. The most valuable underground passage in the residence cannot be restored," he wrote on his verified Sina.com microblog.

However, the spokesman of the bureau argued that Chiang's residence has eroded overtime and was identified as dangerous after sustaining a certain degree of damage.

Chiang's residence is currently located inside the Fudan high School boundaries, which means reconstruction will benefit the school and protect the relics, the spokesman added.

Xu Xiaoyu, manager of the Cultural Relic Management Institute of Yüzhong District in Chongqing, said that Chiang's residence will be reconstructed at its former address in August 2012 and the new building, expected to be completed in October 2013, will serve as an Anti-Japanese War History Museum open to the public free of charge.

The news came about two weeks after the residence of Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin, famous Chinese architects, were completely demolished in Beijing in January 2012.

◆Live investigation:

The roof of the house has been already demolished. The authorities have not put up notices about future renovation work.

◆Government reaction:

The spokesman for Yüzhong District's Culture, Radio, Television, Press and Publication Bureau:

"The idea of a 'protective demolition,' or demolition for safety purposes and a reconstruction according to original designs, was conceived during the Spring Festival in 2011."

Xu Xiaoyu, manager of the Cultural Relic Management Institute of Yüzhong District in Chongqing:

"Chiang's residence will be reconstructed at its former address in August 2012 and the new building, expected to be completed in October 2013, will serve as an Anti-Japanese War History Museum open to the public free of charge."

Voices:

@Cao Tianjian, famous writer:

I wish everyone in society, including government officials and real estate developers, could think twice before they decide to demolish a historical house just for financial gain. The house in question is not only a relic, but also the soul of your ancestors.

@Xie Chuanlei, editor of The Oriental Morning Post:

After Liang Sicheng’s former residence was destroyed, Chiang Kai-shek’s former house now cannot avoid demolition. Some netizens have speculated that relics from the Anti-Japanese War in their area will also be destroyed. It is a tragedy that our nation has grown accustomed to forgetting so many parts of its history.

@Wang Yu, former coach of the Chinese national fencing team:

Former residences of celebrities need protection. However, the so-called “demolition for protection” is ridiculous. These houses represent many historical events which should be remembered by us. Our government officials don’t realize that. They are only concerned with economic advancement.

@Zhang Changwei, a Shanghai microblogger:

Hurun Group, the company that demolished Liang Sicheng’s house, only received a 500,000 yuan fine. Such light punishment cannot stop developers from destroying other celebrity homes. The government, especially the courts and the law, should provide more effective protection of our relics.

Comments:

◆"Protective Demolition" shows the shortage of relic protection

"Protection does not mean demolition and then rebuild. The historical values of ectypal houses are far less than the original ones, " Bi Xiaozhe, a commentator, Feb 16.

◆Demolition of celebrity houses, Pain of the culture

"The current situation of celebrity houses raises an alarm for the relic protection. With the rapid urbanization, this becomes an essential problem we should solve," Sha Ke, a reporter of Hainan Daily, Feb 6.

◆Demolition while your back is turned

"Architecture represents the very idea of a city and it's people. Once it's destroyed it is irrecoverable," Matthew Jukes, reporter of Global Times, Jan 29.