Taiwan Stamps : 1973 TW S96 Scott 1850 Chiu Feng-Chia-Portrait Stamp, MNH, F-VF - (9T054) - (9T054)

Taiwan Stamps : 1973 TW S96 Scott 1850 Chiu Feng-Chia-Portrait Stamp, MNH, F-VF : The second social meeting of Hakkas throughout the world was held on October 5-7, 1973 in Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. Its purpose is to further unity among Hakkas as well as to contribute their intelligence and strength to the great task of national reconstruction. In order to mark this significant occasion, one stamp was issued, featuring the portrait of a prominent Hakka-Chiu Feng-chia as the central design. Chiu Feng-chia (1864-1912) was born in Taiwan. His ancestors had migrated from Kwangtung into Taiwan about 1680.Chiu was not only a scholar and poet, but also a revolutionist. In 1895, when Taiwan was ceded to Japan under the Treaty of Shimonoseki, the people of the island refused to surrender and resolved to resist the Japanese aggressors. One of the anti-aggression leaders was Chiu. He urged the Manchu government not to agree to the cession of Taiwan under any circumstance and inspired the spirit of people to fight for freedom. Unfortunately, faced with over-whelming Japanese forces, the major part of Taiwan was occupied by the Japanese. Chiu was forced to leave for Kwangtung. But he left behind in Taiwan a spirit of resistance that was never to be subdued, even though the Japanese were in control. He won his honored place in the grand pantheon of Chinese patriots. The picture was offered by the Committee of the 2nd Social Meeting of Hakkas and photographed by Mr.Wu Cheng-fang.