Danshui Girls' Academy leads list of women's cultural markers

This article was published by the Taiwan News on March 9, 2006. It features the Danshui Girls' Academy, which is located in Danshui Township in northern Taiwan's Taipei County. The academy was founded by Dr George Leslie MacKay in 1884.

Dr MacKay, a Canadian missionary, came to Danshui in 1872 and worked hard to popularize education and medical care in the area. At that time, very few women in Taiwan were allowed to receive an education and their social status were often considered as being inferior to that of men. Only 45 women entered the Danshui Girls' Academy and those who graduated from the institution were highly accomplished both academically and morally.

The Danshui Girls' Academy became the Danshui Girls' High School during the Japanese colonial occupation of Taiwan (1895-1945), and later had its name changed again to the Chunde Girls' Middle School. The institution was then combined with the Danshui Middle School as dormitories, and presently there is a kindergarten of the same name on the premises.

The institution, with its elegant, traditional-styled red brick building, is a famous landmark in Danshui. It is one of more than 20 "women's cultural markers" established in Taiwan, which present the stories and struggles of women in order to educate people about the footsteps of Taiwan's women throughout history.

The "Taiwan Women's Cultural Markers" are planned by the Council for Cultural Affairs. They are placed around Taiwan with the hope that it will help people rediscover the buried, vital stories of blood and tears written by the lives of women. The markers are constructed by female artists, architects and designers. It is hoped that the establishment of these cultural markers will systematically highlight the achievements of earlier generations of women.

Several important "women's cultural markers" in Taiwan include the stone arch at Dajia Township in central Taiwan's Taichung County, which commemorates the traditional virtue of women. The tombs of the 25 maidens in Chilu Township in southern Taiwan's Kaohsiung County pays tribute to children who died young. The comfort women marker in eastern Taiwan's Hualien County commemorates the suffering of Taiwanese women during the wars. The Changrong Girls' Middle School in southern Taiwan has also been an important contributor of women's education in Taiwan's early days.

Other prominent "women's cultural markers" in Taiwan include the "Women's Union" created by Madame Soong May-ling to bring together the wives of military officials and businessmen; the "Young Women's Association" created by Taiwanese and foreign missionaries; the "Housewives' Union" formed to promote recycling and concern for disadvantaged groups; the "Women's New Knowledge" magazine which raises women's consciousness through the written word; the "Tsai Rui-yue Dance Society" founded by the famous Taiwanese dancer; the "Pioneers Publishing" as the cradle of women's movement in Taiwan; and the "Home of Women", the first Chinese women's bookstore.

More details about "Taiwan Women's Cultural Markers" can be found in this article.