National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall of Ministry of Culture and R.O.C. Military Academy co-organizes “Inheritance, Extraction, and Innovation: Whampoa Academy Centenary Seminar” on May 24. The distinguished guests attending the opening ceremony include Director Chang Kuei-hu of the Undergraduate Program of R.O.C. Military Academy, Director-general Wang Lan-sheng of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and Prof. Liu Wei-kai of the Department of History of National Cheng-Chi University. There are more than 600 attendees including Chief of Staff, Director of Political Warfare, teachers, cadres, and students from R.O.C. Military Academy. The opening ceremony in the morning is grand and simple. The seminar in the afternoon is a warm gathering. The centenary celebration of Whampoa Academy shows the significant historical meaning.
Director Chang Kuei-hu of the Undergraduate Program of R.O.C. Military Academy said it is a great honor to organize the event together with National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and sincerely expressed his gratitude to Ministry of Culture and National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. R.O.C. Military Academy was established on June 16, 1924 under the instruction of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, who also proclaimed the school motto of “esprit de corps” written by Chiang Kai-shek, the first appointed superintendent. This Academy was to bear the responsibility for training revolutionary and military talents and establishing a revolutionary army to fight for the Republic of China, inspiring the outstanding educated youths nationwide to actively engage in the revolution and establishment of the country hundred years ago. As the first modernized military school in our country, it led the soldiers and civilians through countless challenges and victories with the spirit and achievement worth learning from for the soldiers of our generation.
Director-general Wang Lan-sheng of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall said the hall was built in memory of the 100th birth anniversary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen with the purpose and mission to promote Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s thoughts and theories. Today he deeply felt the spirit of inheritance, extraction, and innovation of R.O.C. Military Academy. In memory of the arduous process in the establishment of Whampoa Academy and the important contribution of the national army in protecting the country, he sincerely expressed his respect and admiration and expected the spirit of Whampoa would continue to shine and create another glorious hundred years to excel in both civil and military affairs, serve the country, and protect the country.
Prof. Liu Wei-kai of the Department of History of National Cheng-Chi University gave a keynote speech on “Dr. Sun Yat-sen and the Establishment of Whampoa Academy. He elaborated on four aspects: the historical meaning of Whampoa Academy, why Dr. Sun Yat-sen established Whampoa Academy, how Dr. Sun Yat-sen established Whampoa Academy, and Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s final expectation for the teachers and students of Whampoa Academy. He finally concluded that R.O.C. Military Academy can be regarded as the most important page in the founding history of the Republic of China Army.
In the early founding years of the Republic of China, the country was mostly ruled by warlords and threatened with domestic disturbances and foreign aggressions. To build up the country’s armed forces and cultivate revolutionary talents, Dr. Sun Yat-sen decided to establish a military academy at Whampoa in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province on June 6, 1924 (also known as “Whampoa Academy”). He appointed Chiang Kai-shek to be the superintendent of the Academy and proclaimed the school motto of “esprit de corps.” In response to changing external circumstances, the location of the school was moved three times, including Nanjing, Chengdu, and finally Fengshan, Kaohsiung in 1950. Whampoa Academy trained a total of more than 280,000 cadres with both civil and military skills for the national army. They fought against the odds on the eastern expeditions, northern expeditions, and anti-Japanese battles. More than 100,000 people sacrificed their lives for the country. Their heroic and benevolent deeds shone as brightly as the sun and the moon. When the Academy was established in 1924, on the gate the couplet read, “Please go elsewhere to get promoted and make a fortune. Don’t come into the gate if you are greedy for life and afraid of death” and the horizontal scroll read, “Revolutionaries come.” They clearly declared the revolutionary spirit Whampoa was founded on. “The Whampoa spirit” is “no greed for money, no fear for death, love for the country, and love for the people” and “sacrifice, teamwork, and responsibility.” It is also the glorious revolutionary spirit that has been passed on by R.O.C. Military Academy for hundred years.