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Trigger

Consolation

Course of the Incident

228 incident

In August 1945, after the end of World War II , Japan was defeated, and thus surrendered unconditionally. As a result, Japanese colonial rule finally ended in Taiwan , which then became reunited with China …
As all people were celebrating the advent of the new era, an unexpected tragedy was approaching…
At 7:30, evening of February 27, 1947 , a surprising gunshot caused an unexpected conflict, triggering the outbreak of this tragedy.

Trigger

Around 11:00 , morning of February 27 , 1947 , the Monopoly Bureau received reports of smuggling matches and cigarettes in Tamshui, and sent six inspectors , including Fu Hsueh-tung, along with four police officers to investigate the case. They only seized five boxes of smuggled cigarettes.
Then, they received another report claiming that the smuggled good had been moved to Tien-ma Tea House. When the inspectors arrived at the scene, the smugglers had long since fled; the inspectors only managed to seized the smuggled cigarettes of Lin Chiang-mai. They then confiscated all legally imported, as well as smuggled, cigarettes and cash. Lin begged for mercy, and the public around followed suit. Lin, in desperation, held onto the inspectors and refused to let go. As a result, the inspectors battered her to death.
Upon witnessing this tragedy, the crowd was furious. The inspectors attempted to leave the scene. An inspector fired a warning shot, but unfortunately , Chen Wen-hsi, who looked down from his home, was shot to death. The inspectors then hid themselves in the Taiwan Garrison General Headquarters. The outraged crowd smashed their vehicles and demanded that the murderer be killed.

Locations of the Bloody Incident

Locations of the Bloody Incident
The run-away path of the anti-tobacco smuggled units.
Nanking West Road → Yenping North Road → Chang An West Road → Tien Shui Road → Chung Ching North Road, Section 1

Nanking W. Rd.

Tien-ma Tea House
It was the coffee house in Tataocheng, run by a famous movie interpreter, Chan Tien-ma, and was renowned for being a gathering place for avant gardes and artists. Now, it has been reconstructed into a men's suit shop.
Fachukung Temple
The temple was built in 1903 for the worshipping of Fachukung -- god for the people from Tong An, Fujian . Now, it has been reconstructed into a new four-floor temple. It was in the fachukung temple that Lin Chiang-mai was caught for selling smuggled cigarettes.
Mrs. Lin Chiang-mai
She was a 40-year-old widow with 3 kids, and became the trigger of the 228 Incident by selling illegal cigarettes for a living.
Smuggling Inspectors
The Monopoly Bureau received reports of smuggled commodities, and thus sent six inspectors, including Fu Hsueh-tung, along with 4 police officers to investigate the case.

The Founder - Jian, Tien-ma	Now it's a man's suit shop	Fachukung Temple	It has become a 4-floor Temple
Mrs. Lin Chiang-mai

Di-hua street

The Obituary about Chen Wen-his Chen Wen-hsi
Chen Wen-hsi was killed by an inspector near his home.
Obituary of Chen Wen-his
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Yenping N. Rd.

Yenping North Road
It was formerly called Tai-ping-ting, one of the most prosperous streets in Taipei at that time. Many of the old-time famous stores have now been reconstructed, and so they've lost their original appearances .
The 8th Precinct
The smuggling Inspectors hid themselves in the police precinct from the angry crowd. The director of the precinct lied to the crowd, claiming that the inspectors had been turned in to the military police. Finally, the anger of the crowd (led to) caused the 228 Incident.

Tai-pin-Din

Most of stores have been rebuilt

Situations of the 8 th Precinct after the outbreak of the riot

Current Status of the 8th Precinct