SDG16
NCKU CHASS Launches Jian Ji & Taiwan Farmers’ Union Centennial Exhibition at Tang Te-Chang Residence
2026 marks the centennial of the Taiwan Farmers’ Union. To commemorate a century of the farmers’ movement, the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS), the Public Education Foundation, and the Tang Te-Chang (湯德章) Memorial Association jointly organized the exhibition “Warriors on the Ox – Jian Ji and the Taiwan Farmers’ Union Centennial (牛背上的鬥士–簡吉與台灣農民組合百年特展)” at the Tang Te-Chang Residence in Tainan. On February 3, a special plaque-unveiling tea ceremony was held to kick off the exhibition series, which will officially open to the public for free on February 28, 2026, and run until February 27, 2027.
The exhibition takes visitors back to the 1920s, highlighting Mr. Jian Ji—“the warrior on the ox”—who founded the Fengshan Farmers’ Union (1925) and the Taiwan Farmers’ Union (1926), leading efforts to secure farmers’ rights. It explores how Jian Ji, his wife Jian E (簡娥), and Tang Te-Chang navigated turbulent times to map a resilient human rights struggle. Beyond frontline activism, the exhibition also features the story of Jian Ji’s wife, Ms. Chen He (陳何), who, despite being part of a politically persecuted family and facing governmental oversight and social discrimination, served her community as a midwife and nurtured the next generation. This spirit of perseverance continues through Jian Ji’s son, Ming-Ren Jian (簡明仁), chairman of the Public Education Foundation, which has long pursued educational and agricultural initiatives, translating historical legacy into contemporary social action.
NCKU Vice President for Humanities and Social Sciences Yuh-Neu Chen (陳玉女副校長) remarked that the university has always embraced the city of Tainan. She emphasized the importance of bringing historical research and teaching into the community to give back to society. While some may say universities should avoid politics, she noted that the exhibition—sharing the stories of Jian Ji, Jian E, and Tang Te-Chang—creates a public, transparent space for discussion. The goal is not to foment resentment but to help more people understand history and prevent past injustices from recurring.
Vice President Chen highlighted that the exhibition represents a key implementation of the MOU signed in 2025 between NCKU, the Public Education Foundation, and the Taiwan Sugar Corporation. Universities not only transmit knowledge but also connect historical truth with contemporary issues. By combining the exhibition with guided walking tours, visitors can engage more deeply and remember the lessons of history. Through projects commissioned by the Ministry of Education, NCKU integrates human rights education and historical research, linking the century-old spirit of Jian Ji with current USR (University Social Responsibility) initiatives, fostering meaningful dialogue between history and the present.
Director Cheng-Ta Yang (楊政達) of NCKU’s CHASS noted the symbolic importance of holding the opening at the Tang Te-Chang Residence, revealing networks of political actors before and after World War II. Through the exhibition and walking tours, faculty, students, and local residents gain insight into historical narratives, such as the 1926 farmers’ movement, and explore stories of Jian Ji, Jian E, and Ms. Chen He, emphasizing Tainan’s local context and linking to NCKU’s ongoing USR projects.
Ming-Ren Jian, chairman of the Public Education Foundation, stated that the Taiwan Farmers’ Union, founded in Tainan in 1926, led farmers to advocate for fair agricultural trade, secure their livelihoods, improve rural culture, and strengthen rural education, becoming a highly significant organization with over 24,000 members. This year, the foundation will host multiple forums across northern, central, and southern Taiwan, and collaborating with NCKU is a great honor. Hosting the exhibition at the Tang Te-Chang Residence is particularly meaningful: the family of Jian E, a heroine of the Taiwan farmers’ movement, once saved Tang Te-Chang’s life, with Jian E’s older brother guiding the 8-year-old Tang Te-Chang to escape a Japanese suppression incident and her mother helping disguise him in Taiwanese clothing. Six-year-old Jian E personally witnessed the event, and later joined the Farmers’ Union herself, being imprisoned by the Japanese while receiving care from Tang Te-Chang in jail. Lesser-known connections include Yu Qing-Fang (余清芳), a student of Jian E’s grandfather, whose younger apprentice was Jian E’s father; both participated in anti-Japanese activities and were victims of the Tapani Incident (噍吧哖事件). Those interested in learning more about the history of the farmers’ movement are warmly invited to visit the exhibition.
The CHASS’s ongoing “Rural-Urban Companionship – Healthy, Sustainable Living & East Asia Collaboration (城鄉相伴─健康永續生活・東亞連攜)” project also contributes to the exhibition’s theme. The team has long engaged with Tainan’s Guantian District, bringing together NCKU experts in architecture, Taiwanese literature, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, and hydraulic engineering to build resilient rural environments. This work embodies the century-old spirit of Jian Ji by combining academic resources with local energy to promote a dignified, sustainable rural future.
The exhibition is grounded in the 2025 MOU signed by NCKU, Taiwan Sugar Corporation, and the Public Education Foundation, linking historical research, social practice, and human rights education. It demonstrates the collective commitment of academia, government, and civil society to safeguarding Taiwan’s land and heritage. Officially opening on February 28, 2026, at the Tang Te-Chang Residence, the exhibition will be accompanied by related seminars and guided walking tours throughout its one-year run, encouraging the public to reflect on the history of Taiwan’s farmers’ movement while also considering contemporary rural challenges under climate change, fulfilling the long-term goals of the MOU regarding human rights education and social engagement.
The exhibition takes visitors back to the 1920s, highlighting Mr. Jian Ji—“the warrior on the ox”—who founded the Fengshan Farmers’ Union (1925) and the Taiwan Farmers’ Union (1926), leading efforts to secure farmers’ rights. It explores how Jian Ji, his wife Jian E (簡娥), and Tang Te-Chang navigated turbulent times to map a resilient human rights struggle. Beyond frontline activism, the exhibition also features the story of Jian Ji’s wife, Ms. Chen He (陳何), who, despite being part of a politically persecuted family and facing governmental oversight and social discrimination, served her community as a midwife and nurtured the next generation. This spirit of perseverance continues through Jian Ji’s son, Ming-Ren Jian (簡明仁), chairman of the Public Education Foundation, which has long pursued educational and agricultural initiatives, translating historical legacy into contemporary social action.
NCKU Vice President for Humanities and Social Sciences Yuh-Neu Chen (陳玉女副校長) remarked that the university has always embraced the city of Tainan. She emphasized the importance of bringing historical research and teaching into the community to give back to society. While some may say universities should avoid politics, she noted that the exhibition—sharing the stories of Jian Ji, Jian E, and Tang Te-Chang—creates a public, transparent space for discussion. The goal is not to foment resentment but to help more people understand history and prevent past injustices from recurring.
Vice President Chen highlighted that the exhibition represents a key implementation of the MOU signed in 2025 between NCKU, the Public Education Foundation, and the Taiwan Sugar Corporation. Universities not only transmit knowledge but also connect historical truth with contemporary issues. By combining the exhibition with guided walking tours, visitors can engage more deeply and remember the lessons of history. Through projects commissioned by the Ministry of Education, NCKU integrates human rights education and historical research, linking the century-old spirit of Jian Ji with current USR (University Social Responsibility) initiatives, fostering meaningful dialogue between history and the present.
Director Cheng-Ta Yang (楊政達) of NCKU’s CHASS noted the symbolic importance of holding the opening at the Tang Te-Chang Residence, revealing networks of political actors before and after World War II. Through the exhibition and walking tours, faculty, students, and local residents gain insight into historical narratives, such as the 1926 farmers’ movement, and explore stories of Jian Ji, Jian E, and Ms. Chen He, emphasizing Tainan’s local context and linking to NCKU’s ongoing USR projects.
Ming-Ren Jian, chairman of the Public Education Foundation, stated that the Taiwan Farmers’ Union, founded in Tainan in 1926, led farmers to advocate for fair agricultural trade, secure their livelihoods, improve rural culture, and strengthen rural education, becoming a highly significant organization with over 24,000 members. This year, the foundation will host multiple forums across northern, central, and southern Taiwan, and collaborating with NCKU is a great honor. Hosting the exhibition at the Tang Te-Chang Residence is particularly meaningful: the family of Jian E, a heroine of the Taiwan farmers’ movement, once saved Tang Te-Chang’s life, with Jian E’s older brother guiding the 8-year-old Tang Te-Chang to escape a Japanese suppression incident and her mother helping disguise him in Taiwanese clothing. Six-year-old Jian E personally witnessed the event, and later joined the Farmers’ Union herself, being imprisoned by the Japanese while receiving care from Tang Te-Chang in jail. Lesser-known connections include Yu Qing-Fang (余清芳), a student of Jian E’s grandfather, whose younger apprentice was Jian E’s father; both participated in anti-Japanese activities and were victims of the Tapani Incident (噍吧哖事件). Those interested in learning more about the history of the farmers’ movement are warmly invited to visit the exhibition.
The CHASS’s ongoing “Rural-Urban Companionship – Healthy, Sustainable Living & East Asia Collaboration (城鄉相伴─健康永續生活・東亞連攜)” project also contributes to the exhibition’s theme. The team has long engaged with Tainan’s Guantian District, bringing together NCKU experts in architecture, Taiwanese literature, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, and hydraulic engineering to build resilient rural environments. This work embodies the century-old spirit of Jian Ji by combining academic resources with local energy to promote a dignified, sustainable rural future.
The exhibition is grounded in the 2025 MOU signed by NCKU, Taiwan Sugar Corporation, and the Public Education Foundation, linking historical research, social practice, and human rights education. It demonstrates the collective commitment of academia, government, and civil society to safeguarding Taiwan’s land and heritage. Officially opening on February 28, 2026, at the Tang Te-Chang Residence, the exhibition will be accompanied by related seminars and guided walking tours throughout its one-year run, encouraging the public to reflect on the history of Taiwan’s farmers’ movement while also considering contemporary rural challenges under climate change, fulfilling the long-term goals of the MOU regarding human rights education and social engagement.
The exhibition “Warriors on the Ox – Jian Ji and the Taiwan Farmers’ Union Centennial” takes visitors back to the 1920s.
Ming-Ren Jian (left), Chairman of the Public Education Foundation, and Yuh-Neu Chen (right), Vice President of NCKU, attended the plaque-unveiling ceremony.
Director Cheng-Ta Yang of NCKU’s CHASS explained that the exhibition was intentionally held at the Tang Te-Chang Residence to reveal the networks of political actors before and after World War II.
The 1926 farmers’ movement is a significant chapter in Taiwan’s history, and this exhibition explores the stories of Jian Ji, Jian E, and Jian Ji’s wife, Chen He.
To commemorate the Taiwan farmers’ movement, the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, the Public Education Foundation, and the Tang Te-Chang Memorial Association jointly organized the exhibition “Warriors on the Ox – Jian Ji and the Taiwan Farmers’ Union Centennial” at the Tang Te-Chang Residence in Tainan.
A plaque-unveiling tea ceremony was held on February 3 to kick off and warm up the guided exhibition tours that will begin after the Lunar New Year, with the exhibition officially opening to the public for free on February 28.
