Thousands Gather in Taiwan Presidential Office Plaza to Show Love to Parents

[애플경제 Adela Lin 대만특파원] 

More than 10 thousand of people ranging from three to 104 years old gathered in the plaza fronting the Presidential Office Building in Taiwan’s capital Taipei City on Oct. 14 to celebrate family value in efforts to pass down the spirit to the next generation.

“The goal is to promote filial piety so that parents and children show love to each other. Younger generations in particular express gratitude and respects to the elderly,” Chang Chao-kuo (張朝國總會長), president of the International FamilyLove Federation (中華傳統文化弘揚孝道總會), said. “Family value is a base for building a harmonious society.” He added that such ethic of Chinese parental respect is shared in areas which are influenced by Confucian ideology. His federation aims to reach out the whole world including South Korea. 

The event this year was organized by IFF, Taipei City Government, Yunlin County Government, and Yunlin Association of the R.O.C. The association represents people whose hometown is in Taiwan's western Yunlin County. 

Centering to the event was a “foot washing” ritual which saw children serving tea and washing feet of their parents or the senior ones such as teachers or coaches. Co-organizers also awarded outstanding role models to recognize their commitments to filial piety. Among role models is gold medalist Kuo Hsing-chun (郭婞淳) who at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo broke three Olympic records in the women's 59-kg weightlifting competition. 

“This is a very special and meaningful activity as I can express my gratitude to those I love with actions,” Kuo told Apple Economy in a telephone interview. She doesn’t have much time to stay with her family as she spends much of her time on trainings and competitions. Kuo washed feet of her grandmother and coach in the previous events. Her mother joined her in the activity this year.

“I think sometimes when we are young, we often feel that there is still a lot of time.” But time flies and filial piety isn’t an old concept for the elderly only. “We need to grasp every moment we can get along with each other, then we can express love every time. That’s the kind of relationship I would like to share when I have children in the future,” the champion explained in a soft but confident voice.

The Taiwanese event began in 2012 and was held in various cities. It once broke Guinness world record on the category of the most people washing their feet at the same time in 2013.  After interruption by COVID-19 pandemic, organizers resumed the event this year that attracted thousands of participants including Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷) who just won Taiwan’s first gold medal in the women’s boxing at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. 

Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan (張麗善) said she was inspired by the “foot washing” activity years ago and has been devoted to morality education at schools during her tenure.  “I was so touched when I saw an award-winning athlete washed feet of her mother.”  she was first elected in 2018 as Yunlin County Magistrate and reelected in 2022.  

Taipei City has entered into a super-aged society, according to the capital city’s Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安). “Each elder is the most precious treasure in the family. We must make filial piety a part of daily life.”  Chiang, named on the TIME100 Next 2023 list, was elected in 2022 as the youngest-ever mayor of Taipei City.

Top Lin (林健昌總裁), Chief Executive Officer of Top-Lin Group (頂霖集團), said showing love in time leaves no regrets to relationship. “I washed my mom’s feet until she was 103 years old. “All the moments we were together turn to precious memories now. I’m grateful for the time she allowed me to be around her.” He noted: “Being a good son when my mom was with me makes my life fulfilled and leaves no regrets.”  

Guests attending the event include former Taiwan Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), former Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng (立法院前院長王金平), and China Youth Corps President Ger Yeong-kuang (中國青年救國團主任葛永光). Participants also enjoyed choir, entertainment artists, glove puppetry, honor guard, and marching band performances. Volunteers from various groups including co-organizers and Taipei-based China Youth Corps contributed to the success of the event.

“Piety is the foundation of all virtues. I devote to the traditional culture no matter whether I am an athlete, a sports federation leader, or an entrepreneur,”  IFF President Chang told Apple Economy. Chang, the International Weightlifting Federation Honorary Vice President, received Lifetime Achievement Award from Taiwan’s Sports Administration (體育署) in 2022 for his over six decades of dedication to the sport. He contributed to the globalization of the sport and the development of women weightlifting when he served as 1st vice president of IWF. The island’s Sports Federation (體育運動總會) Honorary President led weightlifters from Taiwan to break records and won world medals including four gold medals, two silver and four bronze in the Olympic Games.

Chang was born in Taiwan’s western Yunlin County. He learned martial arts skills in his young days and managed to develop related business including the Ching Han Tan (精漢堂) pharmaceutical products. The earnings benefit his supports for athletes and the contribution to the sport world of Taiwan led to the lifetime achievement award. Dubbed as father of weightlifting sport in Taiwan, Chang doesn’t only commit himself to enhancing skills of athletes but also cultivating their morals.