Albert Wu 吳孟軒
@albertmwu.bsky.social
Historian. With Michelle Kuo, a newsletter on #Taiwan: http://ampleroad.substack.com
Liu Yaoting was executed in 1954, leaving behind his wife and infant twin daughters. Decades later, his daughter Liu Meini tells their story in Letters That Could Not Be Delivered—a book about love, loss, and the scars of Taiwan’s White Terror. www.twreporter.org/a/bookreview...
September 24, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Liu Yaoting was executed in 1954, leaving behind his wife and infant twin daughters. Decades later, his daughter Liu Meini tells their story in Letters That Could Not Be Delivered—a book about love, loss, and the scars of Taiwan’s White Terror. www.twreporter.org/a/bookreview...
But during trial, a former colleague, Wu Jin, turned himself in and gave testimony. Based on this “confession,” Liu Yaoting and others were resentenced to death.
September 24, 2025 at 2:37 PM
But during trial, a former colleague, Wu Jin, turned himself in and gave testimony. Based on this “confession,” Liu Yaoting and others were resentenced to death.
With its leaders gone, the Da’an Printing House branch was soon exposed. At first, Liu Yaoting was sentenced to 5 years for “knowing that the press secretly printed materials at night but failing to report it.”
September 24, 2025 at 2:37 PM
With its leaders gone, the Da’an Printing House branch was soon exposed. At first, Liu Yaoting was sentenced to 5 years for “knowing that the press secretly printed materials at night but failing to report it.”
In Oct. 1949, Liu Xuekun recruited a group of workers into the underground party. As repression deepened, both he and Lü retreated into the hills of Lukou. Lü died there in 1950 from a snakebite.
September 24, 2025 at 2:37 PM
In Oct. 1949, Liu Xuekun recruited a group of workers into the underground party. As repression deepened, both he and Lü retreated into the hills of Lukou. Lü died there in 1950 from a snakebite.
After the Feb. 28 Incident, workers’ organizations in Taipei grew rapidly. In 1949, Liu Xuekun (alias Liu Shusheng) and writer Lü Heruo led the Da’an Printing House branch, also called the “TL branch,” which secretly printed underground books and pamphlets.
September 24, 2025 at 2:36 PM
After the Feb. 28 Incident, workers’ organizations in Taipei grew rapidly. In 1949, Liu Xuekun (alias Liu Shusheng) and writer Lü Heruo led the Da’an Printing House branch, also called the “TL branch,” which secretly printed underground books and pamphlets.
Rainbow before the typhoon.
September 22, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Rainbow before the typhoon.
In December 2018, the Transitional Justice Commission formally overturned Wei’s conviction and sentence.
September 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
In December 2018, the Transitional Justice Commission formally overturned Wei’s conviction and sentence.
On January 29, 1954, Wei executed by a firing squad. He was 23 years old.
September 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
On January 29, 1954, Wei executed by a firing squad. He was 23 years old.
After almost 11 months in prison, In September 1953, the Taiwan Provincial Security Command sentenced him to death, accusing him of “intending to overthrow the government by illegal means.”
His property was confiscated. A small allowance was left to his family.
His property was confiscated. A small allowance was left to his family.
September 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
After almost 11 months in prison, In September 1953, the Taiwan Provincial Security Command sentenced him to death, accusing him of “intending to overthrow the government by illegal means.”
His property was confiscated. A small allowance was left to his family.
His property was confiscated. A small allowance was left to his family.
The government accused Wei of participating in a group called the “TL Branch.” (More on them in the future.)
The court said he attended meetings where members were warned to keep their printing activities strictly secret.
In October 1952, Wei was arrested.
The court said he attended meetings where members were warned to keep their printing activities strictly secret.
In October 1952, Wei was arrested.
September 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
The government accused Wei of participating in a group called the “TL Branch.” (More on them in the future.)
The court said he attended meetings where members were warned to keep their printing activities strictly secret.
