Facing the Main Library of National Taiwan University, beside a grassy lawn near the Student Union, sits the Dr. Chen Wen-chen Memorial, a poignant space commemorating a dark chapter in Taiwan’s authoritarian past.
Dr. Chen Wen-chen, a Taiwanese assistant professor of mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University, returned to his homeland in 1981 for a vacation. During his visit, he was detained and interrogated by the secret police. Shortly after, his body was discovered on the NTU campus, near today’s memorial plaza.
The incident drew international attention and highlighted Taiwan’s repressive martial law. The authoritarian Kuomintang government at the time claimed it was suicide but many believe he was murdered by the state. Chen was just 31 years old.
After Taiwan transitioned to democracy, Chen’s legacy became a motivator to better the country’s freedoms. Today, a foundation established in his name works to advance democracy and human rights in Taiwan. The foundation also runs a museum near NTU, preserving the memory of Chen and educating the public about Taiwan’s authoritarian past and democratic evolution.
In 2011, on the 30th anniversary of Chen’s death, NTU students commemorated him at this site near the library and started a campaign to erect a permanent memorial. The proposal faced fierce debate from the university administration and took 10 years to materialize. Even the inscription, “In memory of a brave soul who resolutely resisted state violence,” narrowly passed a vote. The memorial was finally unveiled in 2021.
The memorial’s initial empty spaces symbolize the unanswered questions surrounding his death and Taiwan’s struggle with its past. The gray, somber space mirrors the atmosphere of interrogation rooms and prison cells, offering a quiet place for reflection.