2017-07-31 Mon

Over 5,000 petitioners are backing the idea of replacing the Republic of China founder Sun Yat-sen’s image with an image of philanthropist Chuang Chu Yu-nu on the NT$10 coin. The petitions have been raised on the National Development Council’s Public Policy Network Participation Platform.

A proposal must get 5,000 signatures within 60 days to seek a response from the government. This particular petition has fulfilled the criteria and hence the Government will have to respond by 29th September.

Born in 1920 in Baisha, Penghu County, Chuang Chu shifted to Kaohsiung. She met a few people from Baisha who worked at the docks unloading cargo. She gave them shelter at her warehouse along with free food. Later, she started charging each worker NT$1 when she could not bear the expenses to take care of these workers. The fee increased to NT$3, then NT$10. Chuang Chu sold seven houses in 50 years to cover the expenses of dock workers and homeless people. She died in 2015 and the Chuang Chu Yu-nu Charity Foundation was founded to continue her philanthropic efforts.

Her work is inspirational for all Taiwanese and people think that it would be an honour to have her portrait on the NT$10 coin. Other petitioners believe that her image would be closer to the Taiwanese spirit than Sun or Chiang Kai-shek, whose images are already depicted on coins. The petitioners want the government to issue new NT$10 coins featuring Chuang Chu. There are some who want the government to release commemorative coins instead, whose value could increase as time progresses. The central bank said that there are no rules on the design, but they should promote social harmony.