Scenic Spots Information
15722
The Fang Shih-Wen Memorial Park and Shih-Wen Kiosk sitting along the Watong section of Penghu Highway 8 were built to commemorate the late Sinologist Shih-wen Fang for
his local
contributions to civil service, local communities, and local society that are worthy of commendation. The Penghu County Government even conferred upon him a certificate of praise in February 2001 in recognition of his immortal deeds in his lifetime.
With the
recommendation of Paisha villagers, former Magistrate Lai built the “Fang Shih-Wen Memorial Park” to commemorate his lifelong contributions and express the memory and thankfulness of local residents to this late Sinologist.
Inside the park stands a bronze statue of Fang built with the donation of An-zhe Wu and Qing-yun Guo. On the back of the statue, Guo wrote a “brief history of Sinologist Shih-wen Fang”:
Born in 1917 in Watong Village, Penghu County, Mr. Shih-wen Fang demonstrated extraordinary talent at an early age. At eight, he studied the Four Books, Five Classics, management, and calligraphy under Qing scholar Ling-yun Hsu for 13 years.
Not long after his marriage in his adolescence, he travelled across the ocean to the offshore islands Dacang and Yuanbei teaching and preaching Chinese culture for nine years with no fear of the Japanese suppression. After restoration, Fang continued to teach
history and Sinology at Penghu County Paisha Secondary School. Not long after, he was transferred to be the chief of the Culture Section and chief of the Civil Affairs and Economic Development sections of Paisha Township Office, and the secretary of the Villagers
Congress. Over his 38 years of civil service, he was faith to work and kind to citizens until his retirement.
After retirement, he continued to offer ceremonial and geomancy services for local residents, wrote tablet scripts for local temples and ancestral shrines, annotate poetry, and teach sinology. He was also a committee member of the county archive, electoral
affairs, Confucius worship ceremony, and director of funerals, matrimonies, and ceremonies. He even personally compiled the chronicles and history of Penghu. His outstanding contribution to cultural heritage had earned him the Penghu County Model Father and
National Model Senior Citizen.
In January 2001, Fang passed away at age 85. His total devotion to serving the public throughout his life and contributions to local citizens with his great learning has left countless recollection and evocation to future generations. With the recommendation
of the Watong Village Assembly, the Penghu County Government this build this park to commemorate Fang. In recognition of the model of Fang and for future generations to remember his devotion and contribution, famous sculptor Qing-yun Guo living in Yanmugang
made this bronze statue of Fang with donations from the artist and Mr. An-zhe Wu.
The landscapes along this coastal highway are gorgeous. The park sits on a high point where a kiosk stands with an extensive view of the vista. From here, visitors can look over the Huoliao coast, Watong Pier, Magong City, and Dacang Island and enjoy the
serenity
of the inner water view. Watching the rise of the sea level in the high tide period in the kiosk of the “Fang Shih-Wen Memorial Park”; looking out the Xiyu Coast and Dacang Island and the intertidal zone exposed in the low tide period; watching
women scattering
along the seashore picking shells; enjoy the twining sea views…There is charm everywhere in the park awaiting you.
【Recommended length of stay】0.5 hour