In October 1952, Wei was arrested.
The court said he attended meetings where members were warned to keep their printing activities strictly secret.
In October 1952, Wei was arrested.
According to the court, he was accused of printing so-called seditious materials: the Founding Documents of the PRC, its National Anthem, and political news articles.
September 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
According to the court, he was accused of printing so-called seditious materials: the Founding Documents of the PRC, its National Anthem, and political news articles.
When he was arrested, Wei was working as a government clerk in Nantou. But he was questioned for a stint working at a printing press in Taipei.
September 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
When he was arrested, Wei was working as a government clerk in Nantou. But he was questioned for a stint working at a printing press in Taipei.
He was born in 1931 in Nantou county, the only landlocked county in Taiwan. He had an elementary school education.
September 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
He was born in 1931 in Nantou county, the only landlocked county in Taiwan. He had an elementary school education.
What more do we know about Wei Wenxian (魏文賢)?
September 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
What more do we know about Wei Wenxian (魏文賢)?
That a KMT general and a leftist youth rest not far from each other, each remembered by state memorials, captures Taiwan’s layered present—
a democracy still grappling with contested memories.
a democracy still grappling with contested memories.
September 19, 2025 at 12:11 PM
That a KMT general and a leftist youth rest not far from each other, each remembered by state memorials, captures Taiwan’s layered present—
a democracy still grappling with contested memories.
a democracy still grappling with contested memories.
He was 23 years old when he was executed. He and some friends were caught printing some leftist pamphlets, including pro-PRC materials, among them the anthem.
September 19, 2025 at 12:11 PM
He was 23 years old when he was executed. He and some friends were caught printing some leftist pamphlets, including pro-PRC materials, among them the anthem.
One name that we do know is 魏文賢.
September 19, 2025 at 12:11 PM
One name that we do know is 魏文賢.
The memorial leads to a row of markers that speak of lives erased by authoritarian terror. Many of these tombstones are unmarked.
September 19, 2025 at 12:11 PM
The memorial leads to a row of markers that speak of lives erased by authoritarian terror. Many of these tombstones are unmarked.
Near 白崇禧’s grand tomb stands a White Terror memorial.
September 19, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Near 白崇禧’s grand tomb stands a White Terror memorial.
The most famous figure in the Muslim cemetery is Pai Ch’ung-hsi, the Guangxi warlord and Nationalist general, whose son Pai Hsien-yung became a leading modernist of Chinese literature. Pai’s gravesite includes a domed pavilion with Islamic-style arches.
September 18, 2025 at 10:46 AM
The most famous figure in the Muslim cemetery is Pai Ch’ung-hsi, the Guangxi warlord and Nationalist general, whose son Pai Hsien-yung became a leading modernist of Chinese literature. Pai’s gravesite includes a domed pavilion with Islamic-style arches.
Another reason I love this route: it passes Taiwan’s largest Muslim cemetery. Hajji Shi Wen-Ting from Xinjiang rests here, among Hui, Uyghur, and other refugees — reminders that Taiwan itself became a land of refugees after 1949.
September 17, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Another reason I love this route: it passes Taiwan’s largest Muslim cemetery. Hajji Shi Wen-Ting from Xinjiang rests here, among Hui, Uyghur, and other refugees — reminders that Taiwan itself became a land of refugees after 1949.
A small shrine I pass often on my favorite ride in Taipei. Dedicated to the “holy mom,” it is likely a yin 陰 shrine—a place where the wandering spirits of women without descendants can rest and be remembered. Just around the bend, the holy mom keeps watch with an open view of the mountains.
September 16, 2025 at 6:22 AM
A small shrine I pass often on my favorite ride in Taipei. Dedicated to the “holy mom,” it is likely a yin 陰 shrine—a place where the wandering spirits of women without descendants can rest and be remembered. Just around the bend, the holy mom keeps watch with an open view of the mountains